American politics has always featured vicious attack adverts but now the amateurs are joining in the vitriol throwing. Mike Huckabee is the conservative Baptist who surprised the Republican establishment by winning the first primary in Iowa. So perhaps it’s no surprise that he is now the target for some brutal assaults on his record as Arkansas governor. One piece of citizen propaganda is making waves in the campaign. The 58 second video was created by Republican activist Fred Emis who posted it on YouTube as well as its own website and it’s been watched by tens of thousands of potential voters.

The video features a Missouri mother who blames Huckabee for freeing serial rapist Wayne Dumond who went on to kill her daughter. Emis denies that he is a supporter of rival Republican Fred Thompson. He says that he is simply disgusted that someone who freed a prisoners who then went on to rape and murder someone should stand for President. He made the simple but very effective video with help from a friend who normally turns out videos of Bar Mitzvahs.

Of course, the only way that Huckabee could respond to an Internet attack was to post his own rebuttal video online – judge for yourself. And isn’t that what politics is supposed to be about?