Dean campaign admits to using spam

[dArKeR]

Howard Dean’s presidential campaign acknowledged on Monday that it had spammed an undisclosed number of people with unsolicited political advertisements. The campaign said Dean, the former Democratic governor of Vermont, remained opposed to unsolicited bulk e-mail and blamed the spamming on two contractors who had promised to contact only people who had specifically requested to receive the advertisements.

 “WE RECENTLY CONTRACTED with two vendors who made assurances that their lists were opt-in only,” the campaign said in an e-mail to CNET News.com. “On Tuesday, August 12th, Dean for America received notification from a supporter that spam was being sent. We terminated our relationship with both vendors immediately.”

       The Dean campaign’s bulk e-mail, which was sent last week, was disclosed by the Spamvertised.org Web site, which tracks political spam. The e-mail message touted Dean’s accomplishments and asked for political support and donations, saying: “We are going to win this nomination and defeat George W. Bush in 2004, but we need your help.”

http://www.msnbc.com/news/954100.asp?0cv=CB20

What a 'misleading' title for a non or harmless event!

http://darker0darker.tripod.com/

[Feanorcurufinwe]

1. What's misleading about the title?

The Dean campaign sent spam, then admitted it. So how is "Dean campaign admits to using spam" misleading?

[XanaDUer]

2. Because it may be *potentially* bad about Dean,

and could consitute "bashing", dontchaknow?

[killbotfactory]

3. The vendor they used spammed people without DFA's consent.

That's why it's misleading.

[Feanorcurufinwe]

4. But that's what the article says - so how is it misleading?

The article also says that the Dean campaign acknowledged sending out spam - so how is it misleading to have an accurate description of the article as the headline?

Headline, sub-headline and lead paragraph:

Dean campaign admits to using spam
Campaign blames contractors, severs ties with them
By Declan McCullagh
Aug. 18 — Howard Dean’s presidential campaign acknowledged on Monday that it had spammed an undisclosed number of people with unsolicited political advertisements. The campaign said Dean, the former Democratic governor of Vermont, remained opposed to unsolicited bulk e-mail and blamed the spamming on two contractors who had promised to contact only people who had specifically requested to receive the advertisements.
http://www.msnbc.com/news/954100.asp?0cv=CB20

Gee, that is some slanted coverage. Must be an anti-Dean conspiracy.

[killbotfactory]

9. Because the headline makes it sound like it was intentional

It's really not that hard to figure out.

[acerbic]

11. Bingo

...but all the obsessed, intentionally dense and obtuse, freepshit Dean haters will be now constantly spamming that lie here.

[Feanorcurufinwe]

15. "Dean campaign admits to intentionally sending spam"

That would make it sound intentional, lol.

[killbotfactory]

21. Kerry campaign admits to killing child

The Kerry campaign admitted today that they killed a child. A delivery truck driver working for the Kerry campaign intentionally ran over a child today. The Kerry campaign has quickly denounced the action and says it never authorized the running over of a child.

No, not misleading at all! LOL.

[Feanorcurufinwe]

23. No mirrors in your house?

that's the only way I can explain this post.

[killbotfactory]

25. Just showing you an example of being misleading

I don't know, I thought it was pretty self explanatory.

[Feanorcurufinwe]

27. I'm sure that you can easily come up with many more examples. And will.

[diamondsoul]

57. I agree.

I don't care for Dean, but I totally agree with you here. When I read the headline, it appeared as though they admitted intentionally spamming prospective donors. Big difference between that and having contracted people who did it without Dean's or his staff's consent or knowledge.

[Mairead]

16. It's misleading

'Dean campaign admits to having inadvertently spammed' would have been more accurate.

'admits to using' -- present progressive tense
'admits to having used' -- past-perfect tense

[The Sushi Bandit]

5. I like SPAM with my rice

its also good with eggs and killer on a Moco Loco!!

[The Sushi Bandit]

6. Da Kine Hawaiian SPAM Pizza

Title: Hawaiian SPAM Pizza
Categories: Pizza
Yield: 6 servings

1 cn Refrigerated all-ready
-pizza crust
1 pk Sliced Provolone cheese(6oz)
1 cn SPAM Luncheon Meat, cut in
-thin squares (12 oz)
1 cn Chunk pineapple, drained
1/2 c Thinly sliced red onion
1/2 c Chopped green pepper

Heat oven to 425'F. Grease 12" pizza pan or 13x9" baking pan. Unroll
dough; press in prepared pan. Top with cheese. Arrange remaining
ingredients over cheese. Bake 25-30 minutes or until crust is deep
golden brown. Serves 6.

