Pittsburgh: Political attack that wasn't

I think the dynamics would have been different if I was on the ticket. We would not have been struggling to win Pennsylvania two weeks away from the election, Tom Ridge, the McCain campaign’s national co-chairman said on Friday October 24, 2008. I think we'd be foolish not to admit it publicly. “Senator McCain had several good choices and I was one of them but he went for the Gov. of Alaska. Atypical bold McCain-like decision.”

That's just sad. I hope she is Ok mentally. And if she is, cite her.

I am giving the Republicans the benefit of the doubt that this is not a shared mentality.

Oh my gosh, I'm shocked. Exploiting racial fears to inflame the public and try to sway an election? That's disgraceful, unhinged, unpatriotic even, if you think about it. What sort of maniac would even consider such a thing?

I feel very sorry that she had not sought mental counseling before this. To lie about something like this is really bad, but to disfigure her own body is serious stuff.

My heart goes out to her family and friends and I hope she gets the help she needs.

I truly want honesty and dignity in this campaign. Unfortunately, there are deranged people on all sides:

Death Threats Sent to Pollster

After releasing this morning’s numbers showing McCain ahead in Ohio and Florida, the Strategic Vision polling company received several death threats through the contact e-mail on the company’s web site.

David Johnson, the CEO of Strategic Vision, shared the messages with National Review Online.

One of the messages stated:

My goodness, your polls stinks. There are 3 polls that have Obama by double digits and only yours has Obama down. WOW!. How come your poll is the only one giving Palin high favor ratings? I think you nee dto be careful tonight when you get in your car and might want to check underneath your car. SCRAP YOUR IDIOTIC POLLS OR ELSE!

Another stated:

A poll that gave Sarah Palin and Barack Obama the same favorability rating is wrong off the bat. Be careful going outside tonight because you might not see tomorrow.

A third message stated:

Why would your presidential election poll results be so drastically different from every other reputable poll taken over the same time period? Are they that dumb or are you guys that smart? Smart guys wind up dead.

No doubt this won't make it to the Swamp because it doesn't comport with the fiction that Obama and his supporters are running a clean campaign. But it is much more horrifying - and indicative of the thought control wanted by Obama and his thugs - than the hyped case of the mental patient.

Obama brushes wild and crazy attack off as if they are flies. What is it about Obama that keeps him so calm. .............................

http://thefiresidepost.com/2008/10/24/the-root-of-obamas-calm-is-humility/

Another good Republican reporting in?

This story was instantly suspect, as the pictures of her supposed beating, her Twitter account, and her timelines all patently contradicted themselves. But the wingnutosphere (Drudge, Free Republic, Redstate etc), with the healthy assist from Fix News Channel and the McCain campaign, piled on anyway, letting their ideological blinders get in the way of reality. As usual.

And now they look like idiots. As usual.

As for Ashley Todd, being a liar and race-baiter is par for the course for College Republicans.

The ranks of the college Republicans are filled with the biggest bunch of pathetic crybabies and liars that I've ever seen. It's no wonder that the current Republican party is in a non-stop free fall towards 4th party gadfly status:

ENOUGH SAID...
.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gFGit_tZDqs
.

I think it's the 'Rove Reflex' at work in this young woman; A bacillus that has infected the entire Republican mentality.

No doubt this won't make it to the Swamp because it doesn't comport with the fiction that Obama and his supporters are running a clean campaign. But it is much more horrifying - and indicative of the thought control wanted by Obama and his thugs - than the hyped case of the mental patient.

Posted by: Bemused | October 24, 2008 6:21 PM

Leave it to a crack pot wingnut like MJ (see above) to try to somehow blame this all on Barack Obama...

The Republic Party is currently in a non-stop free fall towards 4th party gadfly status because of wingnut ideological "Einstein's" like this "Bemused".

The McCain campaign jumped the gun without thinking....as usual, with an assist from Drudge and Fixed News Channel....as usual.

They should be held 100% accountable for pushing a false story without checking it.

They should be crucified for pushing the racial aspect.

It was the McShame camapign who declared the "B" on her face was for Barack Obama.

McCain should be made to publicly "denounce and repudiate" this behavior on Meet the Press.

JE,
I agree.
But the press won't do it because they are afraid of being labeled 'liberal'. They still fear the 'base'.
For the same reason they won't point out Palin's separatist sympathies or McFool's friendship with GeeGee Liddy, not to mention Col. Duyet's endorsement.

