Remember that all the campaigns have bloggers on the payroll now --->>>

[Stephanie]

So when you see rightwing talking points posed as innocent questions here at DU, consider what the source might be.

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/15498843/

Bloggers proliferate on campaign payrolls
Are the days of outrage over?

By K. Daniel Glover
Updated: 1:13 p.m. ET Oct 31, 2006

Bloggers paid by campaigns were a rarity two years ago -- so rare that their work and their ethics, whether for Republicans or Democrats, became fodder for controversy. Bloggers on the campaign dime (and off) have been even more controversial this year, but that is at least in part because there are so many more of them.

With increasing frequency, candidates across the country are paying bloggers to write, develop Web sites, connect with energetic allies on the Internet, respond to online critics, and advise their employers about how to behave in the blogosphere. Others are paid to do more traditional campaign work like communications consulting and opposition research.

***

On the right side of the blogosphere, Patrick Hynes of Ankle Biting Pundits, who blogged at the now-defunct Crush Kerry in the 2004 presidential race, has done quite well as a new media consultant. His most notable job is with Straight Talk America, the political action committee of Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., who is considered a leading GOP presidential contender in 2008.

Hynes' fees so far, according to FEC records, total $31,500 to his company, New Media Strategics. The latest $5,000 payment was made Sept. 1. After catching grief for not telling his readers of his work for McCain, even while penning friendly blog entries about the senator, Hynes also disclosed that he has provided consulting for the seniors' group AARP.

At least two other PACs of presidential contenders have blog experts on their payroll.

The HILLPAC of Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton, D-N.Y., has retained both Jesse Berney and Peter Daou. Berney earns more than $1,300 a month, according to the PAC's finance records, and Daou, who still writes The Daou Report for the online magazine Salon, is paid $1,250 a month. Both joined HILLPAC a few months ago.

***



Dan Gerstein of the now-dormant LieberDem. He was a senior adviser to Sen. Joe Lieberman, D-Conn., for years before opening his own consulting shop. After he stopped blogging at LieberDem, Gerstein recently rejoined Lieberman's campaign as a paid staffer. He received payments of $7,000 and $14,000 in September.

Jon Henke of QandO. He was hired by the campaign of Sen. George Allen, R-Va., after a string of verbal gaffes by the candidate. Henke was paid about $2,300 on Sept. 15.

[Lars39]

1. Heck, we've got someone working for a ME ruling royal family posting

shit here.

[bananas]

3. Who's that?

And how do I get on the payroll? :)

[Lars39]

4. check your pm

[GreenPartyVoter]

2. Bl;oggers? Or public relations ppl? U be the judge

[Stephanie]

5. Hired guns purposely disrupting, distracting & distorting

Infiltrating the message boards posing as one of the gang, there to spread the meme of the day for Rove et al.