What MNW proposes here is actually a very common practice among various interest groups, political parties etc.
This tactic was perfected by Israeli intelligence, who would organize anti-Palestinian, pro-Israel comment mobs using their Megaphone software.
These days, I suspect that many comments under political and economic articles on major sites are paid for as part of PR or Public Shaping campaigns. Not to mention the articles themselves.
You're describing "astroturfing" which is not at all what I proposed. Sorry for the confusion.
What I'm referring to is that in a one-on-one debate in any forum, website, chatroom, there are usually 10+ detractors causing noise and spreading FUD to keep people from hearing the debate. The solution I believe is to bring in 10+ counter-detractors, kind of like being on someone in basketball. That person is responsible for engaging the troll until the troll is depleted of energy or lies to tell, while the real debate continues. I don't think there is anything unethical or immoral about it, and since we're not intending to influence but rather
equalize, I don't think there's anything wrong with it in the slightest.
I would bet the Israeli Intelligence sees what they do as the same. They are only standing up to those hate-spewing Palestinians...