A serious question. What's behind this "report your neighbors against Obamacare" thing?

[Bucky]

My journey down into the mildewy depths of wingnut thinking...

I watched this painful video of Victoria Jackson denouncing the president's communist ways, such as there being a place where you can go to WhiteHouse.gov and "report your neighbors for being against Obamacare." I wanted to figure out where this sort of bizarre exaggeration came from.

I googled around a bit and found some snarky right wing blogs making sarcastic references to "[e-mail]" where you report such things. But the search parameters were so vague that I only got crap, plus I couldn't find anything on Snopes. After some more digging around I finally found the White House webpage Facts Are Stubborn Things that contains the following request...

There is a lot of disinformation about health insurance reform out there, spanning from control of personal finances to end of life care. These rumors often travel just below the surface via chain emails or through casual conversation. Since we can’t keep track of all of them here at the White House, we’re asking for your help. If you get an email or see something on the web about health insurance reform that seems fishy, send it to [e-mail].

I assume they're building a database of email addresses to send counterarguments to. Is there more to it than this? Is the White House compiling email addresses an appropriate use of public resources? I can see the pros and cons on this. If you're paranoid about what the president is doing, this could seem pretty sinister. If Bush did this, for instance, I'd assume the worst. At the same time, it also seems like a good step in preparing a counterattack on disinformation. And it's not like every viagra peddler and wrongly jailed Nigerian millionaire in the world doesn't already have my email address.

On the third hand, now that healthcare reform has occurred, it seems like gathering those emails and disinfo was a huge waste of time. Won't it be enough to let the fairly benign and limited effects of the law speak for themselves? Thoughts?

[iamjoy]

1. Intent May Be Benign

the intent may be benign, but I can see how some would see it as pernicious.

It is not a waste of time, though. There is no way to let facts speak for themselves when Fox seems intent on spreading lies.

[OhioBlue]

2. where do they ask for names/e-mail addresses?

My guess is they are looking for "urban legend" type rumors so they can debunk it. Or, they may even give some to 3rd party for point of origin trace?

I doubt they are keeping a database of names of people against HCR. Just looking for those awful chain mails that idiots take as fact... so they can debunk the most awful claims - especially if they see them over and over.

The part you pasted, doesn't say to forward with names.. just send them the e-mail, so you could cut and paste it into a new one w/out names. Of course, if you forward an e-mail that has been forwarded many times with all of the names still on it - it could help trace back to origin. Which could be helpful information to have.

[ohheckyeah]

5. But SNL says he's making a list

of people against HCR. :-)

[chill_wind]

3. I think it would be fine if it was focused and confined

to calling to account and countering the dysinfo and distortions of big media.
That in itself would be a huge undertaking, but the right focus. Compiling the crap of every Joe Schmuck with a blog or facebook account- no.

[NoPasaran]

4. Step 1: Take Names Step 2: Kick Ass

Let's face it, the teahadists aren't going to report to the re-education camps just because they get an invitation in the mail.