December 01, 2005

Outing Hitman not an attack on anonymous blogging

Sharon Cobb has stirred up a few people over accusations that the blogger known as Hitman from the blog "Bring the Noise" may actually be a "high ranking" member of the Bredesen administration.

Well, I've proved Hitman is blogging from a State computer, (see info below) and I will have his/her identity very soon as well. (See email to Lydia Lenker as well) Even if "Hitman" isn't doing this on direct orders of Governor Bredesen, he's blogging on YOUR TAX DOLLARS. That's not allowed.

After questions on this matter arose earlier in the week, I verified that he/she was working off a state computer because of the IP address he/she left when they commented on my blog a few weeks ago. I can also verify that it is the same IP address that Sharon posted on her blog which is actually a proxy address used by the state.*

Normally I consider the message more important than the messenger (as we have proven in the past). In fact, I agree with most of Hitman's opinions (except for his disapproval of TaBOR which kind of leads me to believe Sharon's assertion).

Now, if a person is just a regular, "lowly" state worker who is blogging on "company" time without the knowledge of his or her superiors, I don't care. If it's their personal opinion...whatever. However, if Sharon's accusations are true, then we might have a problem (Bill Hobbs seems to have some information that it may be true as well). If Bredesen OR someone in his administration is knowingly allowing a person to go out in an attempt to anonymously counter the message of those the administration doesn't agree with then it becomes nothing more than state sponsored propaganda...on your tax dollar. Sure, you may agree with the message (like myself), but that doesn't excuse the intentions. In fact, what's to stop them from also waylaying into something like TaBOR in an anonymous fashion on your tax dollar (another thing the administration doesn't like).

Who here likes state sponsored propaganda? Yeah...I didn't think so.

Let me make it clear...I have no problem with anonymous blogging. Some of my favorite bloggers are anonymous and they do an excellent job, but if someone of an official capacity, behind a veil of anonymity enters into the blogosphere in an attempt to influence opinion (aka propaganda), then it needs to be outed. On the other hand, if the blogger is not a "high ranking" official with this type of intention and is only a state worker with an opinion, then they should not be.

Sharon: If you find out that this person is not a "high ranking" official, do not reveal his or her identity. I hope that any media outlet also looking into this will exhibit the same restraint.

But if it is coming from someone in the administration...give 'em hell.

(*Note: As a humourous aside, it's funny what all you can find when looking up IP addresses on the Internet. A comment on a random message board left by a state worker actually led me to their personal web site that has pictures using parts of the old state penitentiary as the backdrop for some potentially questionable photography. No...I'm not giving you the link...heh).

More: For those that lean left in the audience, I point you to this story. If what Sharon is investigating is true, then it's pretty much the same thing.

Again, if it's not true, then it doesn't matter. I think Sharon has made clear (definitely in the comments) that she will drop the matter if it ends up not being what she thinks it might be. And...I'll still read Hitman and probably still enjoy his or her attacks on TennCare.

More II: Bill Hobbs in the comments over at Nashville Is Talking:

I'm more interested in whether the Bredesen administration, or some part of it, has decided on a policy of stealth engagement of the blogosphere, as that would be a major development in the history of the Tennessee political blogosphere.

However, Roger Abramson had this to say earlier on:

Putting aside the tattling on this fella for a minute, I have to admit to being baffled as to why Sharon Cobb would actually think that his little site is some giant covert propaganda operation working at the behest of the governor's office. I think, if they were even going to do that (why?), it would be put together a little better and have a little more--shall we say--readership.

It's pretty obviously just some guy with a blog site blowing off some steam like the rest of us.

Comments:

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Blake,
Thank you for articulating something the bloggers who jumped on me can't seem to understand.
I have no interest in outing ANYONE. This is about a POSSIBLE big story IF Hitman is doing a pro Bredesen Site from the State. The big story would be IF it is sanctioned by the higher ups.

Sadly, many bloggers are being completely miopic--some whom I thought were actually journalists and would have learned how to follow a POTENTIAL lead in Journalism 101.

I hope anyone else reading this comment understands Blake is a libertarian and against TennCare and does not agree with me politically, but he sees the potential for a very big (and imporant) story IF this is coming from higher ups.

I am so very disappointed in some bloggers who couldn't wait to jump on the anti outing of a State employee, when you didn't bother to read it on my site where I was very clear it could be nothing. But, as a journalist, I was, and will continue to follow the leads and connect the dots and see where it leads.

It's a shame the majority couldn't hold off on bloviating long enough to see if there is indeed a big story or if it's minor.

Posted by: Sharon at December 1, 2005 10:19 PM

Interesting. Miss Cobb seems to see this post as a spirited defense of her and I admit it does read that way. I, however, agree with most everything Blake says here. I agree that if HitMan is an explicitly ordered project of the Bredesen Administration then he should be outed. At this time, however, it is unlikely this is the case and extremely difficult to prove even if it were.

The current evidence is extremely thin. All we know is that Hitman MAY have posted a comment from a state computer. He might not even work for the state. He may be a lowly bureaucrat with no explicit agenda. He could be a motivated Bredesen employee taking his own initiative and freelancing this thing. Under any of those scenarios, HitMan should not be unmasked.

If this truly is directly ordered propaganda, I must say it is a job well done. The blog does not read state sponsored to me. It does not read like a political hack doing his job. If it is, he is a very good one. But even if you can track him to Bredesen's office and many, including Blake, indicate that that would be very difficult to do -- you are still only halfway there. You still have to prove this was not a freelance project. Unless they are stupid enough to confess or to have written memorandum on the project, I don't see how you do so.

The evidence is thin. Cobb's original post was a threat, pure and simple. Cobb was miffed so she decided to put a scare on him. Wonderful. If that is how she wants to carry it, that's fine. But this constant mention of her MSM stint is a bit tired. Great, you worked for MSNBC or whatever. What do you want? A medal? A cookie?

So what if you were a journalist, Miss Cobb, you're a blogger now just like everybody else. No better, no worse. You are running your mouth with little evidence and a lot of emotion. Can't hate you for that. Do it all the time. However, on this occasion, you are doing it while threatening another blogger's livelihood. Uncool, Miss Cobb, uncool.

Do your little investigation. If you land the big fish and can definitively link the guy to the administration, good for you. Until then, shut it on up.

Posted by: Kleinheider at December 2, 2005 01:11 AM

Kleinheider,
I am baffled by the way you are going after me. You know, NO one has bothered to discuss how he was posting untrue things about me.

Aside from that, you're not interested in a dialogue,you're only interested in being hurtful. I'm not interested in striking back.

Regarding "just being a blogger," I've learned my lesson from all the insanity of mean spirited attacks on me for doing my job. When I am able to work again, ( I think you know I recently had major surgery for ovarian cancer) I WILL go back to national media (if I am able to with my health problems) where my skills are appreciated.

Posted by: Sharon at December 2, 2005 02:40 AM

I think this notion that the .gov is planting bloggers to mess with the blogosphere is nothing but narcissism. We're not that important.

Posted by: SayUncle at December 2, 2005 08:31 AM

Well, Sharon has irked the Bredesen administration a bit in the past over TennCare.

Posted by: at December 2, 2005 08:59 AM

Considering how this is going I am surprised Sharon has not said, "Take down this post and apologize."

For someone not "interest in outing ANYONE" Sharon seems pretty determined.

I ask you again Sharon, even if everything you allege is true, why is this a BIG story? Considering that every Mayor in every city tries to find ways to get newspapers to print stories with the proper slant I don't see what the big deal is. Is a law being broken? If not, what is your point?

Posted by: # 9 at December 2, 2005 09:05 AM