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Brewster Nation Website is Taken Down

by: Phillip Martin

Mon May 04, 2009 at 04:06 PM CDT

I wrote below about the cowardly anonymoity of the purveyors of Brewster Nation, and how they actually hurt free speech by violating campaign law and refusing to disclose who they were on their website or in their leaflets.

Now, the site has been taken down:

I wrote in the post below:

The internet is a new and powerful phenomenon. Let's treat it with some respect, be honest in our campaigning, and stop engaging in fear-mongering anonymous attacks that destroy the best parts of free speech that gave all of us our (online) voice in the first place.
Is that too much to ask?

Yes, apparently it is.

Update: The Chronicle reported that this was still anonymous:

Details about the group are extremely sketchy; their website has no contact info other than a generic email address. A Whois search says BrewsterNation.com is registered to Kimiko Tokita, a woman who is also named as a media contact in the press release announcing the website launch. However, in a comment on the Brewster Nation blog, the administrator writes “Brewster Nation is funded by a private Austin individual exercising his [emphasis added] right to free speech, and providing a web portal for others to share their opinion.” Tokita confirmed she was hired to work for the group by a figure who, for now, wishes to remain anonymous.

Update by KT: I know who's behind the website. It's clearly your neighbor Lisa.

Tags: Austin Mayor's Race, Lee Leffingwell, Brewster McCracken, (All Tags)

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Brewster Nation Website is Taken Down | 8 comments

? (0.00 / 0)

What does Register.com say? Who is listed as the owners?

by: McKinney @ Mon May 04, 2009 at 16:32:20 PM CDT

by: you @ soon

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See the update in the post n/t (0.00 / 0)

Now, a very great man once said that some people rob you with a fountain pen.

by: Phillip Martin @ Mon May 04, 2009 at 16:34:26 PM CDT

[ Parent ]

I know who it is (0.00 / 0)

It's your neighbor Lisa.

Please read the Community Guidelines and How to Rate Comments.

by: Karl-Thomas Musselman @ Mon May 04, 2009 at 17:25:14 PM CDT

by: you @ soon

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brew should be commended.... (0.00 / 0)

...for staying above the fray:

video#1
video#2

by: jojo @ Mon May 04, 2009 at 17:48:22 PM CDT

by: you @ soon

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Greater Harris County Democrats (3.00 / 1)

This is just like last year, when the "Greater Harris County Democrats" sprang out of nowhere, never had a meeting or a membership list, put up an anonymous website, and made some unusual endorsements.

It's not a candidate's fault if somebody tries to support him from the shadows, but it is his fault if he doesn't object. McCracken didn't object to the BrewsterNation website and he didn't object to the leaflets, and that's disappointing.

by: LSadun @ Mon May 04, 2009 at 21:36:39 PM CDT

by: you @ soon

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Leffingwell People Cease and Desist! (0.00 / 0)

These stuff are slanderous and dirty tricks are unbecoming to (what I thought) was an honorable campaign.

The Brewster McCracken camapaign is busy trying to reach voters in their neighborhoods. I feel like red paint is being thrown on our faces (and hard work). Doing 'amateur-hour' desperate stunts which any pee brain would see as disastrous is not what Brewster is about. He works too long and hard to deal with this.

As a volunteer and a loyal Democrat, I suggest we cut this dirty-trick foolishness out and not let Republican Carole "of a million names" win!

Stop the Madness!!

We are all Democrats: let's act like it.

We are better than this!!

by: tates5a @ Mon May 04, 2009 at 22:07:28 PM CDT

by: you @ soon

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What Leffingwell people? (0.00 / 0)

Who is attacking McCracken? I'm attacking the person who created "Brewster Nation."

I'm not a spokesperson or actor for the Leffingwell people, so don't (again) try and smear someone. I'm also a volunteer and a Democrat, and I suggest we be honest in our exchange -- don't spin something that isn't there.

Now, a very great man once said that some people rob you with a fountain pen.

by: Phillip Martin @ Tue May 05, 2009 at 00:36:31 AM CDT

[ Parent ]

What makes this a "dirty trick"? (0.00 / 0)

The group that financed the website and leaflets are clearly violating campaign finance law. I don't see anything dirty about anyone pointing that out, and plenty of people have highlighted this incident out of concern for the sanctity of the electoral process, not for any candidate. This is just like the guy who ran political advertising through his company's ad in the Austin Chronicle - a failure to comply with the letter and spirit of the law.

I don't see how you can call criticism of illegal activity undertaken by an independent group a "dirty trick" or "stunt," unless you're implying that "Leffingwell's people" manufactured this incident just to implicate McCracken's campaign. If that's the case, I'd be curious to see the evidence. I'm also sure there are plenty of less complicated and roundabout ways of smearing your opponent than ginning up a hoax this elaborate, with no guarantee that it wouldn't hurt more than it helped.

"In this world of sin and sorrow there is always something to be thankful for; as for me, I rejoice that I am not a Republican." - H.L. Mencken

by: PI Lawyer @ Wed May 06, 2009 at 00:18:35 AM CDT

[ Parent ]