Eric Holder and AG's office target Rightwing Bloggers

by Denise Clark

Are you a conservative or libertarian blogger? Do you take issue with and write pieces that don't mesh with Obama's policies? If you do, Eric Holder, United States Attorney General, is possibly getting feedback on what you've been blogging about.

Warner Todd Huston, a freelance writer who has written for Newsbusters.org and Human Events, has discovered that Mr. Holder has hired a whole team of Democratic campaign bloggers to troll the internet looking for anti-Obama articles and posts. When found, the bloggers are instructed to post comments, usually anonymously, in support of Dear Leader's ideas and policies.

The Muffled Oar, a blog that first broke the story of Holder's little gang of spies, reported that this gang has been operating from the Office of Public Affairs at the Department of Justice. That's right. We're paying for these people, dubbed the "Blog Squad," to troll the internet looking for anti-Obama pieces. From their Blog:

The Muffled Oar has received a great number of tips from DOJ employees about activities taking place within the Department since Holder became Attorney General. The Muffled Oar will monitor, sort and report this information. The Muffled Oar welcomes other whistleblowers to report on any corruption or political motivation going on in the Department.

Regarding the DOJ Blog Squad, some other blogs have noted that DOJ appears to be visiting and monitoring their postings critical of Obama.

We also learn that a former John Edwards staffer, Tracy Russo (photo), was hired to handle "media outreach for the whole department." This is the first time this had been done within the DOJ.

The Muffled Oar, writing on Russo's duties:

Not only is the Department of Justice Blog Squad going to reach out to nontraditional media like TPM Muckraker or the Muffled Oar, but they are also tasked with fostering anonymous comments at conservative leaning blogs such as the Free Republic. They are also tasked with fostering anonymous comments, or comments under pseudonyms, at newspaper websites with stories critical of the Department of Justice, Holder and President Obama.

While on the surface this may seem benign, could it have serious ramifications?

Let's say, for the sake of argument, that you post something that goes against what this administration is saying. Along comes a DOJ troll, and your post is reported back to the higher-ups at the department. Should they be in the mood to do so, the resources are there to find out everything about you. The story of Billy Dale comes to my mind right away. IRS audit, anyone?

Whether or not this is even legal will be debated by scholars and non-scholars alike. Legal? Maybe. Unethical? You bet. And this was to be the most ethical and transparent administration in history. Boy, was I wrong for doubting that statement!

Just as the Patriot Act had moral and ethical issues attached to it, this program does as well. There is no reason for the U.S. taxpayers to be paying a group of people what is probably a nice salary to be informants of the Attorney General and his ilk. This is not what this country is about.

I wonder if the "Blog Squad" wears brown shirts to work...

Diary Poster Night-twister at RedState.com adds this frightening news:

This bill, HR 2467, originally passed the House without the Hate Crimes legislation included, but it was added as an amendment in the Senate. The text of the legislation gives the Attorney General, currently Eric H. Holder, Jr., the right to determine if a group is “associated with hate-related violence against groups or persons or the United States Government”. From the legislative text...

If you think Tea Party activists and bloggers are safe from this legislation, think again.

(3) EVIDENCE OF ASSOCIATION OR AFFILATION WITH HATE GROUP.—The following shall constitute evidence that a person is associated or affiliated with a group associated with hate-related violence:
(A) Individuals possessing tattoos or other body markings indicating association or affiliation with a hate group.
(B) Individuals known to have attended meetings, rallies, conferences, or other activities sponsored by a hate group.
(C) Individuals known to be involved in online activities with a hate group, including being engaged in online discussion groups or blog or other postings that support, encourage, or affirm the group’s extremist or violent views and goals.
(D) Individuals who are known to have in their possession photographs, written testimonials (including diaries or journals), propaganda, or other materials indicating involvement or affiliation with a hate group. Such materials can include photographs, written materials relating to or referring to extreme hatred that are clearly not of an academic nature, possession of objects that venerate or glorify hateinspired violence, and related materials, as determined by the Attorney General. [emphasis mine]

Are you starting to see a connection here?

Editor's Note - Denise "SteelerBabe" Clark lives in Western Pennsylvania with her blue collar husband, and three children. Her blog is The Right Stuff.