Dems to GOP: Stop Using Fake Twitter Accounts
by Christine Stuart | October 2, 2009 4:45 PM
Posted to Media Matters
| State Capitol
A spokeswoman for Connecticut’s Democratic Party asked the Connecticut Republican Party to stop tweeting with fake Twitter accounts that impersonate Democratic state lawmakers.
The Twitter accounts have names like “MeetChrisDonovan” and “MeetRepDMerrill,” making it seem like Speaker Donovan and the Majority Leader Merrill are the ones typing the 140 character messages themselves.
Each of the 33 fake Twitter accounts set up by the Republican Party have corresponding Web sites.
“Certainly they have a right to educate voters about these Representatives’ records, but not by impersonating them and giving voters the impression they are, in fact, the Representative themselves,” Colleen Flanagan, spokeswoman for the Democratic Party said.
While Flanagan conceded all of the Web sites have official disclaimers saying they were paid for and authorized by the Connecticut Republican Party, she opined the names of the Twitter accounts may actually violate Twitter’s terms of service.
She pointed to the impersonation clause which says an account “is guilty of impersonation if it confuses or misleads others—accounts with the clear INTENT to confuse or mislead will be permanently suspended.”
Republican Party Chairman Chris Healy said the Twitter accounts have not been suspended so he doesn’t believe they do violate Twitter’s terms of service.
Rep. Matt Lesser, D-Middletown, said Friday night that he was able to get Twitter to suspend the fake account set up in his name by the Republicans.
“It’s parody and humor,” Healy said in a phone interview. “It’s no secret who is behind these sites.”
“Parody impersonation accounts are allowed to exist,” Twitter’s term of service says.
“If they don’t like it, too bad,” Healy said.
“The purchase and construction of these websites and twitter accounts has been transparent and completely up front,” Healy said in a prepared statement. “We are using this technology telling the truth and if the Democrats don’t like it - too bad.”
“It would be wholly inappropriate for the Connecticut Democratic Party to set up Twitter accounts under the names, “GovLisaMoody,” “Healy4Simmons,” “JodiHeartsLinda,” or “FOIsDontCountforRell,” all of which could realistically give Connecticut voters the impression that they are actual political figures in the state,” Flanagan said.
Healy said it’s not his fault the Democratic party isn’t as “inventive or creative” as the Republican party.
In addition Healy said the Democrats have the power of incumbency and are able to get their message out through mailers and state funded web sites.
“Republicans believe the only way our lives are going to change for the better in Connecticut is for the voters to know the truth and then offer them policies and ideas that promote opportunity and reward success,” Healy said.
But Flanagan seemed to feel the way in which they were spreading that message was in bad taste.
“Obviously their efforts to beat Legislative Democrats throughout the state have been, to date, an abysmal failure based on the makeup of both the State House and Senate, but resorting to the impersonation of elected officials is extremely inappropriate,” Flanagan said.
Comments (19)
Posted by: ACR | October 2, 2009 8:01 PM
While Flanagan conceded all of the Web sites have official disclaimers saying they were paid for and authorized by the Connecticut Republican Party, she opined the names of the Twitter accounts may actually violate Twitter's terms of service.
The twitter accounts are titled after a website, not a person.
Additionally they provide a link to said website that carries the CTGOP disclaimer.
Posted by: ACR | October 2, 2009 8:04 PM
Twitter Me When You Can
(The following is a statement by Republican State Party Chairman Chris Healy concerning the laughable request by the CT Democrats that the CTGOP take down our website and Twitters accounts that focus on legislative Democrats.)
"Connecticut Democrats should be scared when the public finds out what a mess they have made of our government. The Republican Party has made no secret that we will use every method available to tell the truth about the Democrat's spending and taxation policies that are ruining opportunity for every Connecticut family."
"On Friday, the Democrats are putting the finishing touches on a budget that is already $500 million off before the ink dries on the document."
"The purchase and construction of these websites and twitter accounts has been transparent and completely up front. We are using this technology telling the truth and if the Democrats don't like it - too bad."
"Republicans believe the only way our lives are going to change for the better in Connecticut is for the voters to know the truth and then offer them policies and ideas that promote opportunity and reward success."
"The Republican approach is to do that through clear thinking
and plain speaking - on the street corner, across the picket fence or on line."
