Freepers: No shame

[ethellamyers]

I'm pretty new to DU and I knew nothing about Free Republic. Thought I would take a look. Pretty quickly I saw this reply to a post:

I met some folks up from Texas who were canvassing in Ohio for Romney. They showed me phone apps where they were signed up with the Obama campaign as canvassers. They reported in to the Obama campaign every where they were canvassing for Romney and said they were canvassing in those neighborhoods for Obama. It’s BRILLIANT. They covered valuable real estate for Romney and left the field clear because the Obama campaign thinks they were covering the neighborhood for them. They even reported in from the rally that they were canvassing West Chester where the rally was held.

More telling was that responses to this post were all positive. Disgusting. I need to take a shower now - no more lurking on freerepublic.com for me.

[link:http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2954251/posts|

[Renew Deal]

1. Really? No more?

[ethellamyers]

4. Nope. Once was enough.

[GallopingGhost]

2. Here's a tip.

They lean Republican.

[silvershadow]

3. Wow. Shocking. I wouldn't go over there anymore, so you're not spreading that kind of stuff around

here.

[ethellamyers]

11. Sorry - thought it was ok

I've seen quite a few posts with info about the site - that's how I knew it even existed.

Don't know quite what to say. There is really nothing I can do to convince anybody that I am not a troll.

[silvershadow]

13. Sure there is...Just build up a legitimate post count with your strong democratic views as

commentary. That's how we will get to know you and your legitimacy. Going there is fine, we do it all the time. We will get to know you by your works and words. Sorry if you thought I implied you were a troll.

[renate]

32. it didn't even cross my mind that you were a troll--I read the post. you're obviously a good 'un :)

I'd never considered the possibility that Romney supporters would do something like that, but it kind of makes perfect sense, doesn't it? Typical of the kind of people he'd attract.

Welcome to DU!

[AgingAmerican]

5. Election fraud is a matter of pride for them

Integrity is frowned upon in that RW hellhole

[tblue]

6. Tell the Obama Ohio folks!

Creeps. They have to cheat or they will lose.

[geek tragedy]

7. $10,000 says he's making it up. nt

[LTR]

18. I agree

Those dumbasses are too lazy to canvas for ANYBODY!

[barbiegeek]

8. Who do we report this election fraud too?

[RBInMaine]

9. They are ultra right wing whackjobs. Don't waste your time with them.

[darkangel218]

10. You are from where my beloved Coors beer is from!

Someday ill make it up there to visit :p

[ethellamyers]

12. It is beautiful and turning more blue

Unfortunately, we are probably stuck with Coors Jr - he lives in the neighborhood and Coors company is a major employer.

I was pretty amused last week. I was canvasing in the neighborhood where both Joe Coors and Ed Perlmutter live. I've never seen so many lawn signs. So, one side of the street was all Coors and the other was all Perlmutter. People on both sides were glaring at each other.

[aletier_v]

14. I lived in Golden for two years and worked at Federal Center in Lakewood

It's #3 of my "best places to live".

Well, Denver, that is.

[zebe83]

15. I dont believe stories like this at all.

[ethellamyers]

19. You are probably right

Even though I've been a very liberal democrat for 27 years (marched in pro choice rally in DC in 1989), I didn't know about DU until a few weeks ago. I'm already addicted and have recommended the site to quite a few friends and relatives who have been fretting about the election.

Guess I am pretty naive, should have realized that it was probably a lot of hot air. I just haven't seen anything like that here and expected the site to be a conservative version of here.

[aletier_v]

20. FreeRepublic was quite different in 1996

It's become an echo chamber and I suspect the heavy hand of the owner is largely to blame.

There's a lot more hate there now,
and irrationality.

[zebe83]

22. I just cant picture someone

Coming for Texas to Ohio, signing up to canvas for Obama, and being a secret Romney supporter. That seems like a tall tale to me.

[Patiod]

28. Although folks from shoe-in states often come to swing states to help

Seriously - I've canvassed in PA over the years with New Yorkers and folks from DC.

[japple]

29. Welcome to DU ethellamyers! We're happy to have you aboard.

n/t

[Politicub]

16. Good thing the number of Obama volunteers crush the gop's pitiful ranks.

Idiots. You can't manufacturer the enthusiasm that volunteers have for Obama.

