Mudslingers take to the Internet

Add one cup of virtual water to one cup of virtual dirt, mix in a few political enthusiasts, and the result is a large political mudslinging fest splashed across the Internet. \nInterest groups and individuals alike have created Web sites aimed at destroying their opponents.\nPages include twisted parodies of movies, animation and other virtual toys for any surfer to play with. \n"Our generation has come to rely on the Internet," said Rob Kreig, campaign spokesmen for U.S. Rep. John Hostettler (R-8th), "The Internet gives you more freedom to search for the site that gives you the truth."\nOn the Democratic National Committee Web site, there are several links to anti-Bush Web sites. One site called "I know what you did in Texas," plays off the horror film "I Know What You Did Last Summer." Links on the page are entitled "The Daily Bleed" and "The Scary Record." Downloads of Democratic National Committee advertisements and the Republican National Convention are also available on the page. All information on the site supports an anti-Bush position.\nFor every anti-Bush Web site, there are many anti-Gore sites.\nThe Republican National Committee Web site includes a link on their front page to Goreline.com, a Web site devoted to highlighting Gore's mistakes. \n"There are a lot of people who want to use them," said sophomore April Gonzales, who works on the campaign of Hostettler's democratic opponent, Paul Perry. "A lot of people are interested in the horse race and the mudslinging."\nPolitical science professor Gerald Wright said he \nbelieves an increasing amount of people have started getting their political information from the Web. In fact, Wright frequently uses the Web in his class, Election 2000.\n"About 20 percent of the public get their information from the Web," Wright said. "Very few say this is their only source."\nNeither the official Web sites of Gov. George W. Bush or Vice President Al Gore have links to negative Web sites, although they both have links to their corresponding national parties. \nWright compared the negative Web sites to the partisan pamphlets of colonial times.\n"Not very many people will just go to random Web sites and believe them," Wright said.\nWright said he believes these Web sites act as an aid to the political parties. "They are grateful that someone is saying the things they can't say."\nMudslinging over the Internet has also extended to the Hillary Clinton -- Rick Lazio senate race in New York. Lazio supporters put up a site called SlapHillary.com. The centerpiece of this Web site is an animation of the first lady with buttons on each side. When pressed, the buttons either play a part of one of Clinton's speeches, or have an animated hand slap Clinton across the face as her eyes bug out.\nAccording to Politics1.com, several women's groups are angry with the site. Clinton supporters responded by constructing an anti-Lazio site called KickRick.com, although it is not running yet.\nGonzales said she thinks the sites focus too much on the mistakes and play down the real issues in the election.\n"(These Web sites) target what the other person has done wrong," Gonzales said. "A lot of times they have a negative effect"