| When two time loser Jack Davis began making noise about a third run at the NY-26 seat, he made all sorts of promises to the local Democrats he was trying to woo. He told them that this time he really meant it. This time he was not only going to commit a substantial sum of his personal financial resources, but this time he was actually going to, ya know, get out and actually campaign. This was, of course, yet more BS. So far we have seen not much more than tons of truly awful direct mail, his ridiculous "gasroots" stunt where he literally bought gas for folks, his rich guy condescension towards his opponents and a truly awful faux country jingle that simply defies description though does lend itself to vicious mockery.
Now crazy Jack is at it again, throwing money at his race, only this time he's crossed a line, a legal as well moral one, and one would hope he gets smacked for it. Instead of actually dragging himself out from his well appointed cave to actually engage voters, he's bought himself a site that "spoofs" that of his primary opponent, a man who actually has been out in the district engaging voters and building a real people powered campaign, Jon Powers.
Let's take a look, shall we? Here's Jon's site:
Here's Davis' site:
Now, the first thing that should be readily apparent is the rather blatant copyright violations here. Buffalo Pundit puts it thusly:
First off, it's not a parody site because it's not funny. Seconly, it's not protected by the fair use doctrine because it's not using mere excerpts of Powers' work product, but has completely mimicked his site in an effort to confuse and trick the reader. Everything right down to the logo, the font, the layout, and even the portrait, originally shot by Clarence photographer Chuck Eckert.
All of these items are protected by automatic copyright held by Mr. Powers. We all expected Jack Davis to use his millions to smear Powers. None of us expected him to do it by breaking the law and deliberately tricking prospective voters.
It gets better. Not only has Jack Davis paid for a site that quite overtly breaks the law, he's also bought himself a Google Ad campaign to pimp it. The site (which most certainly violates Google Ad's TOS) is being advertised on some of the biggest liberal blogs in the land including Daily Kos, Talking Points Memo, MyDD and Crooks and Liars. That's right, crazy Jack Davis whose surrogates (such as they are, I guess) have been grumbling about his online fundraising and calling him the "nutroots" candidate, is advertising his sleazy attack site on the biggest A-list blogs in the land with ads that ask "Do You Know Jon Powers?" The site (which I refuse to link) even promises to reveal the "REAL War Kids Relief Story." Talk about no good deed going unpunished...
Many folks in the 26th could answer the question about knowing the "real Jon Powers" affirmatively as there's a good chance that Jon has actually knocked on their door, something crazy Jack Davis seems unable or unwilling to do. Jack's plan to win this primary is to continue to throw money at paid media, including a site that not only is illegal on its face, but is also filled with outright lies, a "Brand New Man" indeed.
So, I guess it's time to get to know the real Jack Davis, two time loser in NY-26, overtly racist xenophobe, the man who made the world safe for millionaires to swamp their opponents in cash and now the man who is using those millions to illegally steal and spoof his opponent's site whilst lying through his dentures about his record. If Davis, a lifelong Republican who only "switched" parties after he was kicked out of a GOP fundraiser in 2003 after an altercation with Dick Cheney's handlers, wants the voters of NY-26 to get to know the "real" Jon Powers, he should be aware that the comparison of the "real Jon Powers and the "real" Jack Davis is one that is definitely not favorable to him.
What a piece of work.
I imagine part of the strategy, if there indeed is any strategy at all, is to tie up Jon Powers in court over this site, something crazy Jack Davis can certainly afford to do. Hell, how much did he spend fighting the Millionaire's Amendment all the way to the Supreme Court? One way to mitigate this would be for those A-list blogs now carrying the Google Ad to donate the proceeds to Jon's campaign. I know not all of them can afford to do so, but certainly many of them can.
This crap needs to get smacked down hard.
Say No To Jack Davis.
Crossposted at DailyKos |
