The opposition research that wasn't
By: Rob
Published On: 12/14/2006 1:36:03 PM
If you follow Virginia blogs, you by now know of the so-called scandal that the Webb campaign allegedly had opposition research books on various Virginia bloggers.
My sources at the campaign are saying this simply isn't true.
More coming ...
(UPDATE: J.C. is hearing what I am:
Ms. Vanden Berg has responded to my request and says:
We don't have an opposition research on you. We don't have any opposition research books on any people who blog.
If no hard evidence is produced, then we have a case of "he said, she said." On the other hand, if hard evidence were to be produced, Ms. Vanden Berg's denial would be more than a little problematic.
Of course, Jessica can't prove what doesn't exist - so the burden of proof in this matter is for those making these accusations to prove what they claim does exist.)
Comments
Agreed, Rob... (cycle12 - 12/14/2006 2:09:55 PM)
...and to learn otherwise would really, really surprise me.
Thanks!
Steve
Pardon Me (Newport News Dem - 12/14/2006 2:36:06 PM)
but when have facts and truth and ethics ever got in the way of today's republican party? They are devoid of all 3 and will do and say anything to smear a damn "librul" and "dumbocrat".
i dont get it... (chiefsjen - 12/14/2006 2:51:51 PM)
i dont get the purpose of this diary....
can you please elaborate...
Perhaps to refute false claims? (cycle12 - 12/14/2006 3:28:42 PM)
Thanks!
Steve
Just wanted to add (pitin - 12/14/2006 4:58:05 PM)
During the campaign, someone was looking into me, and I talked to another progressive blogger who was able to confirm that someone was doing some background research on them. We both had reason to believe that it was a Republican doing the research.
So yeah, there was some research being done on bloggers, I did not write about the Webb/Allen race, I wrote about (and worked for) Andy Hurst.
If I had to hazard a guess (and that's all it is, a guess), I would guess it was the Republican Party of Virginia that commissioned the research.
I've been an open book but someone dug into my background (Andrea Chamblee - 12/14/2006 5:29:44 PM)
I was just waiting for the last thing, my work phone, to be posted on NLS. Some courageous anon posted just about everything else he found: school, work, kids, etc.
OUCH. (phriendlyjaime - 12/14/2006 6:05:12 PM)
Maybe don't use your last name?
Scary.
Blogging for my Father (Mookie - 12/14/2006 8:48:09 PM)
You're right, Jaime. I ended up blogging under my real name by accident. I was new to this blog thing in 2005, and the first site I signed up on had me type in my particulars, then I chose a screen name. I logged onto RK next, thinking I would go through the same procedure, but the name I first used WAS my screen name. I did think about changing my name or opening a new account.
But my
Dad had just died. I was trying to write his obit for my Mom, and him being one of the first computer geeks, doing the first beta testing, for automating the NY Stock Exchange and airline reservation systems, he changed jobs a lot. I couldn't fill in the dates in the draft obit. I knew he was always on the computer, so hoping he posted a resume, I googled him. I didn't find the dates I was looking for. I did find that he got a kick out of trolling neo-con sites under his real name. He wasn't polite, and he probably loved making them furious. At least the name-calling responses he got kept them off the street. Here's to you, Dad.
How ironic (Andrea Chamblee - 12/14/2006 8:50:18 PM)
That was my husband's account. I didn't sign him out...
You take your dog hunting (Kathy Gerber - 12/15/2006 9:39:20 AM)
.. but you don't give him the gun. Game theory's just a dog, but it can be fun in a microcosm when the stakes are low. A little bit like paintball.
So who benefited from all that hoopla?
?? (Andrea Chamblee - 12/15/2006 5:22:01 PM)
Andrea (Kathy Gerber - 12/17/2006 1:05:45 AM)
I apologize for not responding to ??
I really do like game theory, but I was just trying to say that it isn't the end all and be all to choosing moves.
It's a mathematics area really, but it's applied in a number of other disciplines, esp. econ and now biology.
Thanks (Andrea Chamblee - 12/18/2006 9:12:46 PM)
I guess I was just too dense to get it. I also realize now that "??" probably seemed short (or even bit¢hy). Sorry.