The Hillary Project, a new conservative outside group devoted to smearing former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, yesterday promoted an online video game where the user violently slaps Clinton. A closer look at the group behind the appalling website is revealing: Some of the same forces that worked to elect the infamously anti-woman Rep. Todd Akin in his 2012 Senate race are now working to attack Hillary Clinton. While it’s no surprise that those who supported Akin would be the first to attack the former Secretary of State, the fact that they turn to virtual violence right out of the gate is a disturbing sign of what’s still to come.
The Hillary Project
The Hillary Project Promoted A “Game” That Lets You “Slap” Hillary Clinton. According to BuzzFeed, “A Republican Super PAC prominently features a game on their website that allows users to slap former secretary of state and possible 2016 presidential candidate Hillary Clinton across the face. The game is being hosted on the website for The Hillary Project, an anti-Clinton Super PAC that lists its address in Nashua, New Hampshire, according to FEC filings, and has Christopher M. Marston, a Republican campaign finance consultant and former member of the Bush administration, as its treasurer. The website states that the game was ‘Created and produced by The SlapHillary Team,’ and began spamming reporters to its existence Monday with the tweet, ‘Have you slapped Hillary today?’ According to the website RichardPoe.com, the game is in fact old ‘and was created Marie Poe, an award-winning filmmaker and animation producer of numerous hit shows, including MTV’s Beavis and Butthead.’ The website also states the game was created in 2000. The Hillary Project ‘games’ webpage also features a game that allows you to control Hillary Clinton’s dance moves and a game in which Clinton fights President Obama.” [BuzzFeed, 8/5/13]
The Hillary Project Pledges To “Wage A War On Hillary Clinton’s Image.” According to The Hillary Project’s website, “The Hillary Project (THP) is a non-profit, non-partisan, advocacy committee with a single goal – wage a war on Hillary Clinton’s image by exposing her past and analyzing her would-be presidency for the public and national political press corps.” [TheHillaryProject.com, accessed 8/5/13]
Hillary Project Spokesman: Hillary Project “Was Born From The Interest Of Several” Unidentified “National Organizations.” According to The Daily Beast, “Hillary Project spokesman Tyler Harber explains via email that the group ‘was born from the interest of several national organizations,’ though he declines to name any of them (‘All I can say is that the circle of supporters and organizers are nationally recognized’).” [The Daily Beast, 8/2/13]
The Hillary Project Claims To Be “Sponsored By A Core Group Of Republican Political Committees, Top Republican Strategists, And A Select Group Of Republican Donors.” According to The Hillary Project’s website, “The Hillary Project (THP) is an initiative sponsored by a core group of Republican political committees, top Republican strategists, and a select group of Republican donors. […] We’re not approaching this based on ideology or party registration; we believe the public needs to focus on Hillary – not the messenger. That’s why we agreed to make THP a stand-alone committee that would receive funding and support from a core group of Republican political committees, top Republican strategists, and a select group of active Republican donors.” [TheHillaryProject.com, accessed 8/5/13]
The Hillary Project Has A Petition Telling Clinton To “Stay Home.” According to Politico, “The group’s website asks viewers to sign a petition asking Clinton to ‘stay home,’ acknowledging that she is better liked than any Republican currently considering a 2016 bid. Clinton ‘has an excellent chance of becoming our next president,’ the petition says. It has set a goal of 20,000,000 signatures.” [Politico, 7/12/13]
The Hillary Project Maintains A Database Of “Rather Unflattering” Pictures And Videos Of Clinton. According to The Hillary Project’s website, “The Hillary Project maintains a database of open-use pictures and videos so that bloggers, journalists, and publications can use these – rather unflattering – pictures and video clips without infringing on anybody’s rights.” [TheHillaryProject.com, accessed 8/5/13]
The Hillary Project Posted Hillary Clinton Meme Images – Some Of Which Are Bizarrely Sexual & Misogynist – On Their Facebook Page. The following images are posted on The Hillary Project’s Facebook page:
[Facebook.com, accessed 8/5/13]
The Hillary Project Spokesman Tyler Harber Was Also Spokesman For Super PAC That Backed Todd Akin
The Daily Beast Identifies Tyler Harber As A Spokesman For The Hillary Project. According to The Daily Beast, “Hillary Project spokesman Tyler Harber explains via email that the group ‘was born from the interest of several national organizations.’” [The Daily Beast, 8/2/13]
Harber Is “A Republican Strategist Hired To Promote The Hillary Project” And “A Partner In Harcom Strategies International.” According to Fox News, “Tyler Harber, a Republican strategist hired to promote the Hillary Project, said the games are pure political satire, amid some controversy online regarding the games. ‘There are a slew of similarly ridiculous, satirical games posted against Republican candidates and officeholders,’ said Harber, a partner in Harcom Strategies International, who points to games like ‘Dancing Palin’ and ‘Throw Shoe at Bush.’” [FoxNews.com, 8/6/13]
Harber Is On The Faculty At The Leadership Institute. According to Harber’s “Faculty Bio” on the Leadership Institute’s website, “In addition to his punditry, Harber has taught campaign managers, activists, and candidates for the Republican National Committee and the Leadership Institute, as well as lectured on political science, campaign management, and public opinion research at George Washington University, American University, University of Tennessee, and Washington Adventist University.” [LeadershipInstitute.org, accessed 8/6/13]
Harber Was The Spokesman For A Super PAC That Backed Todd Akin. According to The Hill, “A Republican super-PAC that had backed one of Rep. Todd Akin’s (R-Mo.) primary opponents will jump in to help the embattled Senate candidate in the final week of his campaign. Now Or Never PAC will spend $800,000 on television advertising for the cash-strapped Akin between now and Election Day, spokesman Tyler Harber told The Hill.” [The Hill, 10/31/12]