Paid Trolls. Only the most corrupt and despicable of politicians rely on such tactics.

[think]

http://www.pastemagazine.com/articles/2016/04/hillary-clintons-super-pac-taking-a-page-from-vlad.html

[grossproffit]

1. My check is in the mail!

[Baobab]

89. "Tea Party" "activists" were a fakebrication of one of those PR firms, not so long ago. 100% fake.

The media with few exceptions, gave them a free pass on it.

They came out of the health insurance industry goons.

So I bet a lot of the current goons are also paid for by the health insurance industry.

Its my understanding that in 2008 they were getting paid around $750k /day and were arguing all sides of the health care issues, in an effort to totally confuse voters as to everything connected to health insurance and especially single payer.

The concept of a "public option" which can't work because of adverse selection, was made up by health insurance companies as a bait for a bait and switch tactic.

[ChairmanAgnostic]

2. speaking of one,

I read she won some primaries yesterday.

[grossproffit]

3. *gasp* Surely, voter fraud!

[JaneyVee]

5. Obama had a paid response team to counteract the bullshit lies.

[sufrommich]

6. They know that,they just intentionally misinterpret

the facts to fit their fiction.

[think]

13. You're porn spreading Hillary bro was a big fan of David Brock. Congratulations

[northernsouthern]

50. Can I have some of that you are drinking.

Since every article says they are going out and targeting...I would like something that helps me ignore the facts.

[hrmjustin]

7. Where the hell is my check?

[think]

8. Do you think you deserve one? If so David Brock's the one you need to speak to.

[hrmjustin]

9. No it was a joke.

[think]

10. Using paid trolls is funny stuff isn't it.

[hrmjustin]

12. I guess this is not the time for humor?

[auntpurl]

16. They had a hard night.

[hrmjustin]

17. Yes. Fair enough.

[think]

23. Hillary owns the paid troll label. Brock's trolls have made mainsteam news. Enjoy

[hrmjustin]

25. Oh ok. Thanks for letting us know.

[think]

27. You're welcome.

[treestar]

69. Me too! Where's mine?

[Buzz Clik]

11. Funny thing -- 75% of the Sanders fans at DU have been here for only a few weeks.

Low post counts, and nasty temperaments.

And, 50% of the shit they spew comes directly from the Sanders campaign.

So:

Paid Trolls. Only the most corrupt and despicable of politicians rely on such tactics.

Yeah. That's your boy, too.

[think]

15. David Brock is Hillary's dirt bag. Not Sanders. Enjoy your corrupt dirty campaign

[Buzz Clik]

65. So you think that all the RW spittle about HRC coming from the Sanders side...

... is the unvarnished truth and not the result filthy, politics as usual? That St. Bernie is above it all and untouched by aspirations for higher office?

http://www.dictionary.com/browse/delusion?s=t

[think]

74. Once upon a time only republicans paid for trolls. Guess who's joined those ranks?

It's not Bernie Sanders.

[Buzz Clik]

87. "Once upon a time only republicans paid for trolls." Right.

Okay, so you think Bernie is the purest of the pure. Untouched by ambition and insistent on running a squeaky clean campaign.

Whatever.

[auntpurl]

20. Literally saw a post using "Klintoons" today

Just like FR! Amazing!

[Buzz Clik]

67. Exactly.

[think]

22. There are multiple articles in the main stream about Brock's trolls. own it.

[seabeyond]

71. As there have been multiple articles for months on Sanders trolls and their aggressions,

attacks, lies.....

Months.

Clinton stands up to it and the whine begins. Afters months of this garbage from Sanders supporters.

[Buzz Clik]

83. I own it just fine -- politics is a dirty game. YOU are the one in denial.

Somehow you believe that Sanders is above the fray -- just giving the message and not playing politics.

Ever wonder where all those tens of millions of dollars in campaign funds went?

[grossproffit]

49. I've noticed that. New members (<1 month) with thousands of posts.

[Buzz Clik]

86. Just passionate about Bernie.

Feelin' the Bern at DU for hours per day.

