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News & Information Nov. 16, 2007: TrueDialog.org releases "All the Senator's Men," an Investigative Study TrueDialog.org today released an investigative study that looks at the boundaries separating and connecting political blogging, journalism and public relations. Carl Lindemann, TrueDialog.org's founder, (see bio and disclosure) wrote and researched the study entitled All the Senator's Men? The Ethics in Advancing a Campaign's Story. The study examines how senior members of the Media Bloggers Association (MBA) participated in bringing forward a story that originated from Senator Susan Collins (R-Maine) reelection campaign. The story briefly gained national prominence in the conservative media last month. Robert Cox, MBA's president and founder, authored a "report" that claimed that Google, the prominent online company, had "banned advertisements critical of MoveOn.org," placed by the Collins campaign. Cox's piece failed to disclose key relationships, including the author's ties to the source of the story in the Collins campaign, an MBA board member. A favorable interpretation of these activities might see this as an example of gaining exposure for an important story overlooked by the “mainstream media.” Alternately, critics may conclude that this event shows bloggers engineering a springboard for a smear campaign. The investigative study looks at the ethical issues involved, and is intended to stimulate debate and discussion about media ethics. It is designed for easy adoption in seminar and classroom settings. The investigative study is available here. *** 10/22 Addenda - see disclosure statement posted on blog entries or also available here. Oct. 21, 2007: Collins Web Chief Disavows his Site's Statements The Director of Internet Strategy for the Collins for Senator campaign has issued a statement on his website that disavows the connection between his public statements made there to support the campaign and the "official" campaign. This follows last month's publication of an opinion piece by TrueDialog.org's founder, Carl Lindemann. It challenged the propriety of this paid political operative, Lance Dutson, carrying out partisan attacks on his "personal" website. Tolerating this practice gives a green light for a race to the bottom. "It encourages candidates to amp up the dirty tactics — just offload them to "personal" websites where there is no accountability," said Lindemann in the piece published in the Bangor Daily News on September 3rd. Dutson's statement comes on the heels of questions sent by TrueDialog.org to the Collins campaign last Tuesday. These inquired as to whether or not his activities and public statements the week before were carried out with the review and approval of the campaign. Was he authorized to make allegations on Fox News about Internet search engine Google and MoveOn.org, a group critical of Sen. Collins? Could the campaign substantiate his allegation that MoveOn.org reacted specifically to Collins' ads criticizing them so as to deliberately suppress the campaign’s freedom of speech? The Collins campaign did not respond. However, its' operative posted this "disclaimer" soon after: All views expressed on this blog are the personal opinion of Lance Dutson, and should not be construed as official statements (of the campaign)... “The Senator demonstrates unusual leadership qualities as she stands aside while an underling takes her campaign negative apparently on his own initiative,” Lindemann said. The Federal Election Commission quarterly report released this past week shows that the Collins campaign operative's firm, Maine Coast Design, received $22,500 from the campaign on September 30. An initial payment of $25,962 on June 25 was disclosed in the previous quarter's report. These payments - to date, a total of $48,462 for "Website Design" - have each been the single largest expenditure made by the Collins campaign during the respective reporting periods. *** Sept. 21, 2007: Commissioner Ginn Marvin Replaced on State Ethics Panel Two new members members of the Maine Commission on Governmental Ethics & Election Practices were sworn in today. Their arrival marks the departure of now former Ethics Commission Chair Jean Ginn Marvin who leaves under a cloud of controversy. On July 2, TrueDialog.org called for an inquiry into then Commission Chair Ginn Marvin for failing to disclose her membership on the board of Maine Heritage Policy Center (MHPC), a "public policy" group, when she candidated for the Commission. No formal inquiry was conducted into what Ginn Marvin claimed was an "inadvertent" omission. Additional questions over whether Ginn Marvin was disqualified for service when she became MHPC's treasurer in 2005, as well as those about whether she engaged in prohibited fundraising activities during a ballot