Or: "Republicans Don't Understand The Internet"
http://www.dailyrecord.com/news/articles/news4-manning.htm
Randolph council candidate blasted for vulgar Web site
By Matt Manochio, Daily Record
RANDOLPH -- A college student who is a Democratic candidate for township council is under fire from Republicans for posting disparaging, obscenity-laced comments directed at GOP incumbent Trina Mitsch on his personal Web site, along with other inflammatory material.
Rob Manning, 22, who attends Ithaca College in New York, said Wednesday that the postings were "satirical" in nature and not an accurate reflection of his real beliefs.
Mitsch defeated Democratic challenger Don Delgrosso last November to fill an unexpired term. Mitsch, along with Councilman Gary Algeier and candidate Michael Obremski, is running to fill one of three full terms. The Democratic slate consists of Manning, Sattik Deb and Mary Hager.
"And, of course, our guy lost the election last night," Manning wrote in a livejournal.com entry dated Nov. 5, 2003.
"Fine. All you (obscenity) who voted for the little (obscenity) that's there now??? You deserve everything you vote for," Manning wrote. "You deserve the tax hikes, you deserve the development, you deserve it all. All of you (obscenity) stupid people can go (obscenity) yourselves sideways with a fork."
Manning also posted a profile of himself in which his occupation was described as "Nazi Admin." Along with that description was a picture of a young man wearing a gigantic "cheesehead" made famous by Green Bay Packers football fans.
"Of course, I can see their concerns," Manning said. "That's the point for the disclaimer on the front. In the legal sense that's the reason that's there."
Both the profile and certain journal entries were viewable Wednesday morning but were not accessible during the afternoon following an interview with Manning.
"I understand, yes, that language is kind of questionable," Manning said. "I understand the language, but it's there for a laugh, it's not there for any kind of serious idea."
That was not the way the Republicans saw it. Algeier, who provided paper printouts of the Web pages, said the disclaimer meant nothing.
"I'm appalled at the reference to Nazism," Algeier said. "There's no joking about the killing and chaos that Hitler caused. There's no excuse for that. I'm also appalled at the references to Randolph voters being stupid, and his violent anti-female comments toward Trina."
Mitsch described the postings as "appalling."
"When I first saw it I couldn't believe it," she said. "I just find it utterly gross and demeaning. I'm not happy about it quite frankly. It's a scary thing to think that this guy's running for something in town."
When asked if she thought Manning actually sympathized with Nazis, or whether the postings were that of a 22-year-old who was trying to be funny, Mitsch said it didn't matter.
"Either way he's not suitable for a candidate for the town council," Mitsch said. "Whether it's being 22 or stupid, or having Nazi leanings, either way I don't think he's suitable material for the council."
Manning said the comments relating to Mitsch were made in frustration.
"It's the kind of frustration you get when you put so much work into something and you fall short by one yard," Manning said.
Jim Manning, Rob's father who currently serves on the council, was told of the Web site Wednesday. He had not initially seen it but looked at it and then spoke with his son about it.
Rob Manning said the Web site was supposed to be locked from outside viewership. Jim Manning said his son checked with the webmaster and was told that keeping the site locked was too much of a hassle, so the content was accessible to everyone who happened upon it.
"All I can say is this illustrates one risk of the Internet, where personal, private musings of a college student -- perhaps inappropriate, extemporaneous outbursts of frustration -- accidentally become accessible to the general public," Jim Manning said. "I don't disagree that it's inappropriate, but I don't think it was his attempt to attack anybody."
The past two weeks have been volatile for Randolph politics. It was revealed earlier that Mitsch's 2003 campaign apparently received illegal contributions from the Randolph Republican Club. The state currently is investigating those allegations and could conceivably fine both the candidate and the club for any improper activity. Republicans hold a 4-3 advantage over the Democrats on the council.
http://www.dailyrecord.com/news/articles/news4-manning.htm
Randolph council candidate blasted for vulgar Web site
By Matt Manochio, Daily Record
RANDOLPH -- A college student who is a Democratic candidate for township council is under fire from Republicans for posting disparaging, obscenity-laced comments directed at GOP incumbent Trina Mitsch on his personal Web site, along with other inflammatory material.
Rob Manning, 22, who attends Ithaca College in New York, said Wednesday that the postings were "satirical" in nature and not an accurate reflection of his real beliefs.
Mitsch defeated Democratic challenger Don Delgrosso last November to fill an unexpired term. Mitsch, along with Councilman Gary Algeier and candidate Michael Obremski, is running to fill one of three full terms. The Democratic slate consists of Manning, Sattik Deb and Mary Hager.
"And, of course, our guy lost the election last night," Manning wrote in a livejournal.com entry dated Nov. 5, 2003.
"Fine. All you (obscenity) who voted for the little (obscenity) that's there now??? You deserve everything you vote for," Manning wrote. "You deserve the tax hikes, you deserve the development, you deserve it all. All of you (obscenity) stupid people can go (obscenity) yourselves sideways with a fork."
Manning also posted a profile of himself in which his occupation was described as "Nazi Admin." Along with that description was a picture of a young man wearing a gigantic "cheesehead" made famous by Green Bay Packers football fans.
"Of course, I can see their concerns," Manning said. "That's the point for the disclaimer on the front. In the legal sense that's the reason that's there."
Both the profile and certain journal entries were viewable Wednesday morning but were not accessible during the afternoon following an interview with Manning.
"I understand, yes, that language is kind of questionable," Manning said. "I understand the language, but it's there for a laugh, it's not there for any kind of serious idea."
That was not the way the Republicans saw it. Algeier, who provided paper printouts of the Web pages, said the disclaimer meant nothing.
"I'm appalled at the reference to Nazism," Algeier said. "There's no joking about the killing and chaos that Hitler caused. There's no excuse for that. I'm also appalled at the references to Randolph voters being stupid, and his violent anti-female comments toward Trina."
Mitsch described the postings as "appalling."
"When I first saw it I couldn't believe it," she said. "I just find it utterly gross and demeaning. I'm not happy about it quite frankly. It's a scary thing to think that this guy's running for something in town."
When asked if she thought Manning actually sympathized with Nazis, or whether the postings were that of a 22-year-old who was trying to be funny, Mitsch said it didn't matter.
"Either way he's not suitable for a candidate for the town council," Mitsch said. "Whether it's being 22 or stupid, or having Nazi leanings, either way I don't think he's suitable material for the council."
Manning said the comments relating to Mitsch were made in frustration.
"It's the kind of frustration you get when you put so much work into something and you fall short by one yard," Manning said.
Jim Manning, Rob's father who currently serves on the council, was told of the Web site Wednesday. He had not initially seen it but looked at it and then spoke with his son about it.
Rob Manning said the Web site was supposed to be locked from outside viewership. Jim Manning said his son checked with the webmaster and was told that keeping the site locked was too much of a hassle, so the content was accessible to everyone who happened upon it.
"All I can say is this illustrates one risk of the Internet, where personal, private musings of a college student -- perhaps inappropriate, extemporaneous outbursts of frustration -- accidentally become accessible to the general public," Jim Manning said. "I don't disagree that it's inappropriate, but I don't think it was his attempt to attack anybody."
The past two weeks have been volatile for Randolph politics. It was revealed earlier that Mitsch's 2003 campaign apparently received illegal contributions from the Randolph Republican Club. The state currently is investigating those allegations and could conceivably fine both the candidate and the club for any improper activity. Republicans hold a 4-3 advantage over the Democrats on the council.
