Fair enough, but why is the Favorite Things video still up, along with other web videos from earlier in the campaign?

Adam, next time it’s ok to cite Big Muddy as your source. Try not to take it word for word.

http://bigmuddypolitics.blogspot.com/2008/07/did-ag-candidate-violate-federal-law.html

Big Muddy,

I’m showing my ignorance: I didn’t know your blog existed. And I don’t see the word-for-word resemblance you claim.

That said, you did beat me to it, so kudos.

Clark

I am a recent declared Harris supporter but do not have an answer to your question. I guess we will see if it goes back up.

I don’t think you are trying to hide it but if you are the Clark that writes, good stuff I must add, for the Show Me Progress blog you work for the Donnelly campaign.

I am not as knowledgable about the Big Muddy blog but I thought the author of it was Richard Martin who works for Margaret Donnelly campaign. I apologize for that if I am not correct.

Clark, it does makes you wonder, doesn’t it? And that’s exactly the point. We’re talking about the video and Koster’s GOP record when we clearly wouldn’t have been if the video was still online. Very smart play by Harris.

Contrary to what Harris and shecky say, this is NOT good for Harris.

It seems to me that, unless Harris paid royalties for the right to parody the song (highly unlikely), his campaign violated copyright laws and was subject to increasing liability the longer it left the video up. If that’s the case, Harris was lying to Adam when he denied that a copyright problem had anything to do with pulling the video.

On the other hand, if this “now you see it, now you don’t” happening was intentional strategy to keep getting free media attention like this, that’s neither smart nor sophisticated. It’s manipulative.

Either scenario makes Harris look bad.

“…our strategy of being agressive, smart and sophisticated.”

AGGRESSIVE = Try anything
SMART = If we say it enough, we must be Smart
SOPHISTICATED = Smug, Snobbish, Supercilious

One and the same, Jessica. If click on my name, you’ll see that it directs you to Show Me Progress. I see you’re busy on behalf of Jeff, as well. You write pretty much the same comments repeatedly on blogs all over the state anytime there’s a post on an AG candidate. And I’m pretty sure Richard Martin does not have a blog, and that he does not write for Big Muddy. It’s about as likely that it’s Stephen Gregali or Jeff Smith.

Back to the topic, I like Jeff and I mean no disrespect towards him, but it does seem odd that only one of his web videos got pulled from the YouTube account, and it’s that one. I don’t really understand the strategy of taking it down to get more press, because taking it down lends credence to Koster’s accusation that it was copyright infringement and makes the story about that and not about Koster’s Republican past.

Still, I don’t understand how it’s copyright infringement. A parody is generally considered fair use. Maybe Koster pitched a fit, and YouTube pulled it. YouTube’s notoriously overprotective of copyright - they pulled Antonio French’s entire YouTube account because he had a couple of seconds from a newscast in one of his videos.

Taking down that video was only in backlash to the many many negative comments he got on this video. I think he realized people were sick of him only attacking Koster, when he should be defending himself. The only reason he is saying its part of his campaign is because that is the only thing the campaign managers could come up with.

Clark

I agree with your comments on the use of video.

I have been told that Richard Martin, whom I know, is doing the Big Muddy blog. But I have no proof at all that he is. If Richard says he isn’t I believe him.

For the last month or so I have made a number of comments on the blogs in support of Jeff. A year or so ago I was supportive of Jeff but not officially. Then I thought Donnelly would be best. I was also pressured into supporting Koster. But a month ago, I took a hard look at the candidates and decided that Jeff is the strongest candidate. He has a more comprehensive vision for the office and he has support throughout the state. He has a lot better chance of beating Gibbons than Donnelly does.

I am not paid to work for Jeff and will not be helped career wise if he wins. If Koster wins, it may benefit me.

My husband is supporting Gibbons. But, I will enthuastically support your candidate against Gibbons if she wins the primary.

I enjoyed this dialogue and hope we can continue it as we get closer to the primary election.

Thanks Clark.