Jane Corwin: Standing Next to Fire Trucks
May 5, 2011 12:04 PM Subscribe
Why it is important to register your domain name. New York State Assemblywoman Jane Corwin apparently neglected to register her name as a dot org. So somebody else did.
Hi-fives all around. Nice.
posted by Blazecock Pileon at 12:09 PM on May 5, 2011
posted by Blazecock Pileon at 12:09 PM on May 5, 2011
Wow they even copied the annoying popup!
posted by Big_B at 12:09 PM on May 5, 2011 [2 favorites]
posted by Big_B at 12:09 PM on May 5, 2011 [2 favorites]
Oh, lordy, the picture of Bruce Villainch with a line through it on the 'submit' page killed me.
posted by dirtdirt at 12:10 PM on May 5, 2011
posted by dirtdirt at 12:10 PM on May 5, 2011
"Together we can make delicious soup from the bones of the poor."
Nothing unusual here for a Republican politician.
posted by dirtylittlecity at 12:12 PM on May 5, 2011 [2 favorites]
Nothing unusual here for a Republican politician.
posted by dirtylittlecity at 12:12 PM on May 5, 2011 [2 favorites]
Domain name typos are one of the lowest forms of humor.
"In a lab coat. Wearing goggles" did make me grin though.
She should properly be a .org rather than a .com anyway.
posted by madajb at 12:12 PM on May 5, 2011
"In a lab coat. Wearing goggles" did make me grin though.
She should properly be a .org rather than a .com anyway.
posted by madajb at 12:12 PM on May 5, 2011
And it's down.
posted by Deathalicious at 12:13 PM on May 5, 2011
posted by Deathalicious at 12:13 PM on May 5, 2011
This kind of stunt showed up in a few local ridings in the recent Canadian election. A Conservative Party campaign manager registered the names of a few rival candidates as soon as they were announced and built similar attack sites.
It's kind of sleazy in my opinion. I'd rather see elections stick to issues rather than childish pranks.
posted by rocket88 at 12:14 PM on May 5, 2011 [3 favorites]
It's kind of sleazy in my opinion. I'd rather see elections stick to issues rather than childish pranks.
posted by rocket88 at 12:14 PM on May 5, 2011 [3 favorites]
Feels like wire fraud to me. Lawyer-up my friend.
posted by LakesideOrion at 12:15 PM on May 5, 2011
posted by LakesideOrion at 12:15 PM on May 5, 2011
I blame myself.
posted by Astro Zombie at 12:15 PM on May 5, 2011
posted by Astro Zombie at 12:15 PM on May 5, 2011
A bit more info including who set it up. I rather dislike this, to be honest - spiteful caricatures aren't going to help anything or convince anyone.
Now, barackobama.me on the other hand!
posted by pahalial at 12:15 PM on May 5, 2011
Now, barackobama.me on the other hand!
posted by pahalial at 12:15 PM on May 5, 2011
i laughed out loud, or "LOL'd", in the parlance of our times.
posted by facetious at 12:17 PM on May 5, 2011 [1 favorite]
posted by facetious at 12:17 PM on May 5, 2011 [1 favorite]
Which one is the real Republican site?
They both are, that's the beauty of it.
posted by blucevalo at 12:18 PM on May 5, 2011 [7 favorites]
They both are, that's the beauty of it.
posted by blucevalo at 12:18 PM on May 5, 2011 [7 favorites]
Feels like wire fraud to me. Lawyer-up my friend.
Aren't parodies protected works?
posted by Blazecock Pileon at 12:21 PM on May 5, 2011 [1 favorite]
Aren't parodies protected works?
posted by Blazecock Pileon at 12:21 PM on May 5, 2011 [1 favorite]
It's kind of funny if you look at it from the Solid LiberalTM point-of-view where we'd see any internet or technical faux pas as being disastrous for a campaign, but in reality, and i have this good information coming right from a couple of contract technologists for the DNC, it appears that the GOP has no shame whatsoever in early adoption and pushing things out the door as fast as they can, letting them sink or swim on their own merits before moving on the the next thing while the Dems hem and haw and debate minutia for months on end before succumbing to some safe-for-everything compromise that sucks.
