McCain Rewards Online Commenters

Washington Post: Campaign Sets Up Program For Supporters To Spread Talking Points On Web Site Comment Boards

(Washingtonpost.com)  This story was written by Paul Farhi.

---

Spread John McCain's official talking points around the Web -- and you could win valuable prizes!

That, in essence, is the McCain campaign's pitch to supporters to join its new online effort, one that combines the features of "AstroTurf" campaigning with the sort of customer-loyalty programs offered by airlines, hotel chains, restaurants and the occasional daily newspaper.

On McCain's Web site, visitors are invited to "Spread the Word" about the presumptive Republican nominee by sending campaign-supplied comments to blogs and Web sites under the visitor's screen name. The site offers sample comments ("John McCain has a comprehensive economic plan . . .") and a list of dozens of suggested destinations, conveniently broken down into "conservative," "liberal," "moderate" and "other" categories. Just cut and paste.

Activists and political operatives have used volunteers or paid staff to seed radio call-in shows or letters-to-the-editor pages for years, typically without disclosing the caller or letter writer's connection to a candidate or cause. Like the fake grass for which the practice is named, such AstroTurf messages look as though they come from the grass roots but are ersatz.

McCain's campaign has taken the same idea and given it an Internet-era twist. It also has taken the concept one step further.

People who sign up for McCain's program receive reward points each time they place a favorable comment on one of the listed Web sites (subject to verification by McCain's webmasters). The points can be traded for prizes, such as books autographed by McCain, preferred seating at campaign events, even a ride with the candidate on his bus, known as the Straight Talk Express, according to campaign spokesman Brian Rogers.

"Anytime you're getting supporters activated into online communities or taking other actions to spread the word, that's a win," Rogers says.

"Reward points" or other incentives for political work aren't a new concept. The Republican National Committee started a rewards program for volunteer fundraisers several years ago. More recently, Barack Obama's campaign has given small donors and volunteers the chance to win a lunch or dinner with the candidate. (Obama's campaign doesn't have a comment program similar to McCain's.)

More chillingly, dissidents alleged earlier this year that the Chinese government has paid Chinese citizens token sums for each favorable comment about government policies they post in chat rooms and on blogs.

Offering incentives to spread presidential campaign rhetoric online makes sense, says Michael Cornfield, an adjunct professor at George Washington University and an expert in political management online. "Now that social media have expanded citizen comment opportunities far beyond the old letter to the editor and talk show call-in, campaigns should take advantage," he says.

But Cornfield (an executive with a company that markets political-organizing software) says McCain's program has a couple of bugs.

The first, he says, is the lack of disclosure instructions to participants. To rise above AstroTurf -- a practice considered ethically dubious by many political operatives -- Cornfield says participants should use their real names and identify themselves as part of a campaign participation program (as in, "I'm Mike Cornfield, and I'm part of the McCain Action Team").

He also says "germaneness" is an issue: "Talking points are fine, but a comment should refer specifically to something that was said or written previously in the thread where it is intended to appear."

McCain should reconsider the program for an entirely different reason, says Zach Exley, who directed online organizing for John Kerry's Democratic presidential campaign in 2004. Both the Kerry campaign and the GOP's national committee, he said, had underwhelming results when they offered incentives of various kinds to volunteers.

"This stuff never works," Exley says. "People in politics aren't motivated by points. That's not what gets people to act. They're motivated by genuinely caring about the issues."

Indeed, he adds, some volunteers resent points and incentives because they think it demeans or devalues their work.

This might explain why some of the Web sites targeted by McCain's program haven't noticed much of a surge in pro-McCain comments.

David Wissing, the founder of the Hedgehog Report, a blog about Maryland politics, said his comment traffic has been running about 60 percent conservative and 40 percent liberal in recent weeks, which is typical. Wissing said he keeps an eye on reader comments -- he recently banned a poster for using multiple screen names -- and hasn't seen postings that use similar or identical language, usually a telltale sign of an AstroTurf program.

Another political blogger, David Adams, who runs Kentucky-centric Kyprogress.org, was unaware that McCain's campaign had listed his site as a target for comments until he was told about it by a reporter Friday. He questioned how much good such messages would do in any case. Kentucky, he points out, is a solidly Republican state that probably will vote overwhelmingly for McCain in the fall.

