The Club for Growth PAC launched a website targeting Mike Huckabee.  TaxHikeMike.com is their attempt to criticize the former Arkansas governor’s fiscal record.  The website features Huckabee’s tax history along with a number of videos, editorials and quotes.  Another example, early last week a website, Phonyfred.com, was launched which featured an unflattering representation of presidential candidate Fred Thompson.  To maximize the effect the website was unveiled the same week Thompson announced his candidacy and hit the campaign trail.  Speculation has arisen as to who was behind the construction of the site.  It has been revealed that the site can be linked to a South Carolina consulting firm with ties to Mitt Romney

Controversy aside, the web has become an asset and versatile tool for political activity.  It has taken the negative advertisements or false information to another level by making it easier to generate, harder to discern fact from fiction, and more difficult to control.  The Internet has become a “free space” for campaign organizers and individuals who wish to voice their opinions through blogs, videos, web pages, etc…to do so.  Political propaganda can be used to create a distraction and divert harmful attention from oneself towards another.  However agitators must be careful that bringing attention to an opponent does not counteract and end up working in the challengers favor.  While the ethical debate on negative campaigning continues you can be sure more websites with disreputable intentions will surface as the race intensifies.