It is nothing new for politicians to lash out at critics.
But it is unnerving to learn that President Barack Obama’s re-election campaign is urging Americans to report other Americans who are suspected of falsely criticizing the administration.
We freely grant that false claims fly in all directions during election season. But encouraging Americans to “tattle” to the administration about criticisms of the president by their fellow citizens is troubling.
The website, AttackWatch.com, urges viewers to “Get the facts. Fight the smears” against the president.
Further down, it provides a link by which viewers may “Report an attack,” whether it came in the form of a public statement, a rumor or even a negative email that someone wrote about the administration. Decidedly unflattering photos of conservatives and their alleged “smears” against Obama are posted on the site, as well.