Studies have shown that comments following news stories can affect how people perceive a public event or news story. Conservative groups have tried to capitalize on this through "astroturfing", which is using paid commenters to try to affect perceptions of the news. Right now the two largest employers of conservative astroturfing trolls are the Koch funded think tank FreedomWorks, and conservative activist and Breitbart news publisher Steve Bannon.
Along with this rise in astroturfing has come the rise of the "Aggressive Democratic Commenter", who are private individuals with an interest in politics who have taken it upon themselves to skewer and satirize the astroturfers. ADCs have no Republican equivalent, and if you look at most news stories you'll see the conservative comments appear childish and inane, while the comments from liberals are factually accurate, and often contain a biting wit that appeals strongly to readers. There is no Republican equivalent to the ADC, as Republicans are generally less intelligent, and don't have the capacity to comment on that level.
Do you think the rise of astroturfing and the ADC response will have a significant impact on the 2016 election cycle?
This question is too complex for me ---------- I mow real grass on my lawn.
Based upon my similar experiences here and on Answerbag where I have repeatedly eviscerated the nonsensical yammering of the Usual Suspects...it doesn't change a thing. There is further scientific research suggesting when it comes to anything culturally contentious (and elections are about as contentious as things get), ideology trumps reason.
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/marty-kaplan/most-depressing-brain-fin_b_3932273.html