In other words, the GOP will get a kick out of this sort of thing and probably co-opt it. Either way, it's funny.
posted by jsavimbi at 12:23 PM on May 5, 2011 [1 favorite]
In other words, the GOP will get a kick out of this sort of thing and probably co-opt it. Either way, it's funny.
posted by jsavimbi at 12:23 PM on May 5, 2011 [1 favorite]
It's not like this is without precedent. Whitehouse.org during the Bush administration was a delightful source of commentary from people who didn't understand parody. (Well, delight is a strong word, it mostly made me sad after a while.)
posted by fifteen schnitzengruben is my limit at 12:29 PM on May 5, 2011
posted by fifteen schnitzengruben is my limit at 12:29 PM on May 5, 2011
In other words, the GOP will get a kick out of this sort of thing and probably co-opt it. Either way, it's funny.
Isn't this the cyber terrorism the Tea Party told me about?
posted by Mister Fabulous at 12:38 PM on May 5, 2011
Isn't this the cyber terrorism the Tea Party told me about?
posted by Mister Fabulous at 12:38 PM on May 5, 2011
Yeah, domain name squatting isn't cool.
But her Terminator face amused me, particularly because she looks a lot like one of my sitting senators.
posted by immlass at 12:40 PM on May 5, 2011
But her Terminator face amused me, particularly because she looks a lot like one of my sitting senators.
posted by immlass at 12:40 PM on May 5, 2011
I admire their vitriol! Good job!!
posted by troublewithwolves at 12:47 PM on May 5, 2011
posted by troublewithwolves at 12:47 PM on May 5, 2011
This does feel like a bit of a cheap shot. But then again, I suppose that's really all we have left.
posted by crackingdes at 12:49 PM on May 5, 2011
posted by crackingdes at 12:49 PM on May 5, 2011
I'd rather see elections stick to issues rather than childish pranks.
I'm not aware of what's happening in Canada, but this website uses satire pretty effectively to address real campaign issues. If this just made up smears and lies about her (usually a Republican tactic here in the states), that would be despicable. Recharacterizing her positions in terms of their ultimate effect on the welfare of the middle class and those poorer is fair game, I believe. She certainly has the opportunity to parry those thrusts on her real website.
posted by Mental Wimp at 12:50 PM on May 5, 2011 [14 favorites]
I'm not aware of what's happening in Canada, but this website uses satire pretty effectively to address real campaign issues. If this just made up smears and lies about her (usually a Republican tactic here in the states), that would be despicable. Recharacterizing her positions in terms of their ultimate effect on the welfare of the middle class and those poorer is fair game, I believe. She certainly has the opportunity to parry those thrusts on her real website.
posted by Mental Wimp at 12:50 PM on May 5, 2011 [14 favorites]
Yeah yeah yeah, in a perfect world we would all have reasoned discussion of the issues and drink cocoa in a library in New Hampshire.
Oh wait...I forgot that you took a severe hit to the cranium in November of 2008 and have been asleep this entire time.
Doesnt work that way. GOP are pricks. Not well-meaning people with an earnest difference of opinion but actual pricks.
If this "web site" were a being I would call it a "player" and I would instruct it to "play on"
posted by Senor Cardgage at 12:51 PM on May 5, 2011 [11 favorites]
Oh wait...I forgot that you took a severe hit to the cranium in November of 2008 and have been asleep this entire time.
Doesnt work that way. GOP are pricks. Not well-meaning people with an earnest difference of opinion but actual pricks.
If this "web site" were a being I would call it a "player" and I would instruct it to "play on"
posted by Senor Cardgage at 12:51 PM on May 5, 2011 [11 favorites]
I must admit this cracked me up.
