Obama 2012 has created a new website to challenge and counter negative statements made about the president by his Republican presidential rivals and other conservative critics. AttackWatch.com was set up to fight back against the smears that are sure to come as the campaign cycle heats up, said campaign director Jim Messina, who told supporters via email.

“We all remember the birth certificate smear, the GOP’s barrage of lies about the Affordable Act and the airing of other phony attacks on President Obama that we’ve seen over the past few years,” Messina wrote. “There are a lot of folks on the other side who are chomping at the bit to distort the president’s record. It’s not a question of if the next big lie will come, just when — and what — we’re prepared to do about it.”

The campaign also wants Obama supporters to use the hashtag #attackwatch on its Twitter account to provide information about false claims that they hear and help “spread the truth” within their own personal networks.

Some of the responses aren’t quite what they had in mind, however. Several people, including Republican presidential candidate Herman Cain, have used the hashtag to mock its existence. Indeed, the site appears to be having the opposite of its intended effect, with more people using it as an excuse to make fun of Obama and his policies.

“Seriously?” tweeted Cain.

“Mr President, the wingnuts claim Perry made better grades than you! Please release your transcripts to prove your genius! #attackwatch,” tweeted another person.

(Photo: Courtesy Obama for America)