GOP Faction Launches Fake Democratic Party Websites

Image: ajc.com

The political mayhem known as "dirty tricks" has again emerged in our nation's electoral process. The current iteration of this phenomenon was the subject of a recent Chicago Tribune story. The article noted that the National Republican Congressional Committee (NRCC) purchased web domains identical with the names of Democratic members of the House of Representatives. The NRCC created content for these domains, including negative information about the congresspeople. The NRCC also put its hand out for a donation, often under the guise of financially supporting the Democratic representative.

The NRCC claimed its approach to political communication was a legitimate, useful form of expression. An NRCC spokesman, according to the Trib's piece, will "continue generating the fake websites, saying the organization now owns 'hundreds of URLs that the Democrats chose not to purchase.'"

Unstated was the NRCC's commitment to transparency.

Congress Passes Patent System "Reform"

Earlier this week, the House of Representatives passed legislation that will launch a major overhaul of the patent system. A National Journal article notes the passage, its key points, and objections to the legislation.

The action was backed by the Obama administration, high tech firms, and other business interests. The legislation's sponsors expect the new guidelines to ease the lengthy backlog in patent applications, improve procedures to avoid litigation, and place the United States on the same filing system as the rest of the industrialized world.

Big winners in this legislation are major corporations, such as marquee Silicon Valley players, such as Google and Apple, and major pharmaceutical companies.