Scandal Puts Focus On Role of Bloggers (WaPo on FR, NCPAC and MD4Bush)

Washington Post ^ | 02/11/05 | David Snyder and Matthew Mosk

[conservative in nyc]

The Web site began as a sort of Internet boutique for like-minded conservatives and libertarians, suspicious of federal power and angry at President Bill Clinton.

Started in 1997 by a reclusive California conservative, freerepublic.com saw its membership blossom with Clinton's impeachment and the election of George W. Bush. Attention to the site reached a zenith last fall, when a "freeper" -- the group's moniker for its bloggers -- first discussed flaws in documents CBS News used in a report critical of Bush's National Guard service.

---Snip---

One participant working under the handle MD4BUSH, whose identity is unknown, drew Steffen into a private conversation and appeared to coax him to share more details about his role in spreading the rumor. Copies of those chat room e-mails were later provided to The Washington Post.

The Oct. 18 conversation began with MD4BUSH complimenting Steffen and saying how obvious it was that the rumors about the mayor were true. Steffen, writing under the name NCPAC, replied:

"I don't look for the MO'M [O'Malley] story to hit for a little bit yet. . . . However, a lot of what everyone knows about MO'M is because of work that has occurred. It's been a wild ride."

MD4BUSH later probed further:

"Your saying that my dentist knows [about the rumors] because of work you did? Wow, I must say, I'm impressed. I mean really, everyone knows -- how did that happen?"

[beyond the sea]

This story gets a Black Aggie Urban Legend award

LOL.

[conservative in nyc]

How did they get the guy's real name?

NCPAC?

Nobody knows for sure (even NCPAC, as of early Wednesday morning). But NCPAC dropped enough hints in this forum that anyone who really wanted to could have figured out his identity. He made some posts identifying him as close to Governor Ehrlich, and his screen name would allow any reporter with half a brain to narrow down the list of who he was. The Washington Post reporter may have just guessed right, called and asked.

[HowlinglyMind-BendingAbsurdity]

Black Aggie: History and Legend http://www.prairieghosts.com/druidridge.html

[NonValueAdded]

Copies of those chat room e-mails were later provided to The Washington Post

BAD REPORTING! FR proper does not have a chat room. FReepmail between NCPAC and MD4BUSH would be just that: between them. Calling that kind of exchange a chat, while it might meet the dictionary definition of the word, does NOT meet the computer-related meaning of the word. In computerese, a chat is an open dialog posted for many to see. The WaPo must know this and therefore are altering the facts to make a case stronger than actually exists. Bad editing at best; malfeasance at worst.

I still hold that NCPAC's open comments were innocuous and that this is now more of a smear on NCPAC than it was on O'Malley. I am VERY disappointed that the original thread was pulled for reason "rumor." It has gone way beyond that now and ironically, the WaPo has turned it into news. For NCPAC to get a fair shake in the court of public opinion, it is now necessary that the entire context of his remarks be made public.

I understand that in this day of lawsuits that Jim Robinson must think of the consequences of taking a principled stand. I would recommend putting back up the original thread without the original content - replace it with a big blinking "rumor" - but leave the ensuing discussion so one could see that NCPAC's only transgression is a private conversation with a troll. The few posts that might contain a snippet of the original thread could likewise be edited. I think we have A DUTY to do at least that much.

[RadioAstronomer]

bttt

[beyond the sea]

now you're gonna have to mass produce, have Jim put 'em in Freepergearstore for sale....

Seriously, I don't know why FR doesn't promote and sell more merchadise to raise money. That hat is great.

And with "the pajama" quotes there is room for pj's, robes, slippers, etc. in a FR wardrobe. Or are these things already availabe here, and I'm just uninformed?

[MEG33]

By David Snyder and Matthew Mosk
Washington Post Staff Writers
Friday, February 11, 2005; Page B01

[GVnana]

Now THAT'S a juicy gambit!

[beyond the sea]

Freepergearstore for sale...... ---

Where??? I need some STUFF!

[international american]

Thanks. This explains it better.

[conservative in nyc]

That's not what I said. The WaPo story was POSTED ON FREE REPUBLIC 29 minutes after MD4BUSH's posts, according to the time stamps. The WaPo story may or may not have been posted on the WaPo's website before MD4BUSH's posts. I haven't tried to track down when the WaPo first posted its story on its website. I wouldn't even know how to do so.

[conservative in nyc]

The original threads are back. Jim Robinson overruled whoever first pulled the threads.

[TheForceOfOne]

The last election cycle confirmed the "New Media's" rise to power and the threat and damage it has caused the "Old Media" which like a Soviet era TV station doesn't not approve of opposing points of view. The word "blogger" has come to be known as the new opposition to the MSM that has become the voice of the Democratic Party. We are about to enter into a war with them and we need to realize it. The SwiftVets understand this very well because at first they were ignored as not a threat and then attacked as liars and scum with attempts to dig into their personal lives to discredit them. The fact we never know 100% when a troll is lurking or posing as one of us should keep us on guard. The 1st Amendment protects us to speak out minds but doesn't protect us against using what we say against us in other ways like the guy who worked for the Maryland Governor just found out. Rush Limbaugh is attacked, Sean Hannity is attacked, as so it goes as they will try to tear us down. The upside is they will promote us and our cause which should bring greater strength to the website and its ability to move forward as a positive voice against a hateful, misguided, liberals and their disgust will America. We will will, good over evil.

[Peach]

Thanks.

[beyond the sea]

It's my policy to not even open freepmails from screennames I don't know and simply hit that delete key. I figure if it can't be said to me on the public forum, I probably don't need to read it.

Hey, please become familiar with this screen name, (beyond the sea), I may FReepmail you some day on this subject or another and don't want to be turned away at the door. ;-)

[advance_copy]

The WaPo story was POSTED ON FREE REPUBLIC 29 minutes after MD4BUSH's posts, according to the time stamps

Correct, that's why I used the phrase "no later than". You are also right in saying that the WaPo web story must have been posted on their web site even before 11:34, and possibly before 11:05. This certainly confirms that WaPo could not have used the public posting by MD4.

[advance_copy]

By David Snyder and Matthew Mosk Washington Post Staff Writers Friday, February 11, 2005; Page B01

Yes, but that is just today's story. WaPo first reported about Steffen on 2/8. And it seems clear that story was posted on their web site before MD4's public posting.

[MEG33]

It's back up..and the MD4Bush account is alive..Just in case he cares to comment..(when it snows in hell)The mods removed it but JR decided to let it all go back up. I was one of the ones that alerted the mods...(midnightish) CST

[beyond the sea]

That explains why you never called me to get your $1M winnings I notified you about in freepmail.

ROFL...... where's the loot now, or do you have that Liz Taylor Van Gogh on your living room wall now?

;-)

[arasina]

Does this seem a bit telling to you? Posted by MD4BUSH to NCPAC on that same thread.

"There was a great article in the atlantic (lib mag my wife reads) about Rove. The writer whines all about Rove’s tricks, but they work and he is a genius. He got a rumor started about this dem judge who gave a lot of money to a charity for kids, so they took those pictures of the judge with the kids and said he was a gay pedophile. It worked.

MD4BUSH claims his WIFE reads a lib magazine and uses the article to disparage Rove's character. Perhaps MD4BUSH would like to come back and explain why he would publicly post NCPAC's FReepmails?