I couldn’t tell you if it has been action people have been paid for or not, but I have been on the receiving end of this “pushback against attackers.” These random people (who have never previously associated with me, implying they found me through the search function) seem to think that an “attack” on a person seeking the most powerful office in the country is specifically pointing out their official record (not hearsay) — a record in fairly stark contrast to the rhetoric they speak today. The problem is, that’s not what an attack is.

Do I think Hillary Clinton faces unfair malice as the first viable female presidential candidate? Yes. I do. I would not and will not say otherwise, and I feel it would be legitimately mean-spirited to do so.

I do not, however, believe that should have impact on the amount of scrutiny as a person looking to become President of The United States. Sanders has been declared incompetent over his policy proposals by almost any paper and they constantly bring up things he’s said over decades as a means to call his ideas “pie-in-the-sky.” Others should be allowed to bring up things they find objectionable about Hillary Clinton’s stances — stances that have gone back and forth, demonstrably — over the same period of time.

Lessons learned from online engagement with “Bernie Bros” during the Democratic Primary will be applied to the rest of the primary season and general election–responding quickly and forcefully to negative attacks and false narratives. Additionally, as the general election approaches, the task force will begin to push out information to Sanders supporters online, encouraging them to support Hillary Clinton. — “Barrier Breakers 2016,” Correct The Record

David Brock, a person who literally wrote a book to ruin a woman’s life because she accused a Supreme Court Justice nominee of sexual harassment is talking about how bad “Bernie Bros” (a small minority of Sanders support and too obsessed with Bernie Sanders the personality to care that Bernie Sanders the person doesn’t condone their actions) are while Hillary Clinton’s unnamed small minority of obsessive fans (who equally do not care that Hillary Clinton would likely not condone their actions) do all the same things. This is not a person who gives a damn about the actions, just who’s doing them (and if he can collect a paycheck calling them out).

The problem is that the vast majority of things most people (of all genders) have an issue with Clinton about, at least in 2016, are not even tangentially related to her gender. There are obviously some that are spouting the age-old bullshit we’ve all heard over the years about “a woman president,” but not a relatively large number.

What is being questioned as it is circulated around is legitimately highly questionable — like being involved in lobbying against a raise in the minimum wage in Haiti to $0.62/hour on behalf of American clothing companies who manufacture there, or giving an AIPAC speech about the United States role in the Middle East that was to Donald Trump’s right. The issues I most prominently see risen against Hillary Clinton relate to her saying progressive things while having a record of doing things that benefit corporations, whether through the harming of women in Haiti (a majority of the people that were denied $0.62/hr were women) or her involvement in the Honduras coup. Or the fact there’s a lot of evidence that suggests the Clinton Foundation is not entirely upfront about all of their dealings — and I am putting that as respectfully as I can.

The task force currently combats online political harassment, having already addressed more than 5,000 individuals who have personally attacked Secretary Clinton on Twitter. The task force will provide a presence and space online where Clinton supporters can organize and engage with one another and are able to obtain graphics, videos, gifs, and messaging to use in their own social spaces. — “Barrier Breakers 2016,” Correct The Record

I don’t know about you, but this kind of sounds like targeting people to me. Now, I understand that I am more likely to be oversensitive to implication regarding targeting people than most. But I couldn’t help but think about someone else talking about “responding forcefully” to “false narrative” to specific people with specific viewpoints. Here’s a little excerpt from a medium piece called “Five Positive Things About GamerGate:”

GamerGaters and exiled 4channers now on 8chan are advocating for civility and denouncing harassment. It is true the birth of GamerGate is one of harassment, but since then, many in GamerGate have strongly denounced this type of behavior and insisted their movement has nothing to do with harassment. — Five Positive Things About GamerGate

This is not an uncommon claim — and is one they have made since they existed. Many still have GamerGaters harassing and spreading false information about them. Many still get DMs, emails, and weird facebook requests. GamerGate is a thoroughly discredited bullshit campaign, but it still exists (similarly, David Brock has admitted his book on Anita Hill is based in lies, but is still in “reputation management” and political strategy). GamerGate is still doing all their misdeeds— but they’re telling you that they advocate against it. In fact, they always have — and used that claim as a tool to further harass.

Kind of sounds like David Brock’s latest “brainchild,” doesn’t it?

On top of having money to engage in all this online brigading, Correct The Record also claims that because it’s online that they are exempt from the rule that prevents SuperPACs from coordinating with political campaigns. No, really. Correct The Record (and by proxy, the Clinton Campaign) claim to have found a loophole. It’s a loophole that Ted Cruz exploited to give his SuperPAC a bunch of really awkward stock footage to make ads with.

{Side note: do you honestly think Hillary Clinton is going to fight Citizen’s United tooth-and-nail if she and a SuperPAC are coordinating thanks to loopholes?}

Forgive me for being a little suspicious of a SuperPAC headed by David Brock (who literally wrote the book on public harassment and reputation destruction) “responding forcefully” on social media to “false narratives” that also finds loopholes to break rules that supposedly legitimize the existence of SuperPACs in general.

Front with stated purpose (Correct The Record) that turns out to be doublespeak? Check.

Forgive me if when several of the largest Bernie Sanders Facebook groups (all above 50,000 members) suddenly disappear — with Clinton supporters taking credit — I can’t help but associate all of these activities because it’s now starting to reek in a way-too-familiar way.

Armies of “useful idiots” (supporters/sympathizers) doing the dirty work in slightly-less-public channels? Check.

Whether it’s official or emboldened supporters, Correct The Record is undeniably tied to this.

Forgive me when people give accounts of child porn being posted to these groups for the specific purpose of being reported (reported by the people posting the images to the groups from sock accounts — and by the people regularly using the groups in good faith) as violations of Facebook’s rules.

Numerous popular Bernie Sanders Facebook groups and pages were removed from the social media giant today… This was likely the result of false ‘flagged’ reports about the groups, rather than direct facebook censoring… Screenshots have surfaced pointing to a possible coordinated attempt at “mass reporting” the Bernie Sanders pages for false violations… Erica Libenow, a Sanders supporter and member of one of the pro-Bernie groups, said, “We had what looked like a kiddie porn posted in one of our groups today. I reported that one. Seriously made me want to vomit.” — Why Are Bernie Sanders Groups Being Removed From Facebook?

Background ops that spread child porn and force the other side to recognize it by denying or just conspicuously not acknowledging it’s happening? Check.

Whether it’s “Barrier Breakers 2016” acting on a $1 million mandate to “Correct The Record” or Hillary Clinton followers emboldened by the online actions of this project… it all echoes chan ops (like GamerGate).

If you think that does not stink to holy hell, I implore you to inhale deeper.