Govdelivery - company responsible for unsolicited White House e-mails identified?

[mkrishnan]

FOX ran this some 36 minutes ago...

http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2009...health-reform/

The White House hired a private communications company based in Minnesota to distribute mass e-mails, helping to shed light on how some recipients received e-mails in support of President Obama's health care plan without signing up for them, FOX News has learned.

The company, Govdelivery, describes itself as the world's leading provider of government-to-citizen communication solutions and says its e-mail service provides a fully-automated on-demand public communication system.

The revelation comes after the White House acknowledged this week that people were receiving unsolicited e-mails from the administration about health care reform and suggested the problem was with third-party groups that placed the recipients' names on the distribution list.

Govdelivery sent hundreds of e-mails from senior adviser David Axelrod asking supporters to help rebut criticism of Obama's health care plan circulating on the Internet. It also sent e-mails highlighting Obama's speech to the Muslim world in Cairo and the announcement of Sonia Sotomayor as a Supreme Court nominee.

FOX News viewers complained they received these e-mails even though they had never requested any communication from the White House.

Chris Hansen, a staff attorney with the American Civil Liberties Union told FOX News that if the White House used the private firm, it's the same as if it had sent the e-mails.

So far this is a FOX News exclusive, so all appropriate disclaimers apply.

[leekohler]

Funny how it isn't showing up anywhere else. Just ran a search- nothing.

[mkrishnan]

Originally Posted by leekohler

Funny how it isn't showing up anywhere else. Just ran a search- nothing.

Well, they themselves stated essentially that it was an exclusive privately communicated only to them by a WH informat. We'll see if it holds up.

[leekohler]

Originally Posted by mkrishnan

Well, they themselves stated essentially that it was an exclusive privately communicated only to them by a WH informat. We'll see if it holds up.

Even if it is true, why does it matter? This is more honesty than Bush ever gave us. This is a tiny white lie compared to killing hundreds of thousands of people over a huge lie. I don't know why this matters.

[mkrishnan]

Originally Posted by leekohler

Even if it is true, why does it matter? This is more honesty than Bush ever gave us. This is a tiny white lie compared to killing hundreds of thousands of people over a huge lie. I don't know why this matters.

I've said for some time I think Bush, along with Cheney, Rice, Rumsfeld, etc, should be tried for war crimes. And for that matter, I think the Obama administration also already has bigger inherited issues to deal with, like the legality of an extended, known CIA war in Pakistan and the detention program.

But right is still right... from a cybersecurity program, more than relation to the Bush era things, I think this actually reminds me of the Sony rootkit fiasco -- in that situation, a large company was essentially given a walk for what would have been a serious and aggressively prosecuted crime if a hacker did it. In this case, if there is evidence of illegal activity, it should still be determined who and why, even if there are bigger fish to fry....

[leekohler]

Originally Posted by mkrishnan

I've said for some time I think Bush, along with Cheney, Rice, Rumsfeld, etc, should be tried for war crimes. And for that matter, I think the Obama administration also already has bigger inherited issues to deal with, like the legality of an extended, known CIA war in Pakistan and the detention program.

But right is still right... from a cybersecurity program, more than relation to the Bush era things, I think this actually reminds me of the Sony rootkit fiasco -- in that situation, a large company was essentially given a walk for what would have been a serious and aggressively prosecuted crime if a hacker did it. In this case, if there is evidence of illegal activity, it should still be determined who and why, even if there are bigger fish to fry....

Until Bush and Cheney are tried for what they did, nothing happens here. I won't support any prosecution on this matter (if true) until they are brought up on charges. Conservatives can f*** off until they come clean too. Until Obama starts a war over a lie, conservatives need to STFU.

[Zombie Acorn]

Originally Posted by leekohler

Until Bush and Cheney are tried for what they did, nothing happens here. I won't support any prosecution on this matter (if true) until they are brought up on charges. Conservatives can f*** off until they come clean too. Until Obama starts a war over a lie, conservatives need to STFU.

Yes, let's allow future administrations to do **** all just because a previous one ****ed up, makes perfect sense. Eyes to the future instead of the past.

[leekohler]

Originally Posted by Zombie Acorn

Yes, let's allow future administrations to do **** all just because a previous one ****ed up, makes perfect sense. Eyes to the future instead of the past.

We let Bush get away with it, didn't we? I've said this before to conservatives, if they wouldn't hold Bush accountable, they wouldn't have a leg to stand on when a Dem gets in office. Well, they don't have any right to say anything right now. We'll deal with Obama and anything wrong that he does. They need to STFU and deal with it. That's what they told us, and now the chickens have come home to roost.

[mkrishnan]

It seems as of yet the story has not been picked up by the AP or other major news sources... we'll see if they pick it up in the morning, I guess.

[leekohler]

Originally Posted by mkrishnan

It seems as of yet the story has not been picked up by the AP or other major news sources... we'll see if they pick it up in the morning, I guess.

