Facebook: Opposition Research Dream Come True

By Rachel Kapochunas,
CQ Staff

When 26-year old Emanuel Pleitez launched his House campaign in California earlier this year, he decided to use his existing Facebook account for promotion.

“I did take one quick glance through my pictures and I said, ‘There’s nothing bad there.’ And so I left them all up,” Pleitez, a former transition staffer for the Obama administration, said in a recent interview.

But as California’s 32nd District special primary election drew closer, several of Pleitez’s Facebook pictures resurfaced in a direct mail attack piece paid for by another Democratic candidate, California state Sen. Gil Cedillo.

“Here’s a sample of what you’ve been missing if you haven’t checked out 26-year old congressional candidate Emanuel Pleitez’s Facebook page on the Internet: Lots of women, hard liquor, dancing on the table, and all-night partying,” read the mailer, which was accompanied by multiple pictures from Pleitez’ page.

Neither Pleitez nor Cedillo made it past the first round of voting May 19.

But Facebook is becoming ubiquitous for politicians, and strategists say the more it’s used the greater the possibility that Facebook will become a campaign weapon.

Opposition researchers say they couldn’t be happier.

(More here.)