[mahina]

17. Welcome to D U!

Last edited Sat Nov 3, 2012, 06:24 PM - Edit history (1)

Thanks for your post. Really reprehensible behavior on their part and sad that it met w approval.

Pretty sure you aren't supposed to link to fr though.

[AverageJoe90]

21. Welcome to DU, Ethelia.

Yes indeed, the vast majority of Freepers are indeed shameful and disgusting people.

You're in good company with DU. We tend to stick together thru thick and thin.

[NWHarkness]

23. It's malarkey

That's not how the campaign works. People don't just call up and say "Hey, I canvassed my neighborhood, so don't worry about it". Even in the old days, we were better organized than that, and, believe me, as a veteran of many campaigns, the Obama campaign is the best organized ever. If this story was true, the staffers at the local office who got the call would know damn well that the callers had nothing to do with the actual campaign.

[jcgoldie]

25. Malarkey?

Is that like "a bunch of stuff"?

Me and Martha Raddatz wanna know about this Malarkey you speak of...

[brush]

24. I doubt that Freepers story

Last edited Sun Nov 4, 2012, 09:54 AM - Edit history (1)

I've canvassed several times for the President's campaign (today for 4 hours, for example) and I've also been canvassed at my home by Romney supporters. There is a difference. What the Obama campaign seeks to accomplish with its canvassers is to get to known Democratic voters (from lists obtained from county clerks) and urge them strongly to vote early, when early voting was still in effect, and after that get them to please vote for the president on election day. The Romney canvassers tried to get me to switch to vote for Romney, which to me is wasted effort. We do not waste our time trying to convert people foolish enough to vote for the liar duo, we spend our time getting out our know dem voters. So I don't really believe the story in the OP about Freepers canvassing for Romney instead of the President because our lists only contain know Democratic voters who wouldn't be receptive to any Romney spiel, just as I wasn't. Plus, you have to file a report at the end of your shift.

[barbiegeek]

26. Is this a Troll, looking for info on how we canvas- only 18 posts

[GoCubsGo]

27. If that's the case, it's a little bit late.

The election is in less than 3 days. There is no way in hell the Romney campaign could get their act together enough to do anything of consequence in that short period of time.

[aletier_v]

30. It wouldn't matter anyway

Romney's belief about the campaign (and his supporters) was wrong,
we can see that now, I think.

In retrospect, his only chance of victory was a major (or perhaps series of major)
gaffes by Obama.

[ethellamyers]

31. Ugh, tried avoid troll like pitfalls and failed

Should have stayed in lurk mode for a lot longer. In a moment of weakness cause I was so irritated, posted something that I should have known would be seen as a troll post. Obviously I offended somebody since a star member has blocked me.

I won't whine, but I would like to put up at least a minimum of a defense. I don't know if trolls do this, but I did pay for a star membership so I could stay logged in during the debates. I also paid because I have spent so much time on this site since it was mentioned in a HuffPo comment that the $$ was worth it.

I just updated my profile to include my facebook and twitter links. I don't post or tweet often, but my social accounts do show that my likes/post/tweets are all pro-Obama. One of my albums are photos from the Obama rally in Golden a couple of weeks ago.

[Egnever]

33. Dont take it personally

There are a lot of nervous people here right now calling troll far to easily.

I have been here for years and thought your post was just fine if it makes you feel any better.

[Sugarcoated]

34. Hey, I believe you

I've canvassed and I actually think it is possible to do this - you pick up the list and fill it out as you go door-to-door and drop it off hours later. If a couple of people posing as Democrats walked in to volunteer, how would anyone know?

Anyways, welcome to the site. There's some knuckleheads here, but lots of nice folks.

[Jim Lane]

35. The OP seems completely plausible to me.

I agree with others who say that the Freeper was probably lying. An important point, though, is that the Freepers who thought it was true were, according to the report from ethellamyers, very enthusiastic about this deception. That's consistent with what I've seen when I've visited that cesspool.

No one should be discouraged from keeping DUers up to date on the doings on FR. Sometimes, it's useful to know what the adversary's thinking. More often, it's worth it just for the entertainment value.

[Initech]

36. FR is known around the internet for batshit insanity.

Really - nothing they do any more surprises me - they stoop to new lows on a daily basis.