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That, in essence, is the McCain campaign's pitch to supporters to join its new online effort, one that combines the features of "AstroTurf" campaigning with the sort of customer-loyalty programs offered by airlines, hotel chains, restaurants and the occasional daily newspaper.
On McCain's Web site, visitors are invited to "Spread the Word" about the presumptive Republican nominee by sending campaign-supplied comments to blogs and Web sites under the visitor's screen name. The site offers sample comments ("John McCain has a comprehensive economic plan . . .") and a list of dozens of suggested destinations, conveniently broken down into "conservative," "liberal," "moderate" and "other" categories. Just cut and paste.
Perhaps he's just taking a page from the communists:
More chillingly, dissidents alleged earlier this year that the Chinese government has paid Chinese citizens token sums for each favorable comment about government policies they post in chat rooms and on blogs.
I'm wondering how we should call it out. Perhaps every time we see a McCain Talking Point we mark the post as "McCain Astro-Turf Reward Point Grubber". Maybe something more simple like "cha-ching!".
[Update]
Come to think of it, if they are using campaign money for this, do they have to disclose the expenditures at some point? Will we be able one day to find out what the astro-turf budget was? If not campaign money, then what money? What are the legal implications if it isn't campaign money or if it's RNC money?
