The comments section of online news stories and blogs — a forum for reader interaction — is increasingly a place for manufactured posts and barbs fired by political campaigns, special interest groups and other organizations, often incognito, The Denver Post reports. Targeting online comments has become a key communications strategy, a way for insiders to cryptically send their message, not only to the general public but also to the reporters who cover their issues and the key players who can influence political support and fundraising. Armed with talking points, volunteers and staff members — even independent contractors paid several hundred dollars for a couple days of work — serve as “Google monkeys” and “sock puppets.” They monitor stories and post under pseudonyms to dispute or support a view, or simply to generate interest in a topic.