Google Allows Defamatory Santorum Website to Flourish

By John Romano

(YBH) – Google the word “Santorum” or the phrase “Rick Santorum” and the #1 and #2 result, respectively, is for the website www.spreadingsantorum.com.

Website attacks Rick Santorum over anti-gay stance. Google plays along.

The website is nothing more than an anti-Rick Santorum slam, with the landing page that simply defines the word “santorum” as: Santorum 1. The frothy mix of lube and fecal matter that is sometimes the byproduct of anal sex. 2. Senator Rick Santorum

Clearly, the website is designed to tarnish the former Pennsylvania Senator for his outspoken anti-gay stances. In no way would I ever call for the website to be banished from the web, but my question is, why does Google give the site such a high ranking? Obviously, the owners of the website have Google- bombed their way to the top. Should it be allowed to stand?

What if a group of Tea Partiers started the website www.spreadingobama.com, and defined the word “obama” in a defamatory way? Such as: Obama 1. When an Islamist acts as an American in order to bring down the country from the inside. 2. President Barack Obama. Does anyone reading this think for a moment that Google would allow that website to be anywhere near the top of the search engine’s results for the words “Barack Obama” now, or during the 2008 campaign? Google would rightly banish the website outright, or at least bounce it to page 15 of the search results.

The people behind “Spreading Santorum” are using their constitutional right to attack the Senator. Why is Google playing along?

NOTE: The battle over gay marriage continues to be a loser for Republicans and I personally disagree with Rick Santorum on the issue. However, I think Google should show some editorial discretion on this one.

John Romano is the publisher and editor of Yes, But However!, a musician, a former political correspondent for BBC Radio London, and a serial web entrepreneur. Follow him on twitter: twitter.com/yesbuthowever or John Romano on Google+

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Post Published: 16 December 2011
Found in section: Opinion

Jascha Heifetz
Proofread, proofread, proofread!
guest
Awesome grammar. Also, I’m pretty sure this isn’t old news at all!
Gary Willins
Definitely agree – Google is showing an incredible bias here and it has tarnished their credibility in my eyes (no conservative, BTW) – and in the eyes of many others.I am positive, if OBAMA were re-defined as some filthy word or derogatory meaning term, it would not stand – Google would step in the way of fake “hits”, regardless.

DefendOurConstitution
I would love f9r teabaggers to try doing a spreadingobama site; since
they only have the same 10 paid posters (with many screen names) they
would never get their site up above # 100. Santorum is (and will
continue to be) #1 on Google, Yahoo and Bing – the reason is Santorum is
such a hypocrite and false christian. Spreading Santorum will go away
when Santorum gets out of our lives first!
Santorum is offensive to all decent people (gay or straight).

Tom
It’s number one up there because it’s the one most people click on and are searching for. This was all over two certain Comedy Central fake news shows for a week straight over six months ago. When fake news is more current than “real news” maybe someone should get with the times
DefendOurConstitution
I would love f9r teabaggers to try doing a spreadingobama site; since they only have the same 10 paid posters (with many screen names) they would never get their site up above # 100. Santorum is (and will continue to be) #1 on Google, Yahoo and Bing – the reason is Santorum is such a hypocrite and false christian. Spreading Santorum will go away when Santorum gets out of our lives first!
http://notsobreitbart.com/ Jeff
Santorum has been noted for his offensive homophobic remarks and was given chances to apologize for his insensitivity before this occurred. The attitudes he expressed about gay people may be why suicide rates and bullying of gay teens are so high. The remarks by Santorum are offensive and deadly. So why should Google get involved?
On the other hand, accusing the President of being an Islamist trying to destroy the country from within is not only ridiculous but unlike the definition of Santorum, could be considered an incitement to violence and overthrow of our government.
BTW, that anyone could honestly believe our President is an Islamist trying to destroy the country from within is just plain stupid. How could you contrive such a plot? And then there is the little problem of what Obama has actually done while in office. Unlike our previous leader who thought Bin Laden was “irrelevant”, Obama made finding him a priority (and turns out he was far from inactive) and managed to eliminate him without a single soldier dying in the raid. Facts are hard to deal with amongst the right wing but racism, homophobia and stupidity live on.

Jim 3ef
Obama has made Egypt safe for Islamization, not that a left-wing dodo like you would care, so I think the argument is a cogent one.

George
I don’t usually comment on stuff like this, but the ignorance of your comment really annoyed me. I’m not sure where on the political spectrum you stand. You might be a pinko-commie whose upset at how moderate the Obama administration has been or be a delusional right-wing radical. However, because you responded to a well thought out post with an incoherent sentence and a personal attack, you look like an idiot. Please never visit this site again.

Rick
Um he was a troll.

http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=3409941 Kristen Ridley
Google has updated their algorithm a lot since the days when google bombing was easy to do. It remains high because people keep clicking it and linking to it.
Beefygoblin
It’s actually because of all the Savage Love fans out there. Once you know the history of how this got started, you can see why it remains so popular. It wasn’t just some website that sprung up overnight . It was a contest.
John
You are a self proclaimed “serial web entrepreneur” but you don’t know how search engines work or the history of said site. Perhaps its time to quit this business and try something else.
anony
I stopped by as the media reports are that Santorum is surging from behind!
Not sure how the google thing works, and apparently you aren’t either. Every time is see this stupid hating man and have a few free minutes, I use the google thing to be sure he stays where he belongs.
A few clicks here and there, drop a few links at high traffic websites, and chuckle to myself. Just now it occurs to me, he could have his daughter complain about his sad state of affairs. What a little pissant he is.
If he does well in the vote tomorrow, then some of his really hateful and deluded statements will get wider circulation. Opus dei.
http://www.usatoday.com/news/washington/2003-04-23-santorum-excerpt_x.htm
http://www.spreadingobama.co/ Anon
htttp://spreadingobama.co
Somebody has finally done it.
anon
Sorry that should be http://www.spreadingobama.co
Rkporter71
here is a site
http://www.spreadingobama.org/

Google Allows Defamatory Santorum Website to Flourish

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