"Our eight votes are going to McCain no matter what he or Barack Obama says," Adams said of the electoral college.

[lochllan]

Drudge is always FIRST!!!

Where''s the Kilpatrick story CBS **********??

[nextgenman]

McLiverspot is getting desperate if he''s giving out prizes to people who talk him up on the web.

[nextgenman]

Desperate McLame and his Fake Grass Roots for Prizes Programs. I can''t wait for the Spam to begin....

[tbweb]

Desperate McLame and his Fake Grass Roots for Prizes Programs. I can''''t wait for the Spam to begin....

Posted by nextGenMan at 11:03 AM : Aug 07, 2008,,,

Paid Blog Spammers for McBush McSame and I agree its all McLame! lol

[omega39-2009]

Desperate McLame and his Fake Grass Roots for Prizes Programs. I can''''t wait for the Spam to begin....

Posted by nextGenMan

What are you talking about it is already here, look at McVent and obama8years among others.

[bagdadshere2]

"McCain Rewards Online Commenters"

I dont need to get paid. I do it for free cause McCain is the sole option for AMERICA. But if you want GASOLINE AT 15 BUCKS and a NUCLEAR AND DANGEROUS IRAN then your candidate is BARRACK HUSSEIN OSAMA.

[lochllan]

What are you talking about it is already here, look at McVent and obama8years among others.

Posted by omega39 at 11:08 AM : Aug 07, 2008

That''s pretty awesome! Not as good as going to Berlin for free bier and brautversht though.

[ender18-2009]

I thought McCain did not know how to use a computer or a cell phone. I believe he still uses a slide rule for those complex calculations.

[johnbush2-2009]

I do it for free because I believe John McCain is the best man to lead this nation.

I don''t want that fraud Obama to be in the White House.

[Syndicate]

I agree I don''t need any points or prizes. I write what I write because I believe it to be in the best interest of the country. If I did not believe John McCain would be good for the country you would hear it. Or uh.. read it.

[hhroams]

Isn''t that program something like buying votes?

Politicians used to go down on skid row with a hand full of dollar bills and a few half-pints of whiskey to get votes, many were elected that way.

I guess that''s the only way McCain can get people to speak well of him is to pay them and also edit their comments so that they are all favorable to him. All they are really using is the persons name and email address.

Typical politician------------but doesn''t matter whether GOP"r or Demo, they are all crooks, looking out for number #1.

[whyafghan]

This is another shining example of CBS political slant for Obama. This story is hypocracy at its best.

[tawpdawg111]

Why not just continue to have Rush Limbaugh tell them what to think and say?

Maybe that wasn''t working so well considering Obama''s polling strength.

[hhroams]

HONEST JOHN''S USED VOTES. WE''LL BUY ANYONE WE CAN!!!

[whyafghan]

How about a story from CBS talking about the Minorities (Blacks in Norfolk VA) forging names for voter registration. Voter fraud is far more serious than this junk.

[blitzder]

Corruption, deception, lying for McCain, its all part of the Republican platform, and has been for years. Now they want to spread the dishonesty on the web. YUCK

[hhroams]

CBS NEWS IS ABOUT AS BIASED TOWARDS OBAMA AS FOX NEWS TOWARDS MCCAIN!

[ariel133]

Great idea- And if it were Obama''s idea it would be an exicitng life alterating event- so stop the hypocrisy already!

[tawpdawg111]

I do it for free because I believe John McCain is the best man to lead this nation.

I don''''t want that fraud Obama to be in the White House.

Posted by johnbush2 at 11:16 AM : Aug 07, 2008

This is a BRILLIANT cut and paste, John. Would you post the website where I can get some talking point comments to cut and paste, too?

Thanks in advance.

[jenny1233-2009]

Mc Cain wants to build 45 nuclear power plants that will EACH cost at least 5 billion dollars and take somewhere from 3 to 6 years to construct depending on delays and funding. Power plants are funded by public bond issues which require debt and interest payments that YOU will pay in higher rates, oh boy much higher rates, and, government subsidies from your tax dollars.

I personally do not care if Obama is purple, we need fresh ideas.

[nextgenman]

Desperate McLame and his Fake Grass Roots for Prizes Programs. I can''''''''t wait for the Spam to begin....