From pahalial's first link:
A search revealed that the site was registered to Ian Murphy, the Buffalo Beast editor who fooled Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker earlier this year by posing as conservative financier David Koch during a phone call. Murphy then released a recording of the call to the public.
Asked why he had created the fake website, Murphy said, "We thought Jean deserved a more honest website."
He told Hotsheet he was "very" surprised the domain name was available, and claimed that it had gotten 40,000 hits in three days. He said the site, which he created with colleague Allan Uthman, was meant as satire.
Asked if the inclusion of the words "heil Jane Corwin" were meant to suggest Corwin is a Nazi, Murphy said no, responding that he "just thought that was how Republicans spoke."
Murphy said his goal with both the fake site and the Koch prank is "pointing out the truth when it's lacking."
He added: "It's gonzo, right?"
Murphy is actually on the ballot against Corwin in the May 24 special election, on the Green Party line. A poll released Friday found Corwin with 36 percent of the vote, followed by 31 percent for Democrat Kathleen Hochul, 23 percent for Tea Party candidate Jack Davis and five percent for Murphy.
posted by bearwife at 12:51 PM on May 5, 2011 [6 favorites]
From pahalial's first link:
A search revealed that the site was registered to Ian Murphy, the Buffalo Beast editor who fooled Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker earlier this year by posing as conservative financier David Koch during a phone call. Murphy then released a recording of the call to the public.
Asked why he had created the fake website, Murphy said, "We thought Jean deserved a more honest website."
He told Hotsheet he was "very" surprised the domain name was available, and claimed that it had gotten 40,000 hits in three days. He said the site, which he created with colleague Allan Uthman, was meant as satire.
Asked if the inclusion of the words "heil Jane Corwin" were meant to suggest Corwin is a Nazi, Murphy said no, responding that he "just thought that was how Republicans spoke."
Murphy said his goal with both the fake site and the Koch prank is "pointing out the truth when it's lacking."
He added: "It's gonzo, right?"
Murphy is actually on the ballot against Corwin in the May 24 special election, on the Green Party line. A poll released Friday found Corwin with 36 percent of the vote, followed by 31 percent for Democrat Kathleen Hochul, 23 percent for Tea Party candidate Jack Davis and five percent for Murphy.
posted by bearwife at 12:51 PM on May 5, 2011 [6 favorites]
domain name squatting isn't cool.
No one squats on Jane Corwin. Jane Corwin squats on you!
posted by octobersurprise at 12:57 PM on May 5, 2011 [1 favorite]
No one squats on Jane Corwin. Jane Corwin squats on you!
posted by octobersurprise at 12:57 PM on May 5, 2011 [1 favorite]
A poll released Friday found Corwin with 36 percent of the vote, followed by 31 percent for Democrat Kathleen Hochul, 23 percent for Tea Party candidate Jack Davis and five percent for Murphy.
Note the potential impact of Murphy on Hochul. Of course, the impact of the Tea Party on Corwin is easily larger, but that's a monster of the Republicans' own Frankensteinian creation.
posted by Mental Wimp at 12:58 PM on May 5, 2011
Note the potential impact of Murphy on Hochul. Of course, the impact of the Tea Party on Corwin is easily larger, but that's a monster of the Republicans' own Frankensteinian creation.
posted by Mental Wimp at 12:58 PM on May 5, 2011
Fuck yeah! More of this!
Though I would like to see more exposes on Republicans (whom I am sure are really lovely Lizard People Overlords as individuals, but are really fucking shit up in the aggregate). I love a good parodic lambasting as the next Solid Liberal, but they're often lost on the These Colors Don't Run crowd.
posted by Admiral Haddock at 1:00 PM on May 5, 2011
Though I would like to see more exposes on Republicans (whom I am sure are really lovely Lizard People Overlords as individuals, but are really fucking shit up in the aggregate). I love a good parodic lambasting as the next Solid Liberal, but they're often lost on the These Colors Don't Run crowd.
posted by Admiral Haddock at 1:00 PM on May 5, 2011
Are you allowed to post the FPP even though you were the one to register her name?
posted by Obscure Reference at 1:00 PM on May 5, 2011
posted by Obscure Reference at 1:00 PM on May 5, 2011
Are you allowed to post the FPP even though you were the one to register her name?
