Labour Senator (and South Candidate) hijacking "Ideas Campaign" keywords

[David Cochrane]

Earlier today I posted up a notice for a campaign which has been launched, led by Aileen O'Toole of AMAS called The Ideas Campaign.

Interestingly, do a Google search for "New Ideas" or "Aileen O'Toole" and a website owned by Senator Alan Kelly comes up as a sponsored web link.

Senator Alan Kelly is Labour's European Candidate for Ireland South.

Whilst it could be that two campaigns to generate ideas are happening (and perhaps others) Senator Kelly targeting Aileen O'Toole's name as a Google keyword is a deliberate attempt I would think to hijack traffic and media work done by her campaign which from what I hear is gathering some momentum.

• ideascampaign.ie was registered on 16th of Feb by AMAS
• newideas.ie was registered on the 18th of Feb by Senator Alan Kelly

So it looks like Senator Kelly is spending money to drive traffic away from the Ideas Campaign to his own website, which is promoting a conference in Cork and Limerick, two areas in the Ireland South Constituency (despite his new ideas website saying his campaign and conference was non-political).

And whilst the "new ideas" website is said to be "sponsoned by Alan Kelly" the website and domain are in fact owned by Senator Alan Kelly and includes no other politiicans in the conference line up.

I spoke with Senator Kelly this afternoon, and he pointed out that there were alot of similarities between his campaign and that of Aileen O'Toole's - I asked if he thought that using her name to drive traffic to his website might be seen as dishonest or misleading, and he said he'd have to check with the person running his Google Adwords campaign and get back to us.

Aileen O’Toole, Campaign Director of the Ideas Campaign expressed disappointment that her name and that of the campaign had been bought as keywords on Google by Senator Kelly. She said that her intention was for the Ideas Campaign to be "by citizens for citizens" and was designed to be above party politics.

5 minutes after I spoke to Senator Kelly I got calls and texts from people I'd been speaking to on this saying that the "Aileen O'Toole" was no longer being targeted, but I took a screen shot whilst it was.

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[Watcher1]

David, it looks like their are plenty contributors on p.ie trying to sabbotage the campaign also. Why am I not surprised an excuse for a politician is trying to garner publicity for himself.

Here's an idea for the guy - scrap the Seanad and save the money. That w3ill go towards the savings the government are trying to make and could pay for the cervical vaccines for young girls for many a year, actual in perpetuity because scrapping the Seanad would deliver the savings year after year.

[setanta]

Like I said, before you deleted my last comment (Liebertas reference now avoided as it seems to offend you) .... what's the problem with this?

Senator Kelly's website is more than a piece of gamesmanship as any casual gander will show. He has organised two conferences in Munster with major speakers. The fact that Ms O'Toole is also engaged in this area is a case of "so what if there are similarities!".

[David Cochrane]

You don't think that Senator Kelly paying to get traffic from Google for anyone who searches for her name is not a bit misleading?

Yeah, you used your post to have a go at me personally, which is a bit out of order and off-topic.

[mccafferty cat]

How might one go about hijacking Senator Kelly's keywords, in an effort to sabotage his campaign?

[setanta]

You don't think that Senator Kelly paying to get traffic from Google for anyone who searches for her name is not a bit misleading?

If that is what he did. In any event, even if it is true, then it's little more than political oneupmanship. The words storm and teacup come to mind.

Point noted on the other matter.

[rollie]

its cheap and hugely dishonest....whos got the joe duffy phone number?

[LeftOfCentre]

This Is just whinging . . . . a NEW IDEAS CAMPAIGN Is hardly the ''newest'' idea in the world!

Just like P.ie Is not the only place on the internet to discuss Irish politics.... when you created it did you not realise that boards.ie (and many others) existed?

Google Adwords is a perfectly legitimate & cheap way of attracting traffic to your website.

In this case (from the screen shot) it looks like someone has paid to have their website displayed when someone types in ''Aileen O'Toole'' . . . Why are you against this?

If you are really against this you will stop making money from using adwords on your site to earn you some extra cash. . . .

Some people might object to having Lucinda Creightons advert on every second page on this site ,,, but she has chosen certain key words (many not connected to her) to get their.

I am reminded of you '' PROVISIONAL DRIVERS LICENCE CAMPAIGN '' that took over this site for a week.


Let he who is without sin cast the first stone . . . . .

Sorry David but stop winging about something you not only engage in . . . . BUT DIRECTLY BENEFIT FROM FINANCIALLY


Note - I have no connection to the campaign or senator

[anewbeginning]

Clearly more evidence of our policitians not having ideas of their own and hijacking the ideas of others....is it any wonder the country is where it is?

We are just not producing the right type of politician in this country, they are all bankrupt of ideas....what is it about our politicians that they can't come up with something new. Is there an unwritten rule that you can only enter politics if you don't have anything original to contribute, I am beginning to think so.

Maybe its safer to have no ideas of your own, than to risk being ridiculed if you have one. What is it they say, better to stay quiet and let people think you are a fool than to open your mouth and confirm it for them.

Thanks for bringing it to our attention David...I would thank your post if I knew how.

[David Cochrane]

Wow, a Labour person getting a bit too upset over this?

I'm pointing out that anyone who for example, hears Aileen O'Toole on Morning Ireland talking about her campaign Google her name, find Senator Alan Kelly's website, assume they are one and the same, and suddenly he's getting the credit for her work.

I may not be without sin, but I am simply pointing out something that Senator Kelly is up to. The other people on P.ie can decide on the merit or ethics of what Senator Kelly's doing.