Posted by: Second Row Seat | October 2, 2009 9:25 PM
It may be legal and some might think it is creative. I think it is in poor taste.
Posted by: Meet Anonnymous Blogger | October 2, 2009 10:12 PM
WTIC "news" debates twitter accounts with twitter user?
http://twitter.com/WTIC1080
not good.
Posted by: ctkeith | October 2, 2009 10:52 PM
I'm happy you agree with me ACR.
PS-
Thanks ACR,
I won 100 bucks with 31 minutes to spare.
Pavlov, gotta love that guy.
Posted by: Sean | October 3, 2009 3:37 PM
This is just the most recent in a long history of ugly Republican dirty tricks campaigns. Let's recall Richard Nixon's campaign's use of dirty tricks against Edmond Muskie, Donald Segretti and his dirty tricks, the blatant lies employed by the so-called "Swift Boat Veterans for Truth" to smear war hero John Kerry, or the racist Willy Horton ads benefitting George HW Bush's campaign, or the subtly racist "Harold, call me" ads with the suggestive blond used against African-American Harold Ford.
Now Republican presidential hopeful Tim Pawlenty has hired Terry Nelson, who was involved in the notorious New England phone-jamming trick in 2002, and who was also an adviser to the Swift Boat campaign and the "call me" ads against Harold Ford.
And here we have the Connecticut Republican Party using deliberately deceptive twitter accounts designed to make readers think they are coming from the legislator himself, only to see demeaning information about that individual at a site paid for by the Republican Party. Clearly this violates Twitter's rules given that Representative Matt Lesser convinced the company to take down an account in his name.
But even if this were technically legal, it is a blatantly dirty trick by a party that is defined by its ugly tricks. I think Chris Healy's twitter stunts will remind voters that Republicans will stoop to this sort of tactic every time. Whether it's Donald Segretti and his henchmen under Nixon, or the racist Willy Horton ads under George HW Bush, or the Swift Boat lies for George W Bush, there seems to be no lower moral boundary that stops Republicans from engaging in this sort of action.
Posted by: Sean | October 3, 2009 3:46 PM
Christine writes, "It's parody and humor," Healy said in a phone interview. "It's no secret who is behind these sites."
I wonder who in the world would actually find anything "funny" about those postings. It's not funny; any normal person would find the remarks downright mean.
And it is not clear at first glance who is behind these sites. If you click on one of them, there is no mention of who's responsible, since the small attribution to the Connecticut Republican Party doesn't appear in the window that shows up. You have to scroll down to the bottom to find out who's bankrolling this dirty tricks campaign.
This shouldn't be about legality, though the legality is clearly in doubt. It should be about ethics and decency. And if one uses standards of ethics and decency, it's abundantly clear that this twitter campaign is wrong and underhanded.
How could anyone think these dirty tricks are "funny"?
Posted by: ACR | October 4, 2009 2:45 PM
>>war hero John Kerry
At least his new venture seems to be doing well.
Posted by: Sean | October 4, 2009 4:14 PM
The individual termed "ACR", who serves on the Republican State Committee, quotes "war hero John Kerry", then adds a link to a sign that says "Waffle House". Apparently he thinks that is funny, too.
John Kerry volunteered for military service when he didn't have to, volunteered for combat when he didn't have to, and volunteered for the most dangerous and deadly area of service in the U.S. Navy- manning a swift boat in the Vietcong-controlled Mekong Delta. Kerry earned two Purple Hearts after being wounded and to this day still carries shrapnel in his leg from a Vietcong RPG. He was awarded the Silver Star for valor in combat for saving his crew and his boat, a medal that was personally awarded to him by Admiral Zumwalt.
Yet mention that Senator Kerry is a war hero, and some Republicans think it is "funny" to show a picture of a Waffle House.
It's not funny; it's shameful.
Posted by: ACR | October 5, 2009 9:08 AM
Kerry's record is one of shame and in the opinion of many - treason.
http://johnkerry-08.com/patriot/record.php
Posted by: Sean | October 5, 2009 11:06 AM
ACR's comment shows just how bizarre and divorced from reality the Republican Party has become. This individual, a member of the Connecticut Republican Party's Central Committee, actually accuses United States Senator John Kerry of treason.
