[Infowarrior] - GOP learning about the Streissand Effect (again)

[Richard Forno]

GOP works to cover up video they previously published on internet

http://www.examiner.com/political-buzz-in-national/gop-trying-desperately-to-cover-up-video-they-previously-published-on-internet

	• By Ryan Witt, Political Buzz Examiner
	• March 30th, 2011 5:14 pm ET

Ever since the internet became popular many individuals have regretted posting pictures, writings, or otherwise embarrassing material which comes back to haunt them at a later date.  Usually these cases involve an immature teenager who posts something improper on Facebook or YouTube, however, now it seems the GOP finds itself in the same kind of predicament. The Polk County Republicans in Wisconsin are now trying to cover up a video of one of their own elected representatives that they released via YouTube.  The video in question shows United States Representative Sean Duffy (R-WI) complaining about how he is "struggling" to get by on his $174,000 salary.  Various political websites, including this one, reported on Duffy's comment since he also advocated for making all public employees in the state take a pay cut under Governor Scott Walker's (R-WI) Budget Repair Bill.  The Polk County Republicans tried to pull the video from YouTube, but not before it was captured by other websites.  According to Talking Points Memo, the GOP is now trying to take legal action to stop anyone else from republishing the video.

The Polk County Republicans claim that no one else can republish the video without their permission, even though they originally released the video on YouTube for the whole world to see.  The GOP has succeeded in getting some to pull the video from their sites, but Talking Points Memo believes they have no case and has decided to keep the video up on their web page.

The video clearly contains content that the GOP does not want anyone else to see.  Duffy's congressional salary is over three times that of the average public employee in Wisconsin, and over five times that of an average worker in Wisconsin, yet he groups himself with them in arguing every public employee needs to take a cut.  Duffy also complains about how much he now as to pay for health care ($600 a month) and contribute toward his pension plan.  Duffy claimed he is struggling because he has six children, a mortgage, and student loans, but other progressive websites noted that Duffy actually owns a second home which, if he sold, would help relieve his debt burden.