[The Sushi Bandit]

7. My favorite - SPAM MUSUBI

SPAM MUSUBI
Recipe courtesy of Corinne Domingo

5 cups cooked sushi rice, room temperature 5 sheets nori, cut in half lengthwise 1 (12 oz.) can Spam 6 tbsp soy sauce 4 tbsp mirin 4 tbsp sugar Furikake, to taste

Cut Spam into 10 slices. Fry until slightly crispy. Remove and drain on plate lined with paper towels. In another pan, combine soy sauce, mirin and sugar. Bring to a boil over medium-high heat, then reduce to low. Add Spam slices, coating them in the mixture. When mixture has thickened, remove Spam from pan.

Lay a sheet of nori lengthwise on a clean surface. Moisten lower half of musubi maker (see Note), and place on lower third of nori. Fill musubi maker with rice and press flat until the rice is 3/4-inch high. Sprinkle rice with furikake. Top with slice of Spam. Remove musubi maker and keep in a bowl of warm water to keep it clean and moist.

Starting at the end towards you, fold nori over Spam and rice stack, and keep rolling until completely wrapped in the nori. Slightly dampen the end of the nori to seal it. Repeat with the other nine Spam slices, making sure to rinse off musubi maker after each use to prevent it from getting too sticky.

Note: You can also use an empty Spam can that has been opened on both sides for the musubi mold, using your hands (or a piece of Spam) to press down on the rice.

Yield: Makes 10 musubi Prep Time: 25 minutes Cooking Time: 30 minutes Difficulty: Easy

[The Sushi Bandit]

8. Love dat SPAM

[Cha]

10. I agree.. it is "misleading" and those who think it isn't are out

to get Dean, anyway!

[Feanorcurufinwe]

28. It is a black and white world, made of two groups: pro-Dean and anti-Dean

[Nazgul35]

38. for someone who takes headlines...

as black and white without admitting the nuance involved...that's a rich statement....

but I guess you'd have to see the world in anything other then black and white to understand the contradiction.....

[Feanorcurufinwe]

39. Am I with you or against you?

or is there another possibility?

[MercutioATC]

40. Against ME, for certain...this is a classic misrepresentation...

And if you don't see that the title implies wrongdoing on the part of the official Dean campaign, I suggest you contact another of our favorite members (who shall remain nameless, but is a self-declared convertor of 10,000 Kerry supporters and "researcher" extrordinaire) for your next assignment.

[Feanorcurufinwe]

42. You can believe I am against you

but, I'm not.

[MercutioATC]

43. I'd usally be intrigued by the cryptic responses, but I'm not this time.

How is the thread title NOT misleading?

[Feanorcurufinwe]

44. I gave it my best shot

in reply #4. For such a non-issue, that's as hard as I care to try. If you still believe the title is misleading, I can accept that we will not find common ground on this question, and feel no ill will towards you because of it.

[MercutioATC]

50. It's misleading in the same way that Nick's assertion that Vermont's

status as a good place to raise children dropped from 4th to 10th under Dean's governance (it went back to 4th the next year, still under Dean's governance, but he refused to post that statistic).


My arguement is that the title suggests that the campaign admits wrongdoing.


Don't you honestly think that a headline like "Dean Campaign Accused of Spamming...Independant Contractors to Blame" would be more representative of the FACTS?

I challenge you to find ONE anti-whomever claim that I've EVER made without verified proof (and those claims were only made in response to outrageous claims for the respective candidates' supporters).

Disagree if you wish, but at least be honest...

[Feanorcurufinwe]

53. Please don't imply that I'm not being honest.

"Dean Campaign Accused of Spamming...Independant Contractors to Blame"

The problem with that headline, is that the main point of the article is not the Dean campaign being accused of spamming. The main piece of news in the article is the Dean campaign acknowledging spamming.

Now yesterday I saw questions about this on slashdot - you'll like their headline - Is the Dean Campaign Spamming?.