Normal voters in this state would be shocked and appalled that an official of a major party could possibly make such a bizarre, false, and unhinged accusation against the former Democratic candidate for president of the United States.
This accusation is so bizarre that it rates a news article of its own by Christine Stuart. It is newsworthy that a leading official of the Connecticut Republican Party would actually accuse Senator Kerry of treason. I think your readers would appreciate your looking into this, Christine, and questioning other Republican central committee members as to whether they, too, and party chairman Healey, believe that Senator Kerry is a traitor. Does Republican Governor Rell believe that John Kerry is a traitor? Does the Connecticut Republican Party stand by this person's statement that John Kerry is a traitor? I think it's important for voters in the Constitution State to know.
It's worth an article on its own. Really.
Posted by: ctkeith | October 5, 2009 1:50 PM
Maybe a post comparing ACRs Military record to that of Sen Kerry is in order
I seem to remember ACR told a story over at CLP that was very similar to Rush Limbaughs and Dick Cheneys.
I can't seem to remember which one had the bad cough, which one had a pimple on their butt and which one just said they had better things to do than join the military.
I'm certain with a little research this could all be straightened out though.
Posted by: ctkeith | October 5, 2009 5:14 PM
Proof Positive Chris Healy is a Total Twit
http://ctlocalpolitics.net//2009/10/05/ct-gop-twitterfail/
For the first time in a long time Healy made an ass out of himself without help from Gov. Moody or Jodi.I'm sure they both got a chuckle when they read this and high fived each other.
Posted by: christine | October 5, 2009 5:41 PM
Just an FYI I did add the Rep. Lesser's account into the story Friday night. He let me know about his experience after the House adjourned. I'm curious if you have to be the person being impersonated for Twitter to take down the account. I wonder how they verify that?
Posted by: ctkeith | October 5, 2009 6:13 PM
Since being a 3 yr old,or a Republican today,means never having to say you're sorry(even when proven wrong) I doubt we'll ever read about or see an apology from the Republican Chairman but that doesn't mean reporters shouldn't ask if he doesn't owe one to both the obvious victims and the less obvious young Republican staffers this Chairman is teaching to be classless fools without any moral or ethical compass.
Lee Atwater politics,which is Healys Forte, doesn't work in Ct and the proof is in the numbers.
Posted by: ACR | October 5, 2009 10:58 PM
>>Maybe a post comparing ACRs Military record to that of Sen Kerry is in order
Well I certainly never endangered those under my command nor have I falsified anything so I could fraudulently obtain medals. Can't recall committing perjury before congress either; or selling out my men with overblown false stories for my own political benefit.
I guess I just fell short at treason and otherwise have no excuse.
I'm sure I still have my 4-F draft card around here someplace.
Never had any impact on my aim however.
Seeing as they were drafting guys like crazy to an undeclared war while I thought fighting communism was a good idea and had no moral objection (and still don't) I volunteered but couldn't get past the physical.
Still don't agree with that; there's not a lot of pollen at sea and darn few house cats on Aircraft Carriers. There was no reason I couldn't have spent a few years in the galley on one of those and they could have drafted one less guy.
Thanks for asking Keith - and I look forward to running into you again sometime!
Posted by: ACR | October 5, 2009 11:02 PM
Over 30 other "MeetRepresentiveBigSpender" Twitter accounts remain active as well as meetmattlesser.com
Posted by: Sean | October 6, 2009 12:14 PM
ACR repeats the blatant lies of the Swift Boaters. It is the disgusting politics of smear in which Republicans have wallowed for decades. Numerous news articles and investigative journalists have completely debunked the blatant lies that ACR continues to spew out about John Kerry's military record.
ACR's accusation that John Kerry falsified his military record just shows how extreme and dishonest the Republican Party has become. This is the party defined by the dirty tricks of Lee Atwater and Karl Rove, the hatemongering of Rush Limbaugh and Sean Hannity, and the lies of the Swift Boaters. That an official of the Connecticut Republican Party feels it is perfectly acceptable to repeat those lies years after they were thoroughly debunked speaks volumes.
It is no surprise that Connecticut and New England voters have been drifting away from the Republican Party for years as its remaining adherents become ever more extreme and bizarre.
Posted by: evilChristopher | October 25, 2009 5:59 PM
Using Chris Healy's criteria for fair play, I'm sure he would approve me doing this:
www.chrishealy.info