Capitol Hill Blue apologizes

[TexMac]

I don't know how many of you caught the spectacularly hateful hit piece on Ron Paul that Capitol Hill Blue ran yesterday, but it was a doozy. Here's the last bit (only part I saved) on why they weren't going to allow comments on their smearjob:

(EDITORS NOTE: Because of the documented practice of Ron Paul's campaign of spamming web sites to try and artificially inflate their already-discredited claims of widespread support and our own experience with the underhanded and unethical tactics of his supporters, we have suspended comments on this story. This web site does not serve as a shill for any political campaign and we will not allow it to be used by Paul's small but loud legion of unethical supporters to spread misinformation or perpetuate their candidate's record of deception and hate. As we do with all elected officials of candidates for public office, we will continue to report misdeeds of the Paul's campaign and expose it for the sham that it is.)

Yes, the article was even worse. I'll try to find more of it, but that bit above is representative of the tone.

Apparently, there were several of these pieces and one was up today. Here's where an anti-Pauler posted it on Digg, with the title "Ron Paul "Spammers" Catch the Attention of the FBI."

Ironically, the link now goes to this:

Good grief!
July 7, 2007 - 5:38pm.

Wow, I take off a few days for the 4th of July holiday and all hell breaks loose.

I took a break from editing Blue during the 4th of July week and it seems that a few articles were posted that were not what I would have done (or approved) and some felt were my work. A friend that I left in charge incorrectly assumed that my lack of support for a particular candidate meant he could declare open season on that candidate. He was wrong and I apologize for his misuse of this web site. The articles posted have been removed.

Longtime readers of this site know I always sign anything that I write and if it doesn't have my name on it, I didn't write it. Just because I don't like a particular candidate or their past or positions is no excuse to use this web site to declare war.

A lot of volunteers put in a lot of time and effort helping keep Blue up and running and I sometimes have to step in and bring things back under control.

I ask readers to remember that three people post comments under the heading of "editor" or use my login ID to edit articles and that when I post a comment, an article or a column I always sign my name to it. If it does not have my byline ("By Doug Thompson") or my postscript at the end ("--Doug" or "--Doug Thompson") at the end, I did not write it.

Likewise, I do not close articles or columns to comment. Each columnist on this web site has the option of opening or closing his or her writing to comments but editors do not have the authority to close an existing article to comments. The fact that one did was a mistake that has been corrected and the readers of Capitol Hill Blue have my apologies that it happened.

--Doug Thompson

Too funny.

So, go Digg it!

[angelatc]

This guy is such a liar. He's like the DC Enquirer.

[Thor]

Interesting he does not mention Dr Paul's name in the apology.

People should email him and ask him to do a fair piece on Ron Paul to make up for the mistakes of his staff.

EDIT: I just checked the CHB site and he does mention Dr Paul in the apology, I guess he updated it.

[austin356]

Originally Posted by Thor

Interesting he does not mention Dr Paul's name in the apology.

People should email him and ask him to do a fair piece on Ron Paul to make up for the mistakes of his staff.

come'on let him be......... haven't we caused enough trouble over at CHB?




If we start going overboard the only response of people will be that of the Hannity forum. They only fight you harder, demonize you, and then block you. Not because they want to go so far as to keep your ideas from being heard but because of tactics.

[Oddball]

Originally Posted by austin356

If we start going overboard the only response of people will be that of the Hannity forum. They only fight you harder, demonize you, and then block you. Not because they want to go so far as to keep your ideas from being heard but because of tactics.

Quite correct.

[Bryan]

I'm of the leave it be view. It's actually kind of ironic that this puts Doug in the same camp as Dr. Paul and the racist allegations, someone else wrote something for their news outlet that has some issues with it and they take the heat for. I say that if we expect people to drop the racist allegations against Dr. Paul than there is no harm in doing the same here.

Prior to all the Ron Paul hit pieces I had read some good works on CHB that I liked and thought it was a good site. I don't mind that Doug (or anyone) has opposing views but I do hope that they can be expressed in responsible means for the benefit of all.

Thanks to Spirit of '76 for his media watchdog efforts here.

[cajuncocoa]

Yes, I think he is reading this. His response to me over there seems to suggest so.

I'm fine with accepting the apology, dropping it, and for being civil for now. But I would not have been able to live with myself if I hadn't gone over there to point out the hypocrisy between criticizing RP for a newsletter that he didn't send and DT's backpeddling over an article that he claims he didn't write.

Now, with the hope that Mr. Thompson can understand how that is possible, I will let this go.

[MozoVote]

I refuse to dignify that with a digg.

[angrydragon]

Hahaha very funny.

[Kuldebar]

It appears to be a tad bit premature to start passing out kisses and hugs.

Ron Paul Supporters Catching Attention of the FBI? LINK

Washington D.C. 7/7/2007 8:28 PM GMT (TransWorldNews - Top Story)

CapitolHillBlue.com is reporting several threatening voicemails to its office after recent reports of less than expected fundraising numbers from the campaign. The web site would like to caution all supporters of any campaign that making a phone threat across states lines is considered a federal crime.

The article that they posted is titled Spam Squad. You can clearly see the disgust that they had in dealing with supporters of the Ron Paul community.

USAElectionPolls.com has recently caught onto the strong Ron Paul support but instead of downplaying or censoring his supporters enthusiasm like other websites, they are criticizing the supporters of the other campaigns. "Ron Paul supporters are writing blogs, posting Youtube videos, getting on Digg and Technorati. Other campaigns hire online bloggers to work for them, Ron Paul has an army of online bloggers working for free. The story should be how Ron Paul is saving millions of dollars in online advertising because of his supporters being on Digg, YouTube, Technorati, Meetup, Eventful. And of the lack of enthusiasm the supporters of other campaigns have in the new political world. Not how a few individuals become abusive." says USAElectionPolls.com.

USAElectionPolls.com currently has a "Digg'ing contest" for its candidate pages. Ron Paul is leading his second highest competitor Mitt Romney, 508-10

Also see this forum thread:

Something Has to Be Done About Doug Thompson