Republicans Set Up Fake Sites for Democratic Congressional Candidates

New websites that look at first like they’re promoting Democrats turn out to be just the reverse. When users hit Donate, they contribute to the National Republican Congressional Committee. Democrats say it’s illegal; Republicans say it’s all part of the game in the digital age.

If a prospective voter searches online for New York Democrat Domenic Recchia, the first site that comes up headlines, “Domenic Recchia for Congress.” But the fine print goes on to describe him as “shady,” and a “career politician” with ties to “mobsters.” That’s not what you’d expect from www.domenic-recchia.com/ — and sure enough it’s been planted by the National Republican Congressional Committee.

Shane Goldmacher is Congressional Correspondent for the National Journal.