The outrageous part about this is not the fact that this woman made up a crazy stunt. The McCain campaign can't control crazy nuts (they don't even try). But, the fact that the PA headquarters of the McCain campaign tried to play this up to score political points shows precisely what's wrong with McCain.

Even if it were true, you don't incite the public by aggrandizing the story and juicing it up with sundry concocted quotes. It's a shame that the McCain campaign tried to pick this up and run with it! These guys basically vet nothing. It reminds me of how they chose Palin and didn't realize that "Joe the Plumber" would actually benefit from Obama's tax plan...or the fact that he wasn't even a licensed plumber etc!

It's called vetting the story or the person! The McCain campaign should try it! What's next? Iraq has WMD? Oh, we already did that one...

Is it true the McCain Campaign was heavily involved in promoting this fake story?

Before all the facts were known, McCain's Pennsylvania communications director spread an incendiary version of the now-debunked story about a McCain volunteer who claimed an assailant carved a "B" into her cheek, directly connecting the letter to Barack Obama's name.

http://tpmelectioncentral.talkingpointsmemo.com/2008/10/mccain_aide_gave_reporters_inc.php

John Verrilli, the news director for KDKA in Pittsburgh, told TPM Election Central that McCain's Pennsylvania campaign communications director gave one of his reporters a detailed version of the attack that included a claim that the alleged attacker said, "You're with the McCain campaign? I'm going to teach you a lesson."

Verrilli also told TPM that the McCain spokesperson had claimed that the "B" stood for Barack. According to Verrilli, the spokesperson also told KDKA that Sarah Palin had called the victim of the alleged attack, who has since admitted the story was a hoax.

Not much different than the powerful TN Dem whose son cracked into Palin's e-mail. There are nuts on all sides, left and right.

Yes, "J,ohn E" you're right. I'm just an ignorant individual who is licensed to practice law and has a Masters in Public Administration. The fact is, neither Swamp nor any of the mainstream media published that the the "kill him" comment never happened. Somehow, however, it made all of the major media as uncontroverted "proof" of the hate from the right. Yet we have one instance of a deranged single individual who disfigured herself, and we hear about it as proof of...what, exactly? Is there any honor or dignity in the American media? Is there any sense of proportion among Obama supporters? I am so thoroughly disgusted by the misogyny (yes, I continue to be a Hillary supporter and continue to despise Obama, his hateful supporters, and the pathetic media for how she was treated and how they continue to blatantly show bias). I really will never, ever accept Obama. He is a complete, thorough fraud and fabrication. If his supporters were closer to human beings than mindless, hateful drones, I may have reconsidered some time ago. But thank you again, "John E," for reminding what Obama and his evil movement is all about. And I'm certain the Swamp won't print this to save the feelings of the oh so delicate Obama people. The hate coming from Obama people here and on other blogs have turned me from the daily kos party forever. Good job. That's real hope and change. Good luck with that.

good news bad news
Yesterday you McCain guys won the news cycle with ashley
and ashley will win you the news cycle every day until Nov 4th
must suck to be you guys

Hugh Hewitt gots some ’splainin to do

”
HH: Joining me to discuss this and the assault on a McCain volunteer in Pittsburgh, where a robber enraged by her McCain bumper sticker carved the letter “B” in her face is Columnist To the World, Mark Steyn. Mark, you know, we hear a lot about people hollering things at McCain rallies, but now we’ve got evidently an Obama robber who’s also a mutilator. Think the media will cover this?

MS: Well, I would hope so. I mean, this is a horrible story. It reminds me of some of these stories you get out of German cities where Muslim youths find an uncovered woman walking about the streets the same age as this young lady, and they will cut her from ear to ear so that she’s not able to go out again in anything but a burka. And in a sense, it’s about the same thing.”

http://hughhewitt.townhall.com/talkradio/transcripts/Transcript.aspx?ContentGuid=bea170ba-3bbd-4eee-b3cf-3dc56672963e

Now we put Hewitt’s and other cowardly little snivling tards “goods” in a vice, til they start singing about who was selling this story everywhere…and they’ll sing like Babs.
and mcCain's PA communication pushed this story to media outlets.
it's OVER

Bemused,

Oh yea, this girl was a victim. She must be mentally challenged. She couldn't just be a typical Republican racist who will do anything to stir up a story right before the election. What a bunch of racists, makes me sick. And I am white, I can only imagine how african american's feel like living with racist pigs.

