Obama’s Twitter plan backfires
“Build it and they will come,” but they may also trash the place, is an accurate axiom for anything online, President Barack Obama is learning.
AttackWatch.com seems to do plenty of attacking itself.
The president, whose campaign launched a website to track and rebuff anti-Obama attacks, encouraged his supporters to take it to the Tweets with an #attackwatch hashtag, but the Twitterverse is comprised of a much more politically diverse, and perhaps cruel, crowd than the last time he ran for office.
The hashtag has been taken over by comedians who seem content to mock and ridicule, says a Wall Street Journal blog.
Those with a conservative bent have been drawn to the hashtag as though it were a tax-and-spend flame:
@Drill_Thrawl Hey Kids, are mommy and daddy talking bad about Obama? Be sure to report them at #attackwatch #1984
@gregmcrc … check this=9% unemployment, no green jobs, 49 million uninsured, 1 in 6 Americans in poverty
#AttackWatch If you want to really upset a megalomaniacal wannabe dictator, just mock him via social media.
@bonnie1b: Jobless claims jump to 448,000 #attackwatch
Jimmy Carter must be feeling good knowing he’s no longer the worst president in U.S. history. #attackwatch
AttackWatch.com is similar to a “Fight The Smears” site Obama unleashed during his 2008 campaign, says The International Business Times, which says the new site has “become a laughingstock.”
Conservative talk show hosts are getting in on the act, including Neal Boortz (aka @talkmaster):
@attackwatch, you can tell me just how much money Obama thinks I should make. Don’t want to exceed his limit, you understand.
I don’t claim to be an expert on politics, but “control the message” has to be a basic tenet of campaigning. Unleashing the #attackwatch hashtag on an embittered public doesn’t seem wise.
I speak from experience, just read the comments below. 
Tell us what you think about the site
Customer Care »
Vacation stops, manage subscriptions and more
AJC Services
Sections
Other Editions
Visitor Agreement | Privacy Statement
© 2013 The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
239 comments Add your comment
John USA
September 16th, 2011
2:31 pm
Reminds me of the tactics the old Soviet Union used to use against their own citizens!!!!! Scary stuff!!
Obama for America Watchdog Website ‘Attack Watch’ Deserves to Be Mocked – The Stir
September 16th, 2011
4:15 pm
[...] Atlanta Journal Constitution (blog) [...]
Terms of Submission
September 17th, 2011
2:35 am
I have submitted certain comments, statements, stories, photographs, videotape, audio tape and/or other recordings or media (the “Submissions”) to Obama for America (”OFA”). I grant OFA a perpetual, irrevocable, worldwide, sublicensable, royalty free license to publish, reproduce, distribute, publicly perform, publicly display, edit, modify, create derivative works of and otherwise use the Submissions in any manner or media and for any purpose whatsoever at the sole discretion of OFA, including without limitation any political, advertising or commercial use of any kind. I further give my permission to use my name, likeness, voice, and biographical information in connection with such Submissions and release OFA and anyone acting under its authorization from any claims that any use of the Submissions as authorized herein violates any of my rights, including any rights of publicity or privacy. I understand and that all rights granted herein are fully sublicensable and assignable.
I represent and warrant that I have all rights necessary to grant the foregoing rights and permission and that no infringement or violation of any third party rights, including copyright, right of publicity, or right of privacy, will result from the use of the Submissions. I further represent and warrant that in creating the Submissions, I was working on my own time, and not for any employee or third party, and that I did not use any equipment or materials owned by any corporation or other third party. With respect to creating the Submissions, I acknowledge that I was volunteering my time to OFA and that any disposable materials used in the creation of the Submissions may constitute an in-kind donation to OFA. I agree to defend, indemnify and hold OFA, and any candidates or other persons affiliated therewith, harmless from and against any liabilities, losses, claims, demands, costs and expenses (including reasonable attorneys’ fees) arising out of or in connection with the use of the Submissions or of my name, likeness, voice, or persona, or from the breach or alleged breach of any of the foregoing representations or warranties.
I understand that I will not be entitled to any compensation for the rights and release granted herein or for any use of the Submissions and that OFA shall have no obligation to make any use of the Submissions. I further understand and agree that OFA will act in reliance on this agreement and that therefore it will be irrevocable.
Bryan
September 17th, 2011
3:14 am
Chicago machine politician behaves like Chicago machine politician.
regular guy
September 19th, 2011
4:31 pm
I can’t even stand the site of him anymore….And I actually thought he maybe different. He and his adminstration are a joke. tranparent my a$$
Treighnor
September 20th, 2011
6:49 am
I just went to the site out of curiosity. I couldn’t believe it. They really are asking people to report those that say something about Obama. That is downright scary. It reminds me of Stalinist Russia. While I don’t think that Obama is about to drag folks off to a Gulag, it is one step closer to having dissent squashed. It is like one more nail in the coffin of free speech. The fact that Obama and his henchmen even consider such a website is troubling. The fact that the initiated it is even more worrisome. No American presidential candidate has ever before done such a thing, to the best of my knowledge. It shows what a desperate man will do to hang onto power. Frightening!!!
Monday 9.19 Show Notes « The Brazen 3
September 20th, 2011
11:31 am
[...] Obama’s Twitter plan backfires [...]
Josephine Shaffer
September 20th, 2011
7:39 pm
We needv jobs not heandouts if Romney is good i’m for him i was Obama supporter now i’ll vote for Romney if gets the nomination.
Paula
September 21st, 2011
4:26 pm
Reality, I think that you need a reality check or to have your memory checked.
The economy was significantly better (6% unemployment) for most of Bush’s presidency. The housing crisis is what spurred this all on, which thanks to Barney Frank was a terrible hit to our economy. The congress under democratic leadership has added 5 trill in debt since Pelosi took the reigns. Yes, Bush signed on for part of that, but Obama has taken it and tripled it. Obama has added more to the debt more than all of our presidents, period. No disputing that. Look at the numbers, they are not biased and don’t lie.
And the nerve of him asking people to turn in their friends for talking badly about him. We still have the first amendment in this country. He is not a dictator. He is an elected official who is our employee. He should do what we tell him to do. We are not his subjects.