initiative campaign last year, remain unanswered. Last year, a complaint brought by TrueDialog.org's Lindemann to the Commission required MHPC to disclose its contributions and expenditures for that campaign. The Commission's action ordering this limited self-report is under appeal. Meanwhile, Lindemann's follow-up complaint challenging the completeness of MHPC's self-report remains before the Ethics Commission. *** Aug. 13, 2007: Audio available from today's Commission session. The Commission had a discussion about not having a discussion about the issues surrounding Commissioner Ginn Marvin. Commissioner Ginn Marvin was an active participant in the discussion, though "abstained" from voting. The discussion about the discussion decided not to have a discussion. Commissioner Ginn Marvin states she will be leaving the Commission soon. Cut 1 - full discussion, 16 minutes. Voices - in order or appearance: Commissioner Mavourneen Thompson, Executive Director Jonathan Wayne, Commission Chair Michael Friedman, Commissioner Jean Ginn Marvin, TrueDialog.org Founder Carl Lindemann, Commissioner Vinton Cassidy, Assistant Attorney General Phyllis Gardiner. Full discussion 16 minutes (.mp3 - 4 megs) Closing discussion, 2.5 minutes. Why isn't it a problem to have Commissioner Ginn Marvin participate in a discussion about her? Because it's a discussion of a discussion of whether to talk about her. Click here for closing losing clip (.mp3) *** Aug. 10, 2007: Michael Friedman, the new Chair of the Maine Ethics Commission, has sent his formal response to TrueDialog.org's request (see Aug. 9 below). He does not address the actual request made of the Commission to face the ethical issues now surrounding former Ethics Commission Chair Ginn Marvin. Says TrueDialog.org Founder Carl Lindemann, "Friedman's evasive tactic is unworthy of the Ethics Commission Chair. It may also constitute an 'apparent violation of the ethical standards' that the Commission is charged to maintain." Documents: Commission Chair Friedman's letter TrueDialog.org's reply *** Aug. 9, 2007: The Maine Ethics Commission has decided to "just sits there" despite its duty to "investigate and advise on apparent violations of ethical standards" regarding former Commission Chair Jean Ginn Marvin. On Monday, TrueDialog.org requested that the Commission add an agenda item to its next session to consider applying an "Above Reproach" standard to address this situation. Late Tuesday afternoon, newly elected Commission Chair Michael Friedman refused. Friedman is expected to issue a written explanation. It is unclear whether he will allow public comment on his decision during the Commission session scheduled for August 13. Documents: The Commission's Choice - "It Just Sits There" vs. an "Above Reproach" Approach: Part 1: "Above Reproach" Brief (79Kb) Part 2: Addenda - MHPC as a Political Committee (1 meg) Audio: Executive Director Wayne issues prejudicial summary conclusions followed by Assistant Attorney General Gardiner's novel "It Just Sits There" doctrine (from July 16 session - 2 minutes). *** Jul. 17, 2007: Ginn Marvin out as Ethics Commission Chair. At yesterday's session of the Maine Ethics Commission, Assistant Attorney General Phyllis Gardiner "suggested" that the Commissioners "...might want to take action...about electing a new permanent chair." Commissioners passed over Ginn Marvin's suggestion that she might continue as Chair and unanimously elected Commissioner Michael Friedman instead. *** Jul. 16, 2007: TrueDialog.org Founder Call Lindemann responds in his blog to the publication of the first news account of TrueDialog.org's call for an investigation of Ethics Commission Chair Ginn Marvin. Check Kevin Wack's story in the Portland Press Herald here. *** Jul. 15, 2007: Updates to the "Spin Shops, State by State" section are now posted. This includes additions to the sketch of Maine Heritage Policy Center's origins. Also, a new section shows its advocacy for what became the Taxpayer Bill of Rights (TABOR) in 2006 goes back perhaps as far as the beginnings of the organization in 2002. This shows that MHPC was likely a political committee prior to Ethics Commission Chair Ginn Marvin's appointment to the Commission. Also, it exposes whatever excuses she may have for failing to disclose her membership on the organization's board as absurd and unacceptable. *** Jul. 2, 2007: TrueDialog.org requests that Maine Governor John Baldacci and the legislative leadership initiate an investigation into the conduct of state Ethics Commission Chair Jean Ginn Marvin. Press Release Letter to Governor, Legislative Leaders Factual Background/Documents
Maine Ethics Commission Chair Ginn Marvin *** Please visit again for the latest press releases, events, and announcements. Or sign up here for e-mail updates. *** |
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