Facebook Scandal Strikes Again
This time, Fredericksburg mayoral candidates Fred Howe and Mary Katherine Greenlaw had their campaign Facebook pages overwhelmed with fake accounts.
Less than a month after mayoral candidate Matt Paxson's campaign site on Facebook was inundated with hundreds of fake "likes" from foreign countries, the exact same thing happened to the two other candidates today.
Both Fred Howe and Mary Katherine Greenlaw had to suspend their Facebook campaign pages because of the influx of fake fans.
"Unfortunately there are unscrupulous persons playing silly games with this campaign," Greenlaw said today.
The attacks come on the day of the second mayoral candidates forum from 7-9 p.m. at the Marriott downtown hosted by the Fredericksburg Patriots and both candidates had to waste time dealing with their Facebook accounts than preparing for the forum.
Paxson last week denied that he paid for the "likes" to boost his fanship on his Facebook site to give the appearance that he was the favorite. He has said before that he thought someone did it on purpose to his site so that Facebook might shut it down for illegal activity.
Howe said today that he killed his Facebook site immediately when his campaign noticed the fake "likes." He called the attacks a "social media mess."
"I don't know who is doing it but the the timing is questionable," Howe said. "The only way we are going to find out is to find the credit card on the other end of it. My whole intent with Facebook and Twitter was to direct folks to my website for up to date information."
The election is 18 days away on May 1.
Mike Hirsch
11:52 am on Thursday, April 12, 2012
It will be interesting to see the response of those most vocal in the other commentary.
At least we now have a consensus from MATT PAXSON FOR MAYOR opponents, "Yes, social media is a valuable communication tool.
I commend MATT PAXSON FOR MAYOR for posting his agenda, the only candidate published agenda, on Facebook. http://www.facebook.com/#!/paxsonformayor there is a lso a great link to an eye opening Youtube discussion with artist Bill Harris that addresses the lack of support for the Arts Community from City Council!
Once again Fredericksburg money goes out of town rather than pay the local artists! Three minutes that tells it all!
A vote for MATT PAXSON FOR MAYOR puts a friend of the FREDERICKSBURG Arts Community in the Mayor's office!
Gary Howe
9:28 am on Sunday, April 15, 2012
It is so sad humanity has developed to stoop so low!
Arnold Smithson
10:57 am on Sunday, April 15, 2012
This is a real election with real consequences for the people of Fredericksburg, but the people playing Facebook games seem to think this is some sort of student council election where 12 year olds are running to see who plans the Valentine's Day dance.
If only we cared about how government spends our tax dollars as much as we care about Facebook likes. If only we cared about the corruption and elimination of our personal freedoms and rights as much as we care about Twitter followers. If only we cared about good government instead of childish games, maybe we could actually start to make some progress. If we kept our eyes on the important issues rather than these unimportant tangents maybe Fredericksburg wouldn't have dramatically higher unemployment than all of the surrounding communities, and maybe we could start to be proud of the community again.