The draft, the Internet and the buzz

In red letters, the e-mail read, "YOU HAVE BEEN DRAFTED." The startling announcement was followed by smaller print: "You are hereby ordered for induction into the Armed Forces of the United States, and to report at a polling a place near you on November 2, 2004 at 7:00 a.m."

Officials at Rock the Vote, a nonpartisan but generally liberal organization founded by musicians, sent the bogus draft card to 650,000 people last month. It's unknown how many in-boxes the notice was forwarded to, but the "get out the vote" gimmick has substantially cranked up the volume in recent weeks on the already loud Internet buzz surrounding a possible military draft.

Conservatives dominate talk radio, but the unsubstantiated rumor of a draft -- a galvanizing issue for many young voters and their parents -- demonstrates that the Internet has become an election year equalizer for liberals. The online campaign was so effective in alarming voters that it led to a congressional vote and debate pledges from President Bush and Sen. John F. Kerry promising that they wouldn't reinstate the draft.

Young, Internet-savvy and Democratic-leaning voters are deeply suspicious of the motives behind Bush's decision to invade Iraq. Michael Moore's blockbuster movie "Fahrenheit 9/11," released earlier this year, expanded on many of those suspicions. And the youth-based Internet culture has become fertile ground for back-and-forth about a draft, despite efforts by the GOP to neutralize the volatile issue.

"The Democrats have done a very successful job of spreading [draft rumors] on the Internet," said Republican National Committee spokeswoman Christine Iverson. "It's absolutely an orchestrated campaign."

Online hand-wringing, petition-signing and mass e-mailing about a hypothetical draft are "not gossip," said Jay Strell, Rock the Vote spokesman. "It's an awareness campaign."

The Rock the Vote campaign also includes a 30-second public service announcement on MTV and 6,000 movie screens nationwide. The spot concludes with young black actors staring directly into the camera as a narrator says: "The Draft. One of the many issues that could be decided this election."

Vote in Congress

Experts say there is substantial and legitimate debate about the options left for an administration that has stretched the military thin by extending tours and calling up reservists and National Guardsmen.