Posted by nextGenMan

What are you talking about it is already here, look at McVent and obama8years among others.

Posted by omega39 at 11:08 AM : Aug 07, 2008
------------

True. But now they can earn Frequent Ranter Miles....

[lochllan]

Politicians used to go down on skid row with a hand full of dollar bills and a few half-pints of whiskey to get votes, many were elected that way.

Posted by HHROAMS at 11:19 AM : Aug 07, 2008

Yeah really! Whooda thunk that John McCain was really liberal at heart?

McCain/Kennedy
McCain/Feingold
McCain/Liebermann

No I......

[omega39-2009]

On McCain''s Web site, visitors are invited to "Spread the Word" about the presumptive Republican nominee by sending campaign-supplied comments to blogs and Web sites under the visitor''s screen name..

LOL! They will be easy to spot..

Drill-Surge-Drill-Surge-Drill-Surge-Drill-Surge-Drill-Surge-Drill-Surge-Drill-Surge-Drill-Surge-Drill-Surge-Drill-Surge-Drill-Surge-Drill-Surge-Drill-Surge-Drill-Surge-Drill-Surge-Drill-Surge-Drill-Surge-Drill-Surge-Drill-Surge-Drill-Surge-Drill-Surge-Drill-Surge-Drill-Surge-Drill-Surge-Drill-Surge-Drill-Surge-Drill-Surge-Drill-Surge-Drill-Surge-Drill-Surge-Drill-Surge-Drill-Surge-Drill-Surge-Drill-Surge-Drill-Surge-Drill-Surge-Drill-Surge-Drill-Surge-Drill-Surge-Drill-Surge-Drill-Surge-Drill-Surge-Drill-Surge-Drill-Surge-Drill-Surge-Drill-Surge-Drill-Surge-Drill-Surge-Drill-Surge-Drill-Surge-Drill-Surge-Drill-Surge-Drill-Surge-Drill-Surge-Drill-Surge-Drill-Surge-Drill-Surge-Drill-Surge-Drill-Surge-Drill-Surge-Drill-Surge-Drill-Surge-Drill-Surge-Drill-Surge-Drill-Surge-Drill

[lochllan]

CBS NEWS IS ABOUT AS BIASED TOWARDS OBAMA AS FOX NEWS TOWARDS MCCAIN!

Posted by HHROAMS at 11:23 AM : Aug 07, 2008

I come here for the interesting conversation with libs...not the suckazz news reporting.

[G H M]

Notice this is not - Presented by ExxonMoble
McDummy is at it again.
I never seen so childish politics in my seventy years.
I guess it caters to dumb voters. You know -the 28% who love Bush/McSame and cannot vote any other way then Republican!
This is from a real conservative a democrat!

[lochllan]

Drill-Surge-Drill-Surge-Drill-
Surge-Drill-Surge-Drill-Surge-Drill-Surg
e-Drill-Surge-Drill-Surge-Drill-Surge-Dr
ill-Surge-Drill-Surge-Drill-Surge-Drill-
Surge-Drill-Surge-Drill-Surge-Drill-Surg
e-Drill-Surge-Drill-Surge-Drill-Surge-Dr
ill-Surge-Drill-Surge-Drill-Surge-Drill-
Surge-Drill-Surge-Drill-Surge-Drill-Surg
e-Drill-Surge-Drill-Surge-Drill-Surge-Dr
ill-Surge-Drill-Surge-Drill-Surge-Drill-
Surge-Drill-Surge-Drill-Surge-Drill-Surg
e-Drill-Surge-Drill-Surge-Drill-Surge-Dr
ill-Surge-Drill-Surge-Drill-Surge-Drill-
Surge-Drill-Surge-Drill-Surge-Drill-Surg
e-Drill-Surge-Drill-Surge-Drill-Surge-Dr
ill-Surge-Drill-Surge-Drill-Surge-Drill-
Surge-Drill-Surge-Drill-Surge-Drill-Surg
e-Drill-Surge-Drill-Surge-Drill-Surge-Dr
ill-Surge-Drill-Surge-Drill-Surge-Drill-
Surge-Drill-Surge-Drill-Surge-Drill

[hhroams]

Why dont we get CBS News & Fox News to run a story about Dallas County, Texas in 1984 when the Republican county sheriff on the day of the general election posted deputies at every heavily minority(black, hispanic)voting point in the city and had his deputies talk to minorities in line to vote about voter fraud and that they could go to jail. They did not bother the white/redneck born again evangelicals in the same lines. Many people walked away before voting because they were intimidated. No one cared, no one did anything, the Dallas papers ran about one line about the facts deputies were "guarding against fraudulant votes'', if that were the case why weren''t they in the all white North Dallas precincts??

