So here's how the Obama camp is going to try to make sure the Internet is on balance a help to the campaign rather than a source of harm: a "fight the smears" Web site.
Obama's campaign has mastered the use of the Internet for fundraising. His backers have used viral videos like the "Yes we can" mash-up and the 'Empire Strikes Barack'-style videos to rev up supporters. But there have also been instances where the Web has hurt Obama, like the Rev. Wright playing on a loop on YouTube. There have also been numerous emails about Obama being a Muslim and a man who refuses to say the Pledge of Allegiance and most recently messages accusing his wife Michelle of uttering a racial epithet at Obama's former church. (The first two are demonstrably untrue, and Michelle has denied the latter and Obama himself has challenged anyone with video of his wife making the remarks to produce it.)
This Web site appears aimed at harnessing the Internet "for good" in the campaign's eyes to refute any rumor circulating on the Web.
Original Source : http://firstread.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2008/06/12/1135438.aspx