No. Why do you ask?
posted by Floydd at 1:05 PM on May 5, 2011
No. Why do you ask?
posted by Floydd at 1:05 PM on May 5, 2011
How many people here think I am Ian Murphy?
posted by Astro Zombie at 1:06 PM on May 5, 2011 [9 favorites]
posted by Astro Zombie at 1:06 PM on May 5, 2011 [9 favorites]
Yeah, domain name squatting isn't cool.
I thought squatting referred to buying a domain for the specific purpose of reselling it to the "rightful" owner at an extortionate price. Looks like the domain is actually being used.
posted by Lentrohamsanin at 1:06 PM on May 5, 2011
I thought squatting referred to buying a domain for the specific purpose of reselling it to the "rightful" owner at an extortionate price. Looks like the domain is actually being used.
posted by Lentrohamsanin at 1:06 PM on May 5, 2011
Parody is protected. Political speech is protected. Political parody is protected like it has Stephen Colbert in some kind of mech-robot protecting it. The only way this could be legally challenged is if the site owner offers to sell the site back to Jane Corwin (see People for the Eating of Tasty Animals, 2001)
posted by East Manitoba Regional Junior Kabaddi Champion '94 at 1:06 PM on May 5, 2011 [2 favorites]
posted by East Manitoba Regional Junior Kabaddi Champion '94 at 1:06 PM on May 5, 2011 [2 favorites]
pure awesome. so much awesome, in fact, that I think I'll toast to it later.
posted by zombieApoc at 1:11 PM on May 5, 2011
posted by zombieApoc at 1:11 PM on May 5, 2011
I don't know much about fair use, but it seems wrong to me that a photographer's work can be copied without compensation. I think parody requires that someone actually transform the original material in some way. Does the text make the site as a whole fair use parody, even though the images are untransformed?
posted by parrot_person at 1:20 PM on May 5, 2011
posted by parrot_person at 1:20 PM on May 5, 2011
Standing next to fire trucks. For some reason.
Brilliant.
posted by infinitefloatingbrains at 1:22 PM on May 5, 2011 [2 favorites]
Brilliant.
posted by infinitefloatingbrains at 1:22 PM on May 5, 2011 [2 favorites]
Does the text make the site as a whole fair use parody, even though the images are untransformed?
Photoshop in some fangs, maybe.
posted by Blazecock Pileon at 1:22 PM on May 5, 2011
Photoshop in some fangs, maybe.
posted by Blazecock Pileon at 1:22 PM on May 5, 2011
It's kind of sleazy in my opinion. I'd rather see elections stick to issues rather than childish pranks.
It's not as though she's being slandered or anything. And it would be great to stick to the issues -- but I think it's sort of naive to suggest that sticking to the issues is exactly what would be happening if not for this. In fact, the vast majority of electioneering (and politics in general) should entail more sticking to the issues, as you put it, but politics is kind of fucked up in that regard. I think pointing out the harsh reality underlying empty, complacent, euphemistic rhetoric and political posturing is more valuable than playing the game and sticking to the fucking talking points while people suffer.
posted by clockzero at 1:24 PM on May 5, 2011 [2 favorites]
It's not as though she's being slandered or anything. And it would be great to stick to the issues -- but I think it's sort of naive to suggest that sticking to the issues is exactly what would be happening if not for this. In fact, the vast majority of electioneering (and politics in general) should entail more sticking to the issues, as you put it, but politics is kind of fucked up in that regard. I think pointing out the harsh reality underlying empty, complacent, euphemistic rhetoric and political posturing is more valuable than playing the game and sticking to the fucking talking points while people suffer.
posted by clockzero at 1:24 PM on May 5, 2011 [2 favorites]
From the site:
As you may have noticed, there is no platform or relevant issues statement on this website. That’s because ideas are for losers, and money is for winners. Jane Corwin is a winner. So vote Corwin, she’s better than you.