But come today -

"Dean campaign admits to using spam
Campaign blames contractors, severs ties with them"

is the headline that MSNBC used. However, if you read the article, you see that it is actually based on a statement from the Dean campaign. The story isn't about the accusation, it's about the statement. I understand that you feel the word admit is negative. But an admission is only as negative as the action being admitted to. And all they admitted to doing was hiring contractors who spammed on their behalf.

“WE RECENTLY CONTRACTED with two vendors who made assurances that their lists were opt-in only,” the campaign said in an e-mail to CNET News.com. “On Tuesday, August 12th, Dean for America received notification from a supporter that spam was being sent. We terminated our relationship with both vendors immediately.”
http://www.msnbc.com/news/954100.asp?0cv=CB20

In this regard the Dean campaign is no different from any other business that hires a spamhaus to do their marketing. Sure they all say they are opt-in - doesn't half the spam you get say it's opt-in? If I get spam from Macy's, it doesn't matter to me whether Macy's blames the subcontractor or not. I'd be pissed at both of them.

So no, I don't think the headline was misleading.

If you don't like that headline, though, you'll hate the original on cnet.com: Dean campaign says it spammed especially because the sub-headline doesn't even mention the contractors: "Howard Dean's presidential campaign acknowledged on Monday that it had spammed an undisclosed number of people with unsolicited political advertisements." But the contractors are mentioned in the lead sentence.


Now I suppose if this were Bush the headlines would say:

"Sub-contractors defraud Bush campaign; charges pending"

but we're Democrats, remember? What do you expect? The press ain't puckering up for us.

[genius]

12. Spamming should be strict liability

So often spammers try to get off the hook by blaming it on some contractor. That is standard procedure because these guys don't want to get nailed for illegally spamming people. The only way spam will ever be stopped is if the indivuduals who benefit from the spam are prosecuted. I'm tired of getting spam and I think it's time we get this stuff stopped.

[dsc]

13. Too bad I deleted it

but I had some pro Kucinich unsolicited email in my box this very morning. It wasn't paid for by his campaign but nonetheless under some standards of strict liability he would be liable. I generally just delete since so little spam gets through.

[Name removed]

14. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[Feanorcurufinwe]

17. Your story is not credible.

In fact, I don't believe it.

[dsc]

19. I will save the next one I get

I don't get much spam at all (webtv is very good at that) but this was unsolicited pro Kucinich email (it noted a speaking engagement at an orginization at which I am not a member). That org sent it.

[dsc]

20. BTW here is the email retrieved from my discards

[e-mail] (Radio Left Update) Date: Mon, Aug 18, 2003, 11:48am (EDT-1) To: [e-mail] Subject: RADIO LEFT ALERT: DENNIS KUCINICH today!
RADIO LEFT UPDATE - ALERT!
Check out the latest news and views at:
http://www.RadioLeft.com
Monday August 18th, 2003: Dennis Kucinich!
(To listen go to http://www.radioleft.com and click the "ON AIR" button on the right side of the screen! OR: Click this link to listen: http://www.warpradio.com/popTuner.asp?id=13712 )
MONDAY - 5:00 PM EST
Presidential candidate Dennis Kucinich. Check out his website at: http://www.kucinich.us/
ALSO: Check out this website:
http://www.UniteAgainstBush.com
and take the pledge to get Bush out of office in November of 2004. Remember: A better world is possible - but not until George W. Bush is out of office!
Also, check out our brand new Bulletin Board at: http://www.radioleft.net/forum/
Be the first to post in your favorite topic.
Geoff, David, and Rick
-------------------------------------
This is a subscription only newsletter. To unsubscribe, go to: http://www.radioleft.com/mod.php?mod=newsletter&op=select&lid=4 Then enter your email address.


It does clearly state that it is subscription only but I never have subscribed. I probably can't even listen to their audio due to system limitations. I honestly don't care or I would have let them know. But this was unsolicited and pro Kucinich. You sir owe me a big ass apology.

[Feanorcurufinwe]

22. Sorry but we have only your word - which is not credible

But of course you are not even saying that the Kucinich campaign did what the Dean campaign admitted to.

