Diane Benson Condemns Internet Mud-Slinging

(Anchorage, AK) Diane Benson, candidate for U.S. Congress in Alaska (AK-AL), informed the Alaska Democratic Party today in a conference call that she condemns the recent use of websites and other tactics to smear the image of another congressional candidate, Ethan Berkowitz.
Benson says: “Our campaign is about change; about transforming our government to serve the needs of the people of Alaska, and that should be the focus of any campaign. I am disappointed to see that these dirty tactics are being used. We have been embarrassed enough by the poor representation and scandal that surrounds our current congressional representative. Alaskans deserve better from their elected officials and candidates for office.”

Recent articles by the Fairbanks Daily News-Miner and the Anchorage Press state that these websites may be linked to a campaign seeking Don Young’s seat in the US House of Representatives.

“I hope that there are no connections to another campaign. If there is, that candidate must take the necessary actions to disassociate themselves from those individuals and publicly condemn their actions. This is too historic a race for us to be distracted by petty old-style smear campaign tactics. We need to focus on the issues important to voters.”

Benson’s campaign Manager, Riche Zamor reports that Benson’s campaign has also been victim to similar attacks. In 2006 and in 2008, anonymous individuals edited the Wikipedia and Congresspedia pages for Benson with misleading and erroneous remarks. Early last fall, there were also a series of anonymous bloggers leaving negative blog posts with similar comments. “Rather than make an issue of it, we simply became more watchful of these sites,” said Benson.

Benson also publically reassured Berkowitz and Alaskan voters on radio that there is no connection between these apparent fake websites and her campaign.