Sounds to me like they're engaging with core Republican views and policy preferences quite directly.
posted by a small part of the world at 1:31 PM on May 5, 2011 [3 favorites]
As you may have noticed, there is no platform or relevant issues statement on this website. That’s because ideas are for losers, and money is for winners. Jane Corwin is a winner. So vote Corwin, she’s better than you.
Sounds to me like they're engaging with core Republican views and policy preferences quite directly.
posted by a small part of the world at 1:31 PM on May 5, 2011 [3 favorites]
It's kind of sleazy in my opinion. I'd rather see elections stick to issues rather than childish pranks.
Like when the Republicans campaigned on the issues of job creation and saving Medicare in 2010? Then proposed 0 jobs bills, 916 abortion bills and a bill to destroy Medicare in the first 4 months of 2011?
Man my liberal bonafides sure are bolstered when Republicans stick to the issues. I wish our Democratic candidates would be more bipartisan and do the same.
posted by T.D. Strange at 1:33 PM on May 5, 2011 [10 favorites]
Like when the Republicans campaigned on the issues of job creation and saving Medicare in 2010? Then proposed 0 jobs bills, 916 abortion bills and a bill to destroy Medicare in the first 4 months of 2011?
Man my liberal bonafides sure are bolstered when Republicans stick to the issues. I wish our Democratic candidates would be more bipartisan and do the same.
posted by T.D. Strange at 1:33 PM on May 5, 2011 [10 favorites]
It's hysterical. If this is immoral, then so are Wacky Packs.
posted by GentleReader at 1:37 PM on May 5, 2011 [3 favorites]
posted by GentleReader at 1:37 PM on May 5, 2011 [3 favorites]
She should properly be a .org rather than a .com anyway.
She's a politician; I think .com is correct.
posted by inigo2 at 1:45 PM on May 5, 2011 [6 favorites]
She's a politician; I think .com is correct.
posted by inigo2 at 1:45 PM on May 5, 2011 [6 favorites]
I thought squatting referred to buying a domain for the specific purpose of reselling it to the "rightful" owner at an extortionate price. Looks like the domain is actually being used.
The domain is being used, but a significant part of the use value is keeping Corwin from using it for her campaign site. It's squatting for ideological purposes instead of for money.
posted by immlass at 2:01 PM on May 5, 2011
The domain is being used, but a significant part of the use value is keeping Corwin from using it for her campaign site. It's squatting for ideological purposes instead of for money.
posted by immlass at 2:01 PM on May 5, 2011
The domain is being used, but a significant part of the use value is keeping Corwin from using it for her campaign site. It's squatting for ideological purposes instead of for money.
Or, you know, for the purposes of satire. It's not squatting.
posted by namewithoutwords at 2:07 PM on May 5, 2011 [1 favorite]
Or, you know, for the purposes of satire. It's not squatting.
posted by namewithoutwords at 2:07 PM on May 5, 2011 [1 favorite]
Whoa, now, the real find here is that bitch.ly isn't taken yet.
posted by Wolfdog at 2:12 PM on May 5, 2011 [1 favorite]
posted by Wolfdog at 2:12 PM on May 5, 2011 [1 favorite]
How many people here think I am Ian Murphy?
I'm undecided, but I can be bought.
posted by ShutterBun at 2:20 PM on May 5, 2011
I'm undecided, but I can be bought.
posted by ShutterBun at 2:20 PM on May 5, 2011
Or, you know, for the purposes of satire.
Putting up a web site where it talks about a political candidate making soup of the poor and heiling people is pretty clearly a satire with an ideological purpose. Doing it on TheirName.org, which is a domain name where you'd expect to find the candidate's actual site, or at least a redirect, is also squatting on a name that she'd otherwise use. The fact that I approve of the satire and, based on the satire presented, wouldn't vote for the candidate, doesn't mean I shouldn't notice the squatting to prevent the candidate from using the domain name.