[tawpdawg111]

John McCain is the one for the job. Some of his great ideas for America include:

Drill-Surge-Drill-Surge-Drill-
Surge-Drill-Surge-Drill-Surge-Drill-Surg
e-Drill-Surge-Drill-Surge-Drill-Surge-Dr
ill-Surge-Drill-Surge-Drill-Surge-Drill-
Surge-Drill-Surge-Drill-Surge-Drill-Surg
e-Drill-Surge-Drill-Surge-Drill-Surge-Dr
ill-Surge-Drill-Surge-Drill-Surge-Drill-
Surge-Drill-Surge-Drill-Surge-Drill-Surg
e-Drill-Surge-Drill-Surge-Drill-Surge-Dr
ill-Surge-Drill-Surge-Drill-Surge-Drill-
Surge-Drill-Surge-Drill-Surge-Drill-Surg
e-Drill-Surge-Drill-Surge-Drill-Surge-Dr
ill-Surge-Drill-Surge-Drill-Surge-Drill-
Surge-Drill-Surge-Drill-Surge-Drill-Surg
e-Drill-Surge-Drill-Surge-Drill-Surge-Dr
ill-Surge-Drill-Surge-Drill-Surge-Drill-
Surge-Drill-Surge-Drill-Surge-Drill-Surg
e-Drill-Surge-Drill-Surge-Drill-Surge-Dr
ill-Surge-Drill-Surge-Drill-Surge-Drill-
Surge-Drill-Surge-Drill-Surge-Drill

[hhroams]

CBS NEWS IS ABOUT AS BIASED TOWARDS OBAMA AS FOX NEWS TOWARDS MCCAIN!

Posted by HHROAMS at 11:23 AM : Aug 07, 2008

I come here for the interesting conversation with libs...not the suckazz news reporting.
Posted by lochllan at 11:27 AM : Aug 07, 2008

Do you have to move your lips to read the reporting along with a dictionary??

[G H M]

McDumb and Bush-dumber
Drill and surge that!

[hhroams]

When they make the movie about the campaign they should get Jack Nicholson to play McCain, he''s already crazy anyway and would only have to act his normal self.

[midlifer]

John McSpam!

[whyafghan]

How about a story from CBS talking about the Minorities (Blacks in Norfolk VA) forging names for voter registration. Voter fraud is far more serious than this junk.

[tawpdawg111]

Hey Omegaman and lochllan could you guys please spread the good word about McCain on ABC or somewhere else please? I am only registered to comment on CBS and I don''t want it to be obvious we don''t think these comments up ourselves.

Thanks in advance.

[rf35]

Who would want the prizes he is offering, anyway? I wouldn''t pass up a dinner with Obama, though. I''d like to get to know the candidate I plan to vote for a little better. Anyway, I doubt there are that many undecided voters left...this election polarized early and hard.

[omega39-2009]

ey Omega, I thought it was "Drill-Surge-Drool, Drill-Surge-Drool, Drill-Surge-Drool?"

Posted by raflin1 a

Raflin1 that works!! Drill-Surge-Zzzzzzzzz would also work.

[lochllan]

I thought

Posted by raflin1 at 11:35 AM : Aug 07, 2008

Shut up and stop lying!

[hhroams]

A LOT OF THE THINGS JOHN HAS ON IS MIND APPARENTLY IS:
PARTY GIRLS

PARIS HILTON
BRITNEY SPEARS
PARIS HILTON
BRITNEY SPEARS
PARIS
PARIS
BRITNEY
BRITNEY
ETC
ETC
ETC
ETC.

MAYBE HE CAN CONVINCE THEM TO VOTE FOR HIM!!

[liberalme]

Great idea- And if it were Obama''''s idea it would be an exicitng life alterating event- so stop the hypocrisy already!

