Blog Comments Now Campaign Fodder

Radley Balko | September 26, 2007

In a new TV ad, Virginia Republicn Del. Timothy Hugo attacks his opponent by quoting the leftist Virginia politics blog Raising Kaine. But the ad doesn't quote the Raising Kaine blog itself. The blog actually supports Hugo's opponent. Rather, it quotes an anonymous commenter on the Raising Kaine blog.

In Hugo's ad, a narrator recounts what "others are saying" about Simmons. As quotes flash across the screen, the narrator says Simmons is "running the most cowardly campaign I have ever seen" and "has been lying to voters the entire campaign."

"We just can't trust Rex Simmons," the ad concludes.

The ad, which also says Simmons supports amnesty for illegal immigrants, cites Raising Kaine as the source of the quotes about Simmons.

Raising Kaine, named after Virginia Gov. Timothy M. Kaine (D) but not connected to him, is a site where Democratic activists talk about Virginia politics. The site allows anyone to post an entry or comment on one, even anonymously, after registering.

Lowell Feld, one of the founders of Raising Kaine, is calling on television stations to pull Hugo's ad, saying it misleads voters into thinking that Raising Kaine opposes Simmons.

Look for the latest attack ad featuring pithy observations from "Dan T." on a TV near you.