Politicos trying Web sites that attack opponents

The newest trend in New Mexico politics seems to be creating Web sites that attack the other side.

A couple of weeks ago, the Republican Party of New Mexico revealed New Mexico For Sale, a blog devoted, according to the site, “to exposing and critiquing corruption in our state government. We archive and keep track of articles, police reports and judicial decisions relating to government intimidation, cronyism, extortion, voter fraud, negligence, and media bias. National security is also a great concern to us.”

It’s an obviously conservative blog that attacks almost exclusively Democrats, though it did report the news last week that U.S. Rep. Bob Ney, R-Ohio, pleaded guilty to corruption charges stemming from the Jack Abramoff scandal.

The site draws on other news sources and provides biting commentary about politicos and journalists the Republican Party perceives as acting in a less-than-ethical manner. The site has also been quick to praise Republicans the party wants to promote.

There’s also a new Web site, run by Political Technologies, Inc., aimed at discrediting state Land Commissioner Pat Lyons, a Republican. The company’s goal, according to its Web site, is to “use innovation and creativity to help Democrats win elections.” The company’s president is Philip Muller, who ran the direct-mail campaign in this year’s primary for Lyons’ general election opponent, Democrat Jim Baca.

The site, LyonsWatch.com, calls President George Bush, Vice President Dick Cheney and Lyons “three peas in a pod” and contains information aimed at convincing readers that Lyons is owned by Big Oil and Gas and other special interests.

The sites don’t attempt to hide their ties to biased parties, and most visitors won’t be fooled into believing they are independent. Both sites do a decent job of providing factual information – spun, of course, to make their arguments.

I don’t think either site will convince many undecideds to vote a certain way, but they might help ignite base voters.