These sorts of attacks have been promoted by the tone of McCain and Palin rhetoric. They will deny responsibility - but many of predicted this sort of behavior. No matter - that cannot shake the unflappable Obama. .................

http://thefiresidepost.com/2008/10/24/the-root-of-obamas-calm-is-humility/

Ohg Rea Tone, have you ever seen an insane person just before they go completely off their rocker? You got it.

So what is the differnece between her lies and McCain Palin, leading people to think Obama is a terrorist and socialist?
She goes to jail and McCain and Paling go back up on the stage. I don't get it.

"John E," for reminding what Obama and his evil movement is all about. And I'm certain the Swamp won't print this to save the feelings of the oh so delicate Obama people. The hate coming from Obama people here and on other blogs have turned me from the daily kos party forever. Good job. That's real hope and change. Good luck with that.

Posted by: Bemused | October 24, 2008 8:31 PM

Ah, poor baby, I'm shedding a tear for you right now, "smart guy".

Waaaaaaaaaaah!

OBAMA 08!

Bemused keeps saying the Swamp 'probably won't print this', yet they keep printing his 'thoughts'.
Pretty funny.

Hey, didn't al Qaeda endorse Palin/McCain the other day?

oh mylanta. What a non-story. Nut job deceives Repubs and media. Abhorrent behavior on the part of Repubs. Righteous Dems conDem and celebrate ruse. Good thing liberals/intelligentsia conduct themselves so admirably throughout campaign and display tolerance:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nQalRPQ8stI

We can only hope she gets the free universal health care she needs and should be entitled to.

Bemused: Did you call some kid the N word when you were a little kid and he beat you up because of it or WHAT??? yOU'VE GOT A problem, EDUCATION OR NOT!!!!!

We had Joe the Plumber, Osama the Terrorirst, Joe Six Pack, now Ashley the Campaign Volunteer

Wow. Thanks for all the love, Obamabots. Oh, yeah, and thanks for proving my point. Enjoy the cheetos in your moms's basement, while you're at it.

Let's give discredit where discredit is due. The McCain campaign was only too happy to promote the story line that this girl was attacked by a black Obama supporter without fully checking out the validity of her story. Once again the McCain camp takes the low road.

Hey CMo!

Pass the cheetos!!!

Watching the McCain campaign and their cheerleaders (Bemused) implode is not only funny, it's also making me hungry!

The McCain campaign and their supporters are so hungry for any kind of good news, that they jumped all over this story before the facts were in, while embellishing it a bit for good measure as they spewed it all over the media.

It's sad that the GOP is so desperate, that the only thing that remotely resembles "good news" to them at this point is a purported attack of a white woman that might be linked to a black Obama supporter.

And it's even more sad that this blew up in their faces by turning out not to have happened at all.

This calls McCain's judgment into question. He let his campaign go full force to exploit this this without waiting for all the facts, and he did nothing to restrain his supporters from doing the same. Do we want this kind of "shoot first, ask questions later" judgment from our President?

McCain is volatile and reactive, and his instinct is to act on his "gut" and do his thinking later. More than a couple times we have seen his emotional reactions trump good judgment.

Thank God McCain wasn't President during the Cuban missle crisis, and let's hope he doesn't make it to the White House as our country faces the serious challenges that are currently confronting us.

The U.S. should immediately pull out of Chicago !
Body count: In the last six months 292 killed (murdered) in Chicago , 221 killed in Iraq .

Sens. Barack Obama & Dick Durb in, Rep. Jesse Jackson Jr., Gov. Rod Blogojevich, House leader Mike Madigan, Atty. Gen. Lisa Madigan (daughter of Mike), Mayor Richard M. Daley (son of Mayor Richard J. Daley).....our leadership in Illinois.....all Democrats.

Thank you for the combat zone in Chicago . Of course, they're all blaming each other.

Can't blame Republicans, there aren't any!!!!

State pension fund: $44 Billion in debt, worst in country.

Cook County (Chicago) sales tax 10.25% highest in country. (Look'em up if you want).

Chicago school system one of the worst in country. (And Obama was actively working to "change" it!!!)