[dsc]

24. No I didn't

but under strict liability it doesn't matter. Once Kucinich allowed his campaign site to be linked to it that would be all it takes. They presumedly took it upon themselves to send that email just like those contractors did. The presumedly disobeyed orders they were given like those contracters did. Under strict liability that doesn't matter.

No I can't prove a negative (that I didn't sign up for that list) but I don't live where I can get them, I can't listen to them on the net, and have never been to any website for them. I have no clue how I could have subscribed. I have gotten several of their mails and honestly don't care so haven't bothered to complain.

And by the way I would like to know which mod you are bribing to get away with this personal attack bullshit. I call people's statements lies and I get my posts deleted. You do it and nothing happens must be nice.

[Feanorcurufinwe]

26. Now you are accusing the moderators of taking bribes?

That adds to your credibility.

Message Board Rules

[virtualobserver]

32. are you serious or joking....

with this "you are not credible" stuff?

[Feanorcurufinwe]

34. By their fruits ye shall know them

[Name removed]

35. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[Name removed]

29. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[Feanorcurufinwe]

41. I want to apologize

It was wrong of me to say that you are not credible.

[dsc]

45. That is very big of you

I really appreciate that. The fact is I am telling the truth here and was pretty pissed at you for saying otherwise. But it takes a big man to admit his error (or a great woman to admit hers) so again thanks.

[Feanorcurufinwe]

49. When I'm wrong, I'm wrong,

It's no fun but it happens. I got carried away and I crossed over the line. It will be a lesson for me to avoid in the future.
Peace.

[genius]

46. Making false allegations about other candidates doesn't help Dean

He's still the guy who admitted to spamming people. The other candidates are only sending out email to people who signed up requesting email.

Now that Dean has admitted to spamming, isn't it time for his supporters to be more honorable than to falsely accuse innocent candidates.

[dsc]

48. You are wrong on both counts

You used a very specific legal term with a very specific legal meaning. Under strict liability people who send out spam in your name (which is what happened in my example) make you liable virtually no matter what. If you didn't know what the term meant that isn't my fault it is yours. If you did and posted what you just did that makes you dishonest (which is also your fault). I was pointing out the logical conclusion of your theory. If you don't like it then change your theory.

What happened here is that Dean hired people, told them not to do something, and fired them when they did it. Rational people call that holding people accountable.

[VoteClark]

18. Who cares Really, SPAM AWAY!

I dispise Howard Dean. I hate spam too. But this is not an issue. Spamming for political advertising is not the same as selling stuff. It is a political message.

So I don't really care if someone spams. The only reason I dislike spam is because it is porno or because it fills up my mail box.

If Dean wants to, or doesn't want to spam, I don't care. It doesn't bother me. As much as I dislike Dean, it is better his ad gets in my box rather then some porno crap.

:kick:
J4Clark

[DrFunkenstein]

33. My Sentiments Exactly

Between refinancing my mortgage and increasing my penis size, a political spam would be a nice change of pace. Actually, I subscribe to the GOP spam just for laughs. Mark Racicot is always keeping me up to date!

[George_Bonanza]

30. Every candidate spams, big deal

Graham spams. Kucinich spams. Kerry spams. Dean Spams. Who cares? I never had my inbox so flooded by uncontrollable, unsolicited email. So spam away!

But it's interesting that when the Kerry campaign was trying to sign up 200 000 online supporters, some of the Dean people here accused him of spamming and falsely bloating that number. That was a total unsubstantiated accusation. Yes, Kerry's campaign may spam, but you have to actively sign up in order to count towards that number.

[Feanorcurufinwe]

31. Even more interesting

is that the Dean campaign admits they did this - and the supporters here don't seem to believe them.

[dsc]

36. No they admitted

that a contractor of theirs did so IN DIRECT VIOLATION OF WRITTEN CONTRACT.

[genius]

47. This is not true. The other eight will only send it to you if you request

it. Sometimes it's hard getting onto some of the email update lists. The only candidate who regularly sends me email is Dean and he is the last candidate from whom I want email.

[dsc]

51. prove it

post just one example of this unsolicited Dean email you get. I posted mine unedited. Its your turn now.