And AZ is not Ian Murphy, but he might be squatting on his name for purposes of satire.
posted by immlass at 2:21 PM on May 5, 2011
Putting up a web site where it talks about a political candidate making soup of the poor and heiling people is pretty clearly a satire with an ideological purpose. Doing it on TheirName.org, which is a domain name where you'd expect to find the candidate's actual site, or at least a redirect, is also squatting on a name that she'd otherwise use. The fact that I approve of the satire and, based on the satire presented, wouldn't vote for the candidate, doesn't mean I shouldn't notice the squatting to prevent the candidate from using the domain name.
And AZ is not Ian Murphy, but he might be squatting on his name for purposes of satire.
posted by immlass at 2:21 PM on May 5, 2011
immlass writes "Yeah, domain name squatting isn't cool."
They should get rid of the artificial scarcity in domain names anyway. Stop routing .com .org .net after exchanging them for random tlds like .sun .xyz .wer .llt .whatever. The current setup is monopoly big business for the sake of big business.
posted by Mitheral at 2:34 PM on May 5, 2011 [1 favorite]
They should get rid of the artificial scarcity in domain names anyway. Stop routing .com .org .net after exchanging them for random tlds like .sun .xyz .wer .llt .whatever. The current setup is monopoly big business for the sake of big business.
posted by Mitheral at 2:34 PM on May 5, 2011 [1 favorite]
spiteful caricatures aren't going to help anything or convince anyone.
Not true - I was feeling depressed and crappy and had a headache this afternoon, and this made laugh for a minute and feel better after.
posted by Wolfdog at 2:58 PM on May 5, 2011 [2 favorites]
Not true - I was feeling depressed and crappy and had a headache this afternoon, and this made laugh for a minute and feel better after.
posted by Wolfdog at 2:58 PM on May 5, 2011 [2 favorites]
It's not squatting. Corwin had the chance to buy the .org domain and didn't bother. The satirist now has hands-down priority on the .org domain. And is using it well :-)
I'm not worried about this tactic being turned against democrats because, for the most part, democrats have been much smarter about using the net than republicans and I don't think any Dem would be stupid enough to leave such an opening.
posted by localroger at 4:29 PM on May 5, 2011 [1 favorite]
I'm not worried about this tactic being turned against democrats because, for the most part, democrats have been much smarter about using the net than republicans and I don't think any Dem would be stupid enough to leave such an opening.
posted by localroger at 4:29 PM on May 5, 2011 [1 favorite]
I'm not worried about this tactic being turned against democrats because, for the most part, Republicans don't have a sense of humor.
posted by stavrogin at 4:40 PM on May 5, 2011 [2 favorites]
posted by stavrogin at 4:40 PM on May 5, 2011 [2 favorites]
In case the site is down for anyone else here's the google cache.
posted by smoke at 5:28 PM on May 5, 2011
posted by smoke at 5:28 PM on May 5, 2011
doesn't mean I shouldn't notice the squatting to prevent the candidate from using the domain name.
Yes, well, apparently she wasn't using the domain name; had she been, Ian Murphy couldn't have copped it. And I'm pretty sure the satire criterion for fair use targets satire for political purposes, otherwise the First Amendment is pretty meaningless.
posted by Mental Wimp at 5:59 AM on May 6, 2011
Yes, well, apparently she wasn't using the domain name; had she been, Ian Murphy couldn't have copped it. And I'm pretty sure the satire criterion for fair use targets satire for political purposes, otherwise the First Amendment is pretty meaningless.
posted by Mental Wimp at 5:59 AM on May 6, 2011
Looks like Corwin lost the election to Kathy Hochul (D).
posted by horsewithnoname at 3:24 AM on May 25, 2011
posted by horsewithnoname at 3:24 AM on May 25, 2011
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posted by blucevalo at 12:07 PM on May 5, 2011 [1 favorite]