Democratic Lawmaker Paid Thousands to Influencers

[applegrove]

Democratic Lawmaker Paid Thousands to Influencers

October 26, 2021 at 9:19 am EDT By Taegan Goddard 6 Comments

https://politicalwire.com/2021/10/26/democratic-lawmaker-paid-thousands-to-online-influencers/

"SNIP......

“Campaign committees for Rep. Adriano Espaillat (D-NY) have paid nearly $15,000 to bloggers for posting hundreds of flattering articles dating to his first run for Congress in 2016,” The City reports.

“The bloggers’ posts do not disclose their financial ties with the Espaillat campaign — exploiting a legal gray area as paid social media influencers play a growing role in campaigns nationally.”

......SNIP"

[lagomorph777]

1. ...and...?

Are you saying this is a problem?

[applegrove]

2. Wouldn't it be nice if Facebook could not run political influencer posts.

I can dream can't I?

[lagomorph777]

4. It would be nice if Facebook could not run.

Period.

[Rebl2]

6. There you go

I’m with you.

[sop]

3. They'd have to shut down FOX News, OAN and Newsmax if this became illegal.

[lagomorph777]

5. And Youtube.

And MSNBC, and CNN...

[forthemiddle]

8. Do Campaigns pay FOX, OAN, and NEWSMAX

For the comments? If they do, isn't it called commercial, and isn't that payment disclosed? Of course it is.

This should be transparent.

[sop]

10. Media outlets routinely hire "campaign surrogates" (paid political operatives) to provide on air

commentary disguised as news. "Journalists" like Hannity, Carlson and others openly advise candidates on important issues, then brag about their influence on the process. Broadcasters and politicians move freely between the public and private sector; one day they're elected officials, the next they're on news programs. It's become an incestuous revolving door. Everyone knows it's going on.

[forthemiddle]

7. If a campaign is paying for the "influencer" to say positive things about a candidate

They are basically buying a commercial, and it should be disclosed.
It should still be legal, but it should be transparent.

[ShazamIam]

9. Certainly the bloggers should have mentioned they were making a paid ad for the candidate,but unless

the writer can show me this was at the request of the candidate, to not mention the payment. I don't see the wrong here.