This is the political culture that Obama comes from in Illinois . He's gonna 'fix' Washington politics? Why didn't he do something to fix Illinois?

Any of you liberals have an intelligent answer for that question? And remember, the key word here is 'intelligent'.

Ashley Todd just wanted to be the next Joe the Plumber. She look as plump in the photo, but she wanted to be a plump media sensation, with TV crews camping outside her home, and headlines galore. And if McCain's featherbrained campaign advisers had grabbed the chance to create
an abstract connection between the robber and Obama, McCain would have something new to throw to
him - like Obama's soft touch
would make America a heaven
for robbers! Believe it or not, McCain is running out of accusations to throw at Obama, and, with 10 days left, he is running out of time.
Good job Ashley - much better than Sarah Palin's.
Nikos Retsos, retired professor

Dana Millbank of the Washington Post reported that people in the crowd yelled "Kill Him" at the Palin rally when she was talking about Obama's alleged connections to terrorism. The Secret Service played back the tape and decided that it sounded more like "Tell him."

But they haven't made the tapes public, so the jury is still out on the "Kill him" report. If the rally-goer didn't yell "kill him," the guy yelled something that sounded a lot like it.

"Kill him" makes a lot more sense than "Tell him" in context of Palin's rabble rousing.

still unanswered....how did the mccain campaign's PA spokesperson have the information that he fed to the media BEFORE police had made any statements....this was a nefarious plot by the mccain campaign to ignite racial tensions and attempt to steal the state from obama....absolutely the most horrendous dirty trick in the last 25 years. she claimed previous mental health issues....BS!!!! this was a planned event by the sleaziest campaign this country has seen in decades. good riddance mccain/palin, please don't come back.

To claim that the Obama supporters are "hateful" and part of an "evil movement" just shows ignorance. I can't imagine anything further from the truth, and just because your guy (or woman) isn't going to be sworn in next year doesn't mean you should resort to false claims.

Hillary didn't win this nomination for many reasons, and I think being a woman is about last on the list. I hate to use the "C" word (no, not that one), but people really do want change this year - and I don't mean some nice slogan to put on a lawn-sign but a real change from business as usual. If Hillary had become elected (and re-elected) the Bush and Clinton families would have been "ruling" the United States for nearly three decades...probably not exactly what the founding fathers had in mind.

Compared to Obama, Hillary seemed unexciting; put her up against someone like Kerry however, and she would have had no problem securing the nomination. The fact of the matter is that she ran into a buzz-saw when it came to Obama - he is just the right person for this time in history and gender has nothing to do with that. Saying that Clinton didn't win because of misogyny discounts the work that Obama put in to earning this nomination, not to mention the opinions of millions eager and excited to cast a vote in his direction in November.

Honorable, dignified people like John Lewis and Collin Powell were both angered and revolted in the tone the Palin/McCain campaign has inflicted on our country, and demanded this HATE get tamped down, McCain ignored their recommendations and this case is just where it was feared we'd end up. This could have easily been more tragic if the radio hate jocks had convinced their audience to violent actions towards Blacks.
Mhas run the WORST and UGLIEST campaign in my 55 years,

Did any of the New Yorkers in the crowd in your video scratch letters into their faces and blame it on Republicans?

The clip shows that McCain/Palin marchers got heartily booed in New York City. Shocking, I know. Two sides, expressing free speech on the the streets, without violence or suppression. Got a problem with that?

I just hope the young lady gets the mental help that she needs. Whether she did it out of a sense of desperation, or she thought it somehow would help McCain, she obviously wasn't all there. http://straighttalkonmccain.blogspot.com/

Hey, people - all you negative folks are missing the point here. This incident could have happened - you know..... If it had, what would you be saying now??? Just because it isn't real doesn't make what the girl said not important and it doesn't mean that Obama isn't a socialist or a Islamists because he is a tax and spend one too. Just ask Joe the Plumber.

I've heard that Sarah Palin has already opened up her christian heart and agreed to give the young lady a job as one of her creative speech writers with the directive to "to tell it like it is". Sarah, there's a person who can easily forgive someone's small error in judgement.

If McCain doesn't win in 2008, I will support him for 2016. no matter where he is.

Enjoy the cheetos in your moms's basement, while you're at it.

Posted by: Bemused | October 24, 2008 10:30 PM

Oh yeah!! I've got TWO law licenses and THREE masters degrees. I'm ever so smart. That's