Critics Warn of New White House 'Web Police'

BY GARY COTTON




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On Monday, the White House announced a new position. Some are calling it the "Web Police". Jesse Lee was moved to fill the position raising eyebrows because of Lee's political past. A writer for Business Insider writes...




"If the name Jesse Lee sounds familiar it's probably because back in 2009 he wrote a White House blog post bashing Glenn Beck ... Lee's progressive pedigree makes him a natural fit for the position. He's worked at the Democratic National Committee and also served as a media adviser to Nancy Pelosi."




Others are crying foul - calling the appointment a preemptive strike in favor of the president's 2012 re-election campaign. Some Fox News analysts say President Obama started his re-election campaign early - on the tax-payer's dime.




"Is this part of the campaign because that belongs over at the RNC or the DNC. It's interesting because the RNC and DNC have these truth squads go out every time we have a presidential election, but to move it inside the White House where you'll have this truth squad or hit-list, by the way Fox News will be at the top of the enemy's list."




Jesse Lee already held a position in the Obama administration's new media department. White House officials describe the appointment as tailoring duties Lee already has - telling The Huffington Post...




"Jesse has often worn two hats working in new media and serving as the White House's liaison with the progressive media and online community. Starting this week, Jesse will take on the second role full time working on outreach, strategy and response."




Despite White House assurances, many are still concerned about both the position, and the president's personnel choice. Conservative analysts say that the President's latest move is a foreshadowing for dirty re-election tactics to come. A writer for The American Thinkers says...




"During the last general election campaign, AT readers probably saw the above mentioned DNC rapid response team in action, as negative responses to some articles were first in line on the comments pages, having been posted at O-dark-hundred hours. ... Suppose Lee might have been coordinating that effort on behalf of the DNC?"




Where some are crying foul, others like a writer from Media Matters thinks everyone -- Fox News in particular-- should just calm down on the "Web Police" idea. He writes...




"This position is hardly surprising. After all, in 2008 the Obama campaign had an online team dedicated to pushing back against smears against Obama. ... If Fox was really concerned about Obama needing to appoint a full-time staffer to fight smears, maybe they should spend less time inventing them."




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[strawman007]

Jesse sounds like a real nice piece of work.