Domain confusion
For those of you who don't know, there are three constitutional amendments on the Nov. 2 ballot. You can read ballot language for all three by clicking on this link.
The second measure on the ballot would let governments set aside money collected for certain types of civil penalties for use by schools. The third measure has to do with the terms of magistrates. Neither seems very controversial.
But we have ourselves a campaign over the first amendment on the ballot. And despite being well organized and well heeled, backers of the rather prosaically dubbed "Amendment One" are doing their best to make sure the opposition isn't heard from much, at least on the web.
(Update on 9/26/04: A link to our story on Amendment One can be found by clicking here.)
As background: The amendment in question would allow cities and towns to issue bonds for certain types of redevelopment projects without getting taxpayer approval. Efforts to give local governments similar powers failed in 1982 and 1993.
Backers of the measure make their case at this web site: http://www.amendmentone.org There, Amendment One backers make the case: "North Carolina is one of only two states in the country without a powerful economic development tool called self-financing bonds. With 185,000 jobs lost, North Carolina can no longer afford such a distinction."
Opponents have their own website at http://www.noamendmentone.org If you read that home page, you'll find the following: "The issue is complex, but the question is simple. Do you want the right for local government to ask you when they place your money at risk? If you said yes, then Vote No to Amendment One!"
Well, it seems like Amendment One's backers didn't like the competition for the hearts and minds of voters trolling the web. So they've bought the rights to the "noamendmentone" address in other domains like .com and .net hoping to snare folks looking for the real anti-Amendment One site.
For example, if you were to surf on over to http://www.noamendmentone.com you'd get a message that says:
"If you are thinking about voting against Amendment One, do your community a favor and think again."
Illegal? No. A little rough? Maybe. But to paraphrase what the folks over at NASCAR might say, that's campaignin'.