The race for Chair of the Democratic National Committee turned negative this week as a new website went live. The site uses extreme satire to mock the candidacy of Missouri Senator Jean Carnahan. The website uses the guise of a supporter site to trash the Missouri Democrat.
The website lambasts the Senator's experience using modern technology in campaigns by providing a joke endorsement signature page and asking people to print it out, get it signed, and then mail it. Historians say this method of what we now call "netroots" action ceased to exist late in the 20th century.
The site goes on to attack the Senator's lack of vision for a modern Democratic Party. In an apparent attack on Carnahan supporters as the Anybody But Dean crowd, the site says she, "could bring new leadership" as a joke on the fact whoever wins will bring new leadership. The site goes on mock her by only listing "work ethic and extreme trustworthiness" as her personal leadership qualities. The "work ethic" line may also be a subtle dig at her lack of a leadership role amongst Senate Democrats.
Mocking Carnahan's electability the site says she should be elected because of, "her centralist views, her rural upbringing and the fact that she is from the nations [sic] center the Midwest."
The pictures on the site are hard hitting and the sketchy look and feel of the website advance the argument that Carnahan is unable to grasp the technological opportunities the internet provides Democrats.
I'm surprised to see the race for DNC get this negative this fast. But with Draft Howard mobilizing over 7,000 people, Simon Rosenberg making waves and Donnie Fowler listing his vision the Reform Democrats seem to now be moving from consolidating support to ensuring success.
If you're looking for a good laugh, check out the site at www.wewantcarnahan.4t.com.