I just checked too. I'll bet it's another Faux News blunder, but I'll give it the benefit of the doubt. They've certainly lied about worse.

[freeny]

Originally Posted by leekohler

We let Bush get away with it, didn't we? I've said this before to conservatives, if they wouldn't hold Bush accountable, they wouldn't have a leg to stand on when a Dem gets in office. Well, they don't have any right to say anything right now. We'll deal with Obama and anything wrong that he does. They need to STFU and deal with it. That's what they told us, and now the chickens have come home to roost.

My thoughts exactly

[Rodimus Prime]

Originally Posted by leekohler

We let Bush get away with it, didn't we? I've said this before to conservatives, if they wouldn't hold Bush accountable, they wouldn't have a leg to stand on when a Dem gets in office. Well, they don't have any right to say anything right now. We'll deal with Obama and anything wrong that he does. They need to STFU and deal with it. That's what they told us, and now the chickens have come home to roost.

I love your agument.2 wrongs make a right.

That and you seem to say it is ok to sink to lower levels.

As for those emails that are sent out they are damn annoying and yes break their own laws on the fact many people have not requisted anything from that from white house

As for the emails them selves I think they were a piss poor move by the Obama administration because of how annoying they are and to me on the level of the Penis enlargement crap I get in my spam box fill up with any how.

illegal what the white house did. No. Politically a bad idea Yes.

[mgguy]

Originally Posted by leekohler

We let Bush get away with it, didn't we? I've said this before to conservatives, if they wouldn't hold Bush accountable, they wouldn't have a leg to stand on when a Dem gets in office. Well, they don't have any right to say anything right now. We'll deal with Obama and anything wrong that he does. They need to STFU and deal with it. That's what they told us, and now the chickens have come home to roost.

Well, Dems haven't STFU over Bush's alleged wrongdoing, so why should Reps now STFU over Obama's alleged wrongdoing? Sounds like a double standard to me. How many little petty self-serving lies by Obama would you consider to be equivalent to one big Bush lie?

[OutThere]

"Hundreds of emails"....certainly sounds grim to me.

[leekohler]

Originally Posted by mgguy

Well, Dems haven't STFU over Bush's alleged wrongdoing, so why should Reps now STFU over Obama's alleged wrongdoing? Sounds like a double standard to me. How many little petty self-serving lies by Obama would you consider to be equivalent to one big Bush lie?

Obama isn't responsible for ending hundreds of thousands of lives over his lies, which you guys never seemed to worry about with Bush. So I don't see how you have the right to complain now. That's not a double standard, that would show consistency.

Originally Posted by Rodimus Prime

I love your agument.2 wrongs make a right.

That and you seem to say it is ok to sink to lower levels.

Yep- and I don't care. I'm sick of their BS.

[mgguy]

Originally Posted by leekohler

Obama isn't responsible for ending hundreds of thousands of lives over his lies, which you guys never seemed to worry about with Bush. So I don't see how you have the right to complain now. That's not a double standard, that would show consistency.

Aren't thousands of lives still being lost in this war under Obama's stewardship? What about the hundreds of innocent lives lost in Afghanistan and Pakistan by Drone missiles delivered with Obama's permission? You complain about terrorists not treated properly or given a fair trial by the Bush administration, and yet seem to support bombing suspected terrorist and anyone else who may be in the way of these bombs without trial in Afghanistan and Pakistan under Obama's directives. You keep complaining about Bush's actions, and yet say little when Obama follows in his footsteps.

[leekohler]

Originally Posted by mgguy

Aren't hundreds of lives still being lost in this war under Obama's stewardship? What about the hundreds of innocent lives lost in Afghanistan and Pakistan by Drone missiles delivered with Obama's permission? You complain about terrorists not treated properly or given a fair trial by the Bush administration, and yet seem to support bombing suspected terrorist and anyone else who may be in the way of these bombs without trial in Afghanistan and Pakistan under Obama's directives. You keep complaining about Bush's actions, and yet say little when Obama follows in his footsteps.

Obama is having to clean up Bush's mess and is in the process of getting us out of Iraq. And if you'd been paying attention, you'd know that I've never been against the Afghanistan effort. Not when Bush did it, and not now.

And if this little Faux News report turns out to be BS, which is looking likely, what will you say then?

[mgguy]

Originally Posted by leekohler

Obama is having to clean up Bush's mess and is in the process of getting us out of Iraq. And if you'd been paying attention, you'd know that I've never been against the Afghanistan effort. Not when Bush did it, and not now.

Fair enough.

And if this little Faux News report turns out to be BS, which is looking likely, what will you say then?

Nothing. I didn't make the accusation or say I believed it. I referred to it as alleged wrongdoing.

[Rodimus Prime]

Originally Posted by leekohler

Obama is having to clean up Bush's mess and is in the process of getting us out of Iraq. And if you'd been paying attention, you'd know that I've never been against the Afghanistan effort. Not when Bush did it, and not now.

