Anatomy of a Political SPAM Attack

If that's the best that the author can do to discredit John and Teresa - list five out of 2,000+ grantees of an organization they once supported - then the author is obviously grasping at straws.

Bottom line: This email is a wonderful example of how effective propaganda works. It uses two "facts" to back everything up: the Kerry's control of Heinz (outright lie), and Tides' funding of radical organizations (misleading use of half-truth, they fund many more non-radical groups). It even quotes the respected Wall Street Journal to back up its lies. Once it's convinced you of its legitimacy through those established facts and credibility, it goes on to other more incredible claims.

Seriously. Do you really believe that Heinz and Kerry are "two people who despise successful entrepreneurship and who believe in the confiscatory redistribution of wealth"? That's so outrageous that the author doesn't even try to support that statement. Again: they've already gained your trust with the ketchup and philanthropy lies, now they just want to scare you.

This letter contains enough "facts", and things that look like facts, to possibly sway the vote of somebody who has no access to accurate information. That was its purpose: to scare and not to inform. It is propaganda, not reporting. It is the lowest form of negative campaigning.

When you get garbage like this in your inbox (and you will, from all sides), do not blindly accept the information it presents, do not be misled by spurious claims and half-truths, and do not forward it on to your entire address list. Do verify all the facts, do be on the lookout for claims that are not backed up with solid information, do think for yourself, and do reach your own conclusions.

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