[oasis]

14. As long as the facts get out it shouldn't matter. nt

[think]

18. I remember when paid trolls were just for republicans. what happened to Democrats?

[oasis]

31. I don't remember anyone running for president who operated

completely clean campaign, ever.

[mac56]

33. "See? We're no worse than them!"

On edit: the poster I responded to had originally written "GOP or Democrat." Hence my response.

[oasis]

45. Nobody involved in national politics has clean hands. Sorry to burst

your "Mr. Smith goes to Washington" bubble.

[mac56]

47. What a thing for your candidate to lean upon.

What a thing to aspire to.

But - whatever you need to tell yourself in order to sleep at night.

[oasis]

51. "Get thee to a nunnery". (eom)

[mac56]

55. It's interesting that I don't need to make excuses for my candidate.

Sorry about yours.

[oasis]

82. You don't need to make excuses, nor do I.

Hillary is shifting focus to the general election.

Btw, you call tell squeaky clean Jane and Bernie they can stop searching for their income tax information. The nation is no longer interested.

[-none]

91. Some Democrats are now far enough to the Right, they can use them now too.

[think]

93. Yep. Unfortunately that seems to be where we're at nowdays. /nt

[treestar]

72. Good point. A fact is still a fact

whether whoever posted it was paid or not. And an argument is an argument, and can be responded to whether the person was paid or not.

[oasis]

90. Any supposed impropriety is now blown out of proportion.

I guess this desperation will continue until well after the nomination, but fortunately, not here.

[betsuni]

19. I thought I saw that the Sanders campaign paid 16 million to Revolutionary Messaging

for social media work. Is that wrong?

[think]

21. They created online videos for the campaign. David Brock created trolls .Big difference

Enjoy your troll fest

[betsuni]

24. Insults, as usual. Boring.

[think]

26. David Brock's trolls are main steam news. That just reality

[betsuni]

32. ...

[randome]

28. You think "getting the message out" automatically means "trolls", right?

Because you are not objective. And basing everything on what Brock does or says means you can't see anything objectively. Your hatred blinds you to anything outside your bubble.
[hr][font color="blue"][center]"If you're bored then you're boring." -Harvey Danger[/center][/font][hr]

[think]

34. Keep making excuses for those paid trolls. I'm sure Brock will find a way to out do even this.

[randome]

36. He's just one asshole among many on both sides. You seem obsessed with him.

[hr][font color="blue"][center]"If you're bored then you're boring." -Harvey Danger[/center][/font][hr]

[think]

40. He's running Hillary's super pac and is spending millions to do so. He claimed a loophole

To be allowed to coordinate with Hillary's campaign and skirt the law.

[randome]

46. He 'claimed' something and no one is doing anything about it? I wonder why that is.

At least I'm willing to call an asshole an asshole. Brock is one of them.
[hr][font color="blue"][center]"If you're bored then you're boring." -Harvey Danger[/center][/font][hr]

[arcane1]

102. It's legal to directly coordinate with the PAC as long as it's online-only n/t

[hollysmom]

29. I really don't see the point of paid trolls when so many are willing to do it for free.

[think]

43. Apparently Hillary's super pac wasn't satisfied with the work of free trolls and needed to go

The extra mile...

[cannabis_flower]

30. Only corrupt and despicable politicians

have to use paid trolls. If you are not corrupt and despicable, your will have supporters posting for you.

[LanternWaste]

35. Phone banks, as well-- as they serve the same purpose.

Phone banks, as well-- as they serve the same purpose.

[think]

38. Comparing volunteer phone banking to paying for anonymous online trolls. Go on....

[treestar]

75. both are forms of communication

[think]

77. Another person showing complete support for paid trolls. What happened to the days when trolls

Were just paid for by republicans?

Now Democrats can justify paid trolls too? Thanks Hillary...

[treestar]

81. you're off the rails

just ranting. People being paid to argue on the internet vs. the phone are not different.

And there likely are not that many.

And if it works it will continue, your ranting notwithstanding. If it doesn't work, they will direct the funds elsewhere, not because of your ranting.

[think]

84. You're trying to justify a campaign super pac using paid trolls. Who is off the rails?

[JoePhilly]

99. Well put.

The reality is that the ranting Bernie supporters can't accept the fact that their message is failing.