And if this little Faux News report turns out to be BS, which is looking likely, what will you say then?

I take it you inbox has not been getting full of the crap they are reporting about. It seems to be at least every few days I get some of the spam. It is a new low for politics to sink to spamming.

If you want I can post a quote out of the last one I got. It is annoying and I NEVER and I repeat NEVER signed up for it. Anything the spam message I consider crap and only 1/4 truths at best.

[mgguy]

Originally Posted by Rodimus Prime

If you want I can post a quote out of the last one I got.

Please do.

[Rodimus Prime]

Originally Posted by leekohler

Yep- and I don't care. I'm sick of their BS.

So basicly you are saying two wrongs make a right.

on the Iraq things like it or not some people feel that was the right way to go. Not going to get into that debate here

But based on your own statements you feel it acceptable and the right thing to do for Obama to sink to a level of a Email spammer?

[Rodimus Prime]

Originally Posted by mgguy

Please do.

Ask and you shall recieved. I pulled this out of my junk mail box. It is from info@messages.whitehouse.gov It has white house letter head at the top and links things kicking back to whitehouse.gov for key facts. Unscribe link goes is going to be linking back to whitehouse.gov and it is an unsubscribe page but it is the whitehouse.gov sight. So pulling from that it pretty official to me and pretty low. Started to annoy me when I first saw them. I wrote it off at first then they kept coming.

This one is from last week.

Dear Friend,

Anyone that's watched the news in the past few days knows that health insurance reform is a hot topic — and that rumors and scare tactics have only increased as more people engage with the issue. Given a lot of the outrageous claims floating around, it’s time to make sure everyone knows the facts about the security and stability you get with health insurance reform.

That’s why we’ve launched a new online resource — WhiteHouse.gov/RealityCheck — to help you separate fact from fiction and share the truth about health insurance reform. Here's a few of the reality check videos you can find on the site:
• CEA Chair Christina Romer details how health insurance reform will impact small businesses.
• Domestic Policy Council Director Melody Barnes tackles a nasty rumor about euthanasia and clearly describes how reform helps families.
• Matt Flavin, the White House's Director of Veterans and Wounded Warrior Policy, clears the air about Veteran's benefits.
• Kavita Patel, M.D., a doctor serving in the White House's Office of Public Engagement, explains that health care rationing is happening right now and how reform gives control back to patients and doctors.
• Bob Kocher, M.D., a doctor serving on the National Economic Council, debunks the myth that health insurance reform will be financed by cutting Medicare benefits.
There's more information and a number of online tools you can use to spread the truth among your family, friends and other social networks. Take a look:



We knew going into this effort that accomplishing comprehensive health insurance reform wasn't going to be easy. Achieving real change never is. The entrenched interests that benefit from the status quo always use their influence in Washington to try and keep things just as they are.

But don't be misled. We know the status quo is unsustainable. If we do nothing, millions more Americans will be denied insurance because of pre-existing conditions, or see their coverage suddenly dropped if they become seriously ill. Out-of-pocket expenses will continue to soar, and more and more families and businesses will be forced to deal with health insurance costs they can’t afford.

That's the reality.

Americans deserve better. You deserve a health care system that works as well for you as it does for the status quo; one you can depend on — that won't deny you coverage when you need it most or charge you crippling out-of-pocket co-pays. Health insurance reform means guaranteeing the health care security and stability you deserve.

President Barack Obama promised he'd bring change to Washington and fix our broken, unsustainable health insurance system. You can help deliver that change. Visit WhiteHouse.gov/RealityCheck, get the facts and spread the truth. The stakes are just too high to do nothing.

Thank you,
David

David Axelrod
Senior Advisor to the President

[leekohler]

Originally Posted by Rodimus Prime

So basicly you are saying two wrongs make a right.

on the Iraq things like it or not some people feel that was the right way to go. Not going to get into that debate here

But based on your own statements you feel it acceptable and the right thing to do for Obama to sink to a level of a Email spammer?

First of all, we don't know if this is even true. And given that no one else has picked this up, it's beginning to look fishy.

Secondly, Bush lied about the reasons for war. Whether you were for or against Iraq, the fact remains that the guy lied. That shouldn't be OK no matter which side you're on.

Lastly, What I'm saying is that I want to see some consistency from conservatives regarding wrongdoing by politicians. If they were quiet during Bush, they shouldn't be getting loud now either.

[skunk]

You deserve a health care system that works as well for you as it does for the status quo

Shouldn't a "senior advisor to the President" be able to write proper English - or in this case Latin - in his spam emails? What does he think "status quo" means?

[Rodimus Prime]

Originally Posted by leekohler

First of all, we don't know if this is even true. And given that no one else has picked this up, it's beginning to look fishy.

.

It is now on CBS's sight
http://www.cbsnews.com/blogs/2009/08...y5247077.shtml

Googling I saw it crop up on a few more but CBS was another one I found.