On Internet Political Communication, by Doonesbury
I was humored by the following Doonesbury strip from today.
While this is a parody, there are certainly questions abound about the veracity, and accountability, of Internet rumors in the realm of politics. With the history of Swift-boating and allegations of McCain-tarnishing by the Bush camp in 2000, it should be interesting to see what will arise during the remaining year of the 2008 presidential race.
However, it is clear that this is not a new phenomenon. Defaming political candidates through leaflets and pamphlets is an age old tactic. Sometimes, the perpetrator can be identified, and other times, not. The Internet - blogs, websites and anonymous email - just provide a new forum for this. While it may allow such efforts to be spread more widely, ‘cyber-forensics’ can also facilitate finding the originators.