It simply MUST be something else.

Voter fraud, cheating, paid trolls!!!!

It can't be that people have a different view then they do. That's just impossible!!

[seabeyond]

37. Sanders has been using them day one. Clinton finally addressed it and you all are whine up a storm.

[mac56]

39. He has? Really?

Certainly you can back up that claim, right?

[seabeyond]

41. 16 million from way back. Bipartisan, US UNcut and others.

[mac56]

42. Links?

[betsuni]

54. ...

[DrDan]

44. exactly - trolls should work for free

http://americablog.com/2016/04/sanders-supporter-publishes-hit-list-super-delegates-including-home-addresses-women.html

http://www.wsj.com/articles/bernie-sanderss-supporters-press-hillary-clintons-superdelegates-to-flip-1460157358

http://patch.com/california/losalamitos/california-superdelegate-writes-open-letter-bernie-sanders-stop-harassing-phone-calls
*******************************

Dear Senator Bernie Sanders,

I have heard many complaints from other unbound Delegates to our National Convention in Philadelphia (my hometown), about getting harassing emails, Facebook postings and phone calls, even to one woman at 10:30 at night, from some of your supporters demanding that we support you. We would expect this type of bullying tactics from Trump supporters. Roger Stone threatened on April 5th- he will send angry Trump supporters to the hotel rooms (Cleveland) of any delegates who betrays Donald. Do you have a similar Plan?

[think]

48. Hillary's super pac is paying for trolls. That use to be a Republican tactic.

But keep making excuses for it.

Hillary is setting the example for future Democrats. Congratulations...

[DrDan]

52. and Bernie is able to recruit them for nothing . . .

is there an excuse for that?

What kind of example is being set with his campaign?

[think]

56. The Hillary Bro who chose to post porn on Bernie Facebook pages took his cue from Brooks

paid troll campaign. How cool is that?

[DrDan]

79. Link

[think]

88. 'Champagne’s account is no longer accessible, but his recent “likes” included the Facebook pages for

Champagne’s account is no longer accessible, but his recent “likes” included the Facebook pages for Correct the Record and Barrier Breakers.

http://gawker.com/the-trolls-the-political-operative-and-the-mysterious-1773153353

[Trust Buster]

53. Don't kid yourself. Those college students were indirectly paid trolls.

Sanders convinced them that they had a big payday coming.

[think]

58. Keep making excuses for dirty low down political tactics. The Porn posting Hillary bro

was in direct response to Brock's paid trolls. Hillary's super pac paved the way.

Hillary is setting the example that paid trolls are now an acceptable tactic. Own it...

[Trust Buster]

61. Keep fooling yourself into believing that Sanders's supporters weren't all about the money.

[think]

66. Using the 'free stuff' right wing talking points isn't helping your case.

[Trust Buster]

73. Sanders was pandering with $18 trillion in new spending. That's not a RW talking point.

That's a fact.

[think]

76. Single payer isn't free stuff. Now your using MORE right wing talking points! Good grief!

[Trust Buster]

78. Single payer would cost trillions. That's easy for you to ignore if you're not paying the tab.

[think]

92. Single payer WORKS in many countries & has done so for decades. Tax payers ARE paying for it.

Last edited Wed Apr 27, 2016, 11:12 AM - Edit history (1)

Quit making shit up. Tax payers will be paying taxes to cover single payer. They just won't be paying the insurance company middlemen who want to profit off of healthcare.

It would be one thing if America ranked better for healthcare or were paying less for health care but America is coming in close to last in both those categories:



http://time.com/2888403/u-s-health-care-ranked-worst-in-the-developed-world/

Even Obama supported single payer before he became president.

Not sure why you feel the need to spread FUD about universal healthcare but it is quite telling....

[eridani]

98. So? It would save more than it would cost. Anyone who prefers a $900/month premium to

--a $200.month tax shouldn't be running around outside without adult supervision.

[Contrary1]

100. No kidding. Insurance over the past 16 months has cost me over $14,000. n/t

[NCTraveler]

57. It's advertising. Sanders should have thought to have been so thorough.

[think]

60. Paid trolls are another form of political corruption started by republicans. Is that what you

Want for the future of the Democratic party? Really?