Posted by Ariel133 at 11:24

Well ole McCain knows he can''t dazzle them with brillance so he has to baffle them with BS--and look at how many actually buy into his juvenile antics!!

[lochllan]

John McCain will balance the budget by the end of his first term. The near-term path to balance is built on three principles:

* Reasonable economic growth. Growth is an imperative - historically the greatest success in reducing deficits (late 1980s; late 1990s) took place in the context of economic growth.

* Comprehensive spending controls. Bringing the budget to balance will require across-the-board scrutiny of spending and making tough choices on new spending proposals.

* Bi-partisanship in budget efforts. Much as the late 1990s witnessed bipartisan efforts to put the fiscal house in order, bi-partisan efforts will be the key to undoing the recent spending binge.

[lochllan]

In the long-term, the only way to keep the budget balanced is successful reform of the large spending pressures in Social Security, Medicare, and Medicaid.

McCain Policies Will Support Reasonable Economic Growth: Small business is the key to job growth. Small business will benefit from:

* Low individual tax rates - sole-proprietorships, partnerships, landlords and others are taxed under the individual income tax.

* Access to capital from low tax rates on dividends and capital gains.

* Minimizing expensive mandates - such as those for health insurance and pro-union initiatives like card check.

* Enhancing international competitiveness to keep jobs here; not abroad.
o A lower corporate tax rate.

o Improved investment and research incentives to ensure that workers have the most modern technology.

o Bringing the budget to balance, reducing federal borrowing, and controlling spending to reduce the burden on the economy.

[omega39-2009]

John McCain will balance the budget by the end of his first term. The near-term path to balance is built on three principles:

Posted by lochllan

Everyone from the GAO to the AIE has laughed out loud at that claim but whatever floats your boat.....

[lochllan]

Comprehensive Spending Controls: John McCain will institute broad reforms to control spending:

* The McCain administration would reserve all savings from victory in the Iraq and Afghanistan operations in the fight against Islamic extremists for reducing the deficit. Since all their costs were financed with deficit spending, all their savings must go to deficit reduction.

* A one-year spending pause. Freeze non-defense, non-veterans discretionary spending for a year and use those savings for deficit reduction. A one-year pause in the growth of discretionary spending will be imposed to allow for a comprehensive review of all spending programs. After the completion of a comprehensive review of all programs, projects and activities of the federal government, we will propose a plan to modernize, streamline, consolidate, reprioritize and, where needed, terminate individual programs.

* Take back earmark funds. The McCain Administration will reclaim billions of add-on spending from earmarks and add-ons in FY 2007 and 2008.

[lochllan]

Bi-partisan Fiscal Discipline: A McCain Administration will provide the leadership to achieve bipartisan spending restraint equivalent to that in the 1997 Balanced Budget Agreement between a GOP Congress and a Democratic President. In 1997, President Clinton and the GOP Congress agreed to balance the budget by restraining the growth in spending and cutting taxes over a ten-year period.

* With the same bipartisan effort today, with the federal budget that is now 70 percent larger, we could keep taxes low and still balance the budget by holding overall spending growth to 2.4 percent. Unlike Congress and the Executive branch in recent years, a McCain Administration will enforce the spending restraint to balance the budget and keep it balanced.

* A McCain Administration would perform a comprehensive review of all programs, projects and activities of the federal government, and then propose a plan to modernize, streamline, consolidate, reprioritize and, where needed, terminate individual programs. McCain could use the bi-partisan commission structure used for the Defense Base Realignment and Closure Commission (BRAC). Such a commission could be required to report to the President who would then submit the recommendations to the Congress for a straight up or down vote.

* A McCain Administration will review all special spending provisions to end subsidies to high-income individuals and corporations

[cfin5]

My words are free too. It didn''t cost me anything to naturally LOVE my country and to express (cultivate) its worth,.....that bill was paid for by others starting with our Founding Fathers. I sow the free seeds of freedom to produce a crop that will do so likewise when matured,.....that is how I wish to be compensated for my time. Nothing else will do. Patriotism should always judge itself in speaking up well of the good as pointing out evils against the good. This is not unlike weeding a garden for the intended fruits sake. So I spend time watching, thinking, and exercising the ideological freedom tools (rights) of my National Heritage necessary for its maintenance so I can show appreciation for these gifts. You know, sometimes my garden produces better some years than others. Its usually from a flaw in my judgments at the time from lack of knowledge and/or mixed with apathy when weeds are present......Here, I weed and water where I see it is needed, so don''t think I am anyone''s "personal enemy" because I tell you the truth,....would much rather loose a debate with truth than to win with a lie. Historical social policy mathematics is my greatest tool against ideological weeds and I can and will couple it with my IQ against those who hate my country. Some soldiers carry guns,....I carry a gardening tool.....GOD BLESS AMERICA!!!

