MyDD :: Jim 'ripoff' Hahn

Jim 'ripoff' Hahn

by Jerome Armstrong, Mon May 16, 2005 at 04:19:54 PM EST

Check out the image on the left, then look at the one on the right. Notice a graphic on Villaraigosa's that later showed up on Hahn's website... what?

In perhaps a last sign of desperation, the Hahn campaign is now resorting to outright theft: now they've copied our "Find your Local Polling Place" graphic from the Antonio2005 home page, and put it up on their own website.

Is this just general laziness, or a lack of regard for the rules? Either way, it's reflective of the willingness to cut ethical corners that has pervaded the Hahn administration.

Seem petty? Well, more generally, Villaraigosa is still whipping Hahn in the poll numbers. Though it has gotten a bit tighter, Antonio leads by 11 points, 51 to 40. Also, the LA Times had an 'political warrior' piece up on 4 of the Mayoral Battle Generals for the Villaraigosa & Hahn campaigns-- Ace Smith will hopefully get to aim at Arnold next.

Tags: Democrats (all tags)

Permalink :: 20 Comments :: Post a Comment

Semi-off-topic. but (none / 0)

what's the deal with the new polling places? Are they expecting a lower turnout in the runoff than the primary, or are they just trying to confuse people out of showing up?

Yeah, I'm cynical.

by catastrophile on Mon May 16, 2005 at 04:37:08 PM EST

It's possible they bought it from same consultant (3.00 / 1)

I don't know enough info to make a determination. I'm just saying it's possible both campaigns could have bought the same software package from a source that did not give exclusive licenses.

by afs on Mon May 16, 2005 at 04:45:12 PM EST

No software involved (none / 0)

Both campaigns are linking to the county polling place look-up tool -- that's no problem at all.

The issue is that the Villaraigosa campaign put a big graphic up on their website over the weekend, promoting the tool.

Then the Hahn campaign just stole the exact same graphic, and added it to their site.

Pretty cheesy... also, to the first poster's question, I don't think there's been a wholesale change in polling places. This is just a way for new voters to know where they're voting.

by sfbrentb on Mon May 16, 2005 at 04:48:04 PM EST

that's a good graphic (none / 0)

I'd steal it, too.

Invest in nature

by NCDem on Mon May 16, 2005 at 04:54:53 PM EST

say what? (none / 0)

It looks like both are linked to the Los Angeles County Registrar/Clerks website for finding voting location. What up with that be a ripoff???

by shadow on Mon May 16, 2005 at 04:57:02 PM EST

Re: say what? (none / 0)

It's not where they're linking (no problem with that), it's the issue that the Hahn campaign stole the graphic that the Villaraigosa team designed to promote it.

Lazy and stupid of the Hahn team.

by sfbrentb on Mon May 16, 2005 at 05:08:18 PM EST
[ Parent ]

They ripped off a graphic... (3.00 / 1)

that was created by Antonio's web designer, and put it on their site. That's weak, lazy, and stupid.

by lhuynh on Mon May 16, 2005 at 05:06:05 PM EST

and (none / 0)

illegal?

Invest in nature

by NCDem on Mon May 16, 2005 at 05:09:44 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Confirmed: stolen (3.00 / 1)

I know the guy who designed that graphic. He made it over the weekend specifically for Villaraigosa's site. Check out the "CLICK HERE" font and see how it matches the other small-font labels on Villaraigosa's page. Also, notice how on Hahn's page the graphic is missing the top blue border. It's because it was made for Villaraigosa's site, where it doesn't need a top border because there's already a blue line there. We both think it's a hoot, actually. =)

by jchriswilliamson on Mon May 16, 2005 at 05:31:40 PM EST

Re: Confirmed: stolen (3.00 / 1)

If that is the case, then it would be copyright infringement. Note the copyright notice at the bottom of Villaraigosa's page. And no, Hahn's use would never be considered "fair use". Copyright infringement is a federal crime, although very rarely prosecuted - and I doubt a federal prosecutor would be too interested in this one. It would also be possible to file a civil case, but I doubt there would be any provable damages.

by bushsucks on Mon May 16, 2005 at 06:02:19 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Sooo stupid (none / 0)

As somebody posted on Villaraigosa's blog, the local TV stations love this type of stuff. And it's only 3:20 PM-plenty of time to put together a piece before six o'clock. The fact that there are seven English-language TV stations, all with highly publicized local news (plus three or four Spanish language stations, although at least one of those doesn't seem to know what country Los Angeles is in...heh...), I'll bet somebody will run with this. LOL.

by Geotpf on Mon May 16, 2005 at 06:24:31 PM EST

New Republic (none / 0)

So TA Frank posted something on TNR about the race. Here's about half of it.

' On the other hand, Janice[Hahn]'s brother has been a crappy mayor, while Villaraigosa, who has yet to be elected, is only a likely-to-be-crappy mayor. This distinction has won Villaraigosa endorsements from, among others, John Kerry and the Los Angeles Times, even though the Times editorial admitted that the two men "hold almost indistinguishable (if frustratingly vague) positions." '

Now 90% of the time TNR gets it wrong, but I don't have a dog in this fight so I wonder, what the response to that would be.

by MNPundit on Mon May 16, 2005 at 06:44:55 PM EST

Another Example of Hahn's Lack Of New Ideas (none / 0)

Good grief, does it get any clearer than this? The mayor (and his campaign staff, who run his website) has run out of any original ideas. They are so desperate they are even copying graphics from Villaraigosa's website and using it on their own!

Jim Hahn is the ultimate "me-too" politician.
Everyone has their own ideas for ways to make the city better, EXCEPT The Mayor of Los Angeles.

shheeeeeeeeeeeeesh!

by MadProfessah on Mon May 16, 2005 at 06:47:16 PM EST

Villaraisgosa2009.com: where have you gone? (none / 0)

Interesting sidebar to this saga. According to LA Observer (http://www.laobserved.com/archive/003522.html) a blog entitled Informed Sources (www.informedsources.blogspot.com) reserved the domains for a number of Villaraigosa campaign URLs.

Can Hahn people jump on this as a sign of sloppiness, lack of confidence that they'll win, or lack of awareness of the Internet.

by pacifico555 on Mon May 16, 2005 at 08:24:49 PM EST

Probably just sloppy (none / 0)

They figured that it probably wasn't a custom work -- just a link graphic like so many others. It's really really sloppy, but probably not deliberate theft.

by paperwight on Mon May 16, 2005 at 08:57:21 PM EST

Re: Probably just sloppy (none / 0)

That may be so... but why not take it down now, when they know it's custom work?

At this point, they're knowingly continuing to use it, even when they know it's wrong.

THAT is par for the course with the Hahn team.

by sfbrentb on Mon May 16, 2005 at 09:21:58 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Hahn took it down (none / 0)

Score.

by Tim Tagaris on Mon May 16, 2005 at 09:45:17 PM EST

Re: Hahn took it down (none / 0)

Ack. Now it's back up?

That was strange. I must be losing my mind.

Tim

by Tim Tagaris on Mon May 16, 2005 at 09:45:52 PM EST
[ Parent ]

File names (none / 0)

they didn't even bother to change the name of file, both are 'polling.jpg'

by jonahinnyc on Mon May 16, 2005 at 10:18:50 PM EST

copyright.. what an issue (none / 0)

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by turnerbroadcasting on Tue May 17, 2005 at 09:03:47 AM EST

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