[NCTraveler]

64. Yes. I want a progressive message being spread far and wide.

I support that and I support democrats advertising their positions.

The first political commercial was produced by the republicans. Using your logic, we should never run a commercial. Republicans did it is a failed argument.

[Dragonfli]

59. .

[think]

62. Exactly

[Octafish]

63. Democracy depends on Truth, not Perception Management

Special Report: In the 1980s, the Reagan administration pioneered “perception management” to get the American people to “kick the Vietnam Syndrome” and accept more U.S. interventionism, but that propaganda structure continues to this day getting the public to buy into endless war, writes Robert Parry.

https://consortiumnews.com/2014/12/28/the-victory-of-perception-management/

[think]

80. Thank you for providing some much needed insight to the conversation. Perception

Management is a very accurate description of what paid trolls are part of.

I'm amazed at the full throated approval of using paid trolls here.

[Octafish]

85. Winning at all cost isn't winning.

It's not even politics -- it's cheating. And that is undemocratic.

[think]

95. Completely agree. Issues have taken a back seat to poisonous campaign shenanigans.

Perception management as you so aptly point out is the main focus.

I remember when party platforms were simple to read and understand. Newspapers published them and people would discuss the issues.

Now it's all about winning and nothing more. Supporting a paid brand like Brawndo because it's got electrolytes....

[questionseverything]

104. few people realize most everything we see and hear is manufactured consent

a couple of years ago anon dumped an hb gary hack...it showed the dod and the chamber of commerce conspiring to influence public opinion

the part that sticks out in my mind to this day was

they had created and were training on software that would allow one person to manage 100 on line personas

[treestar]

68. Who really cares

They are less likely to make a good argument. If you see an argument, you can respond to it whether the person making it is paid or not.

[ViseGrip]

70. I'm donating as Bernie MUST stay in the race. There is nothing wrong with that,

other than Hillary and her supporters don't want to be moved from the right....

I can't wait for a debate on Soc Sec with Trump! She won't talk on this issue, other than to save it. Well, I've heard lots of shitty talk on how to 'save' it. She is going to get moved from where she is by Sanders or Trump on that issue. She would not answer Bernie's question at the NY debate! Just wait! Since when are we not able to be forthcoming on that issue?

Hillary should have run as a republican, the one she was at heart, in her beginning. I will not allow any more dems or this party to keep marching to the corporate right!

[JTFrog]

94. So you're saying that the Berniebro's troll for free?

Because this place is full of them.

Most of the people getting accused of being paid trolls for Hillary on DU have been here many years, some of them over a decade. We know we are brilliant, but it's hard to take credit for getting ourselves in line early to get the big bucks from Hillary. (especially since I was not Hillary friendly when I joined this site)

Both sides have paid people to spread their message on social media. In the new day of technology that's unfortunately what politicians do. If you paint one with the brush of corruption, you have to paint them all.

[think]

96. Paid trolls are a direct reflection on the campaign that finances them. You can make all the excuses

you want but the perception will be that Hillary's super pac supports paying for anonymous online trolls.

Republicans use to take a lot of heat for such dubious practices. Now Hillary supporters openly embrace using paid trolls.

Bernie has already stated his campaign doesn't pay for online comments:

http://www.thedailybeast.com/articles/2016/04/23/bernie-sanders-campaign-we-don-t-pay-for-comments-thank-you.html

I have made no broad brush or claimed anyone here is one of the Brock paid trolls. But it's common knowledge that Brock did pay for them and they do exist.

Hillary is setting the example that distorting online discussions with paid trolls is acceptable behavior. She and her super pacs must now own it.

[JTFrog]

97. Ok. n/t

[Joob]

101. Agreed NT

[LuvLoogie]

103. Cha-ching! We drink your milkshake.

[think]

105. You like paid trolls. I get it. Hillary's super pac uses them so now they're just dandy.....

[LuvLoogie]

107. Just messin' with you guys. Lighten up.

It was a passing dalliance. You act like it was Asimov's Nightfall.

[RandySF]

106. Jimeny Cricket, Facebook posting is not life and death.