[lochllan]

Eliminating Wasteful Spending

Stop Earmarks, Pork-Barrel Spending, And Waste: John McCain will veto every pork-laden spending bill and make their authors famous. As President, he will seek the line-item veto to reduce waste and eliminate earmarks that have led to corruption. Earmarks restrict America''s ability to address genuine national priorities and interfere with fair, competitive markets.

Leadership, Courage And Choices: Reducing spending means making choices. John McCain will provide the courageous leadership necessary to control spending, including:

* Eliminate broken government programs. The federal government itself admits that one in five programs do not perform.

* Reform our civil service system to promote accountability and good performance in our federal workforce.

* Reform procurement programs and cut wasteful spending in defense and non-defense programs.

[tawpdawg111]

ok I''m off now to another story now to post more McCain comments. Maybe I''ll change it up a little this time so its not too obvious:

Surge-drill-surge-drill-Surge-Drill-Surge-Drill-
Surge-Drill-Surge-Drill-Surge-Drill-Surg
e-Drill-Surge-Drill-Surge-Drill-Surge-Dr
ill-Surge-Drill-Surge-Drill-Surge-Drill-
Surge-Drill-Surge-Drill-Surge-Drill-Surg
e-Drill-Surge-Drill-Surge-Drill-Surge-Dr
ill-Surge-Drill-Surge-Drill-Surge-Drill-
Surge-Drill-Surge-Drill-Surge-Drill-Surg
e-Drill-Surge-Drill-Surge-Drill-Surge-Dr
ill-Surge-Drill-Surge-Drill-Surge-Drill-
Surge-Drill-Surge-Drill-Surge-Drill-Surg
e-Drill-Surge-Drill-Surge-Drill-Surge-Dr
ill-Surge-Drill-Surge-Drill-Surge-Drill-
Surge-Drill-Surge-Drill-Surge-Drill

Didja catch it? I started it off with surge instead of drill.

You all have a nice day now.

[lochllan]

Reforming Entitlement Programs For The 21st Century
Reform Social Security: John McCain will fight to save the future of Social Security, and he believes that we may meet our obligations to the retirees of today and the future without raising taxes. John McCain supports supplementing the current Social Security system with personal accounts - but not as a substitute for addressing benefit promises that cannot be kept. John McCain will reach across the aisle to address these challenges, but if the Democrats do not act, he will. No problem is in more need of honesty than the looming financial challenges of entitlement programs. Americans have the right to know the truth and John McCain will not leave office without fixing the problems that threatens our future prosperity and power.

Control Medicare Growth: The growth of spending on Medicare threatens our fiscal future. John McCain has proposed comprehensive health care reforms that will reduce the growth in Medicare spending, improve the quality of care, protect seniors against rising Medicare premium payments, and preserve the advancements in medical science central to providing quality care.

[macamaca-2009]

you can''t polish a T.U.R.D.
WHAT EVER HAPPENED TO OLE DONNIE BOY?

[lochllan]

Supporting Small Businesses
Lower Energy Costs
John McCain''s Lexington Project will address the rising costs of energy that are hurting small businesses. He strongly supports increased domestic exploration of oil and natural gas. This will send a strong signal to oil markets that future supplies will be more plentiful, countering the rise in oil prices. The market for natural gas is less internationally integrated than that of oil - increased domestic production will lower the cost of this key energy source.

The Project will transform electricity generation. John McCain has set the goal of building 45 new nuclear power plants by 2030 - creating 700,000 jobs and providing cheap electricity. It will provide incentives for the production of electricity from renewable sources. Finally, the Lexington Project will devote $2 billion annually to research that will allow the clean use of our most plentiful and low-cost energy source: coal.