[Feanorcurufinwe]

54. n/t

n/t

[genius]

58. I'll call you on that and here it is.

Subj: Stop Attorney General Ashcroft
Date: 8/19/2003 6:01:29 Pacific Daylight Time
From: [e-mail]
Sent from the Internet (Details)

Dear Friend,

The impact you have had on politics in this country is simply amazing. Everywhere I
go, people want to talk about the power of the grassroots--a power that you have
helped to demonstrate. Whenever I meet with elected officials, labor leaders, members
of civic organizations and other Americans, their number one question is, can the
grassroots sustain the momentum? Can we build a grassroots campaign large enough to
take on the special interests, win the nomination, and defeat President Bush in 2004?

I believe we can, but the next 42 days are a crucial time for us to prove that the
grassroots has the power to take our country back. Today, you stand with nearly
300,000 other Americans, united in our cause. Our goal is to have 450,000 American
supporters by September 30th. We are going to reach that goal by continuing to spread
our message that we are restoring the American community and our nation's role as an
idealistic moral force in world affairs.

To spread that message, we will be traveling to eight cities in four days as part of
our "Sleepless Summer Tour," beginning this Saturday, August 23rd. Please sign up to
attend if you live in a city we'll be visiting, or ask your friends who live nearby
to sign up and attend. You can find out more about the tour by clicking here:

http://www.deanforamerica.com/sleeplesssummer

This campaign is about bringing people together and standing up for the ideals and
freedoms that make us Americans. This Administration has unnecessarily compromised
those freedoms and ideals in the name of fighting terrorism. Through the USA Patriot
Act, the Ashcroft Justice Department took advantage of the climate of fear that
followed the attacks of September 11 to adopt a series of anti-terror tactics that
go far beyond protecting our country and erode the rights of average Americans.

This week, Attorney General Ashcroft is touring the country to build support for his
'Victory Act,' which would expand the Patriot Act. Join me in taking a stand against
John Ashcroft's plans by clicking on the link below and signing the petition to stop
the passage of the Victory Act:

http://www.deanforamerica.com/stopashcroft

After you've signed the petition, forward this email on to everyone you know. We all
must stand together to demonstrate that the grassroots have the power to take our
country back.

Sincerely,

Governor Howard Dean, M.D.

P.S. You now have the option of making a recurring monthly contribution to our
campaign. Click here for more information: http://www.deanforamerica.com/contribute

[dsc]

59. I have the same email in my box

and you did a little editing. You left out the unsubscribe part at the bottom. Which leads me to a question. Did you try that and if so what happened?

PS if you want off pm with your email and I will make sure that happens.

[George_Bonanza]

55. I've heard otherwise

That other candidates have been sending various email addresses self-promos when unrequested. I have no problem with this, it's not like our time is soooo precious we can't afford to waste 2 seconds deleting or reading it.

[MercutioATC]

37. $5 to Dean for the MOST misleading headline I've read in a while...

explanation:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=108&topic_id=9385&mesg_id=9385

Oh, and thanks, DaRkEr, for the contribution....

[DannyRed]

52. All I can add is my own experience...

I have never received unsolicited mail from the Dean, Kerry, Lieberman, Kucinich, Gephardt, Sharpton, Clark, Moseley-Braun, Edwards, or Graham campaigns.

Not a single piece...and I am on mailing lists all OVER the shop.

[polpilot]

56. Decisive Dean response. Fire the bastards!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Dean camp stands

tall once again.

Dean '04

[zekeson]

60. Dean leads Dem Pack - dirty tricks just stating..

This is an inflammatory headline and I don't like it. Mine would work better.

The Dean campaign identified a problem and dealt with it. I haven't decided on my support for him or not, but this kind of crap is the dirty tricks that he can expect. When you are upfront and as much as a threat to * as he is, he is gonna get the attention of *'s handlers as well as the minions seeking the favor of Rove, * and Cheney.

Welcome to the front of the pack, Howard.

[genius]

61. He's not effectively stopping his people from sending out spam

Since I got another one today.

[dArKeR]

62. What's worse; Spam or Corporations stealing URL names from

individuals who were the first to register the name? Could a corporation condemn and seize citizens' property because this area is better for their business?

I thought America was built on; 'It was my idea first and I created it first'. It's the corporations fault and lack of actions which lead to them not getting their favorite URL name.

(A little unrelated but I like to make trouble.)