Look-Alike Web Sites Hoodwink Republican Donors 294
Hugh Pickens writes "Shane Goldmacher writes that a network of look-alike campaign websites have netted hundreds of thousands of dollars this year in what some are calling a sophisticated political phishing scheme. The doppelgänger websites have the trappings of official campaign pages: smiling candidate photos and videos, issue pages, and a large red "donate" button at the top and exist for nearly three-dozen prominent GOP figures, including presidential nominee Mitt Romney, House Speaker John Boehner, House Majority Leader Eric Cantor, and donation magnets such as Reps. Michele Bachmann of Minnesota and Allen West of Florida. The only difference is that proceeds from the shadow sites go not to the candidates pictured, but to an obscure conservative group called CAPE PAC run by activist Jeff Loyd, a former chairman of the Gila County GOP in Arizona. 'The only thing they are doing is lining their pockets and funding their own operation,' says Republican political strategist Chris LaCivita. CAPE PAC has a strong Web presence, with over 100,000 followers on Twitter and 50,000 on Facebook and its business model is to buy Google ads — about $290,000 worth, as of the end of June — to promote its network of candidate sites whenever people search for prominent GOP officials. A search for 'Mitt Romney,' for instance, often leads to two sponsored results: Romney's official site and CAPE PAC's mittromneyin2012.com. Once on a CAPE PAC site, users would have to notice fine print at either the top or bottom of the page revealing that they were not on the official page of their favored politician. A dozen donors, including some experienced Washington hands such as Neusner, had no idea they had contributed to the group before National Journal Daily contacted them. 'It confused me, and I do this for a living,' says Washington lobbyist Patrick Raffaniello. 'That's pretty sophisticated phishing.'"
Inevitable (Score:5, Interesting)
This was inevitable since citizens united. Money=speech and does not necessarily need to relate to a campaign to be used with respect to a campaign. Fraud(is it fraud?) was a completely logical consequence.
Re:ssssshhh! (Score:4, Interesting)
More likely age and familiarity with technology.
Republicans tend to skew old.
Re:Just goes to show you... (Score:4, Interesting)
A miority government spends most of their time squabbling and crying about the other 2 factions. Most of the individual parties pet projects never make it anywhere. If anything actually important comes, they have to work together to get the law passed. If you don't work with the opposition, there is another party who will. If nothing important is happening, then they just propose bill after bill after bill, and none of them ever make it any where.
A minority government is the best way to get the least government for your tax dollars.
Re:Inevitable (Score:4, Interesting)
I was thinking of marrying my ROTH IRA (which is possibly close enough to a corporation to count as one.) and then getting divorced with my ROTH IRA keeping half my assets. Instant 50% of assets shielded from capital gains taxes.
Maybe I'd have to pair up with someone else of similar economic status for it to work, but still...
Re:Sleaze vs Party (Score:4, Interesting)
>hobby
>not a business
>required to spend 100K
That, on its face, is a bullshit figure and I will spell out right now that you are lying.
Q. Are there any limitations on the ADA's barrier removal requirements for existing facilities?
A. Yes. Barrier removal need be accomplished only when it is "readily achievable" to do so.
Q. What does the term "readily achievable" mean?
A. It means "easily accomplishable and able to be carried out without much difficulty or expense."
Q. Will businesses need to install elevators?
A. Businesses are not required to retrofit their facilities to install elevators unless such installation is readily achievable, which is unlikely in most cases.
Q. Must alternative steps be taken without regard to cost?
A. No, only readily achievable alternative steps must be undertaken.
http://www.ada.gov/q&aeng02.htm [ada.gov]
Go parrot your nonsense elsewhere, kid.
--
BMO