Is Santorum's "Google Problem" a Google Problem?

theodp writes "Fortune contributor Dan Mitchell argues that GOP presidential candidate Rick Santorum's 'Google problem' isn't Google's problem at all. 'The fact that searching for 'santorum' puts the profane, anti-Rick Santorum site SpreadingSantorum.com (NSFW) at the top of Google's search results,' insists Mitchell, 'is not an example of a "Google bomb," despite the widespread use of that term to describe the result.' In the same camp is Search Engine Land's Danny Sullivan, who also says that Santorum has a search engine problem, not a Google problem. 'It's just that everyone fixates on Google,' Sullivan adds. Which is perhaps to be expected, since Google is the King of Search and also has ties to SpreadingSantorum creator Dan Savage, having featured the sex-advice columnist in Google's The-web-is-what-you-make-of-it Chrome ad campaign (for Savage's admirable It Gets Better Project, not SpreadingSantorum). So, considering Google's vaunted search quality guidelines, is some kind of change in order? Sullivan, while making it clear he opposes Santorum's views, nonetheless suggests Google is long overdue to implement a disclaimer for the 'Santorum' search results. 'They are going to confuse some people,' he explains, 'who will assume Google's trying to advance a political agenda with its search results.'"

Comments

Sounds like

[eternaldoctorwho]

the Santorum is surging.

Re:Sounds like

[SteveFoerster]

Even better: Santorum surges from behind in Iowa

Re:Savage is anti-bullying?

[XxtraLarGe]

Tolerance of bigotry is counterproductive.

I too believe in tolerance, except for tolerating things I disagree with.

its a Santorum problem

[andydread]

I dunno, I think the problem is a Rick Santorum's Problem. It's because of Rick Santorum's obsession with gay people and banning gay sex. Maybe Rick Santorum should get off his soap box. And since Rick Santorum is against gay marriage obviously those people are going to be active against him along with others that fear is rise to power.

Re:Savage is anti-bullying?

[Anonymous Coward]

Can we amend or possibly construct a corollary to Godwin's Law about usage of the word "Taliban"

Why, are you a Nazi?

Re:Santorum's problem is a Santorum problem

[Nimey]

I think you mean "vicious". Santorum shouldn't be viscous, and if it is you probably need to change your diet.

Re:Maybe...

[StikyPad]

Good idea. They should remove the link from search results for "santorum", and replace it instead with a disambiguation link. "Did you mean: the frothy mix of lube and fecal matter that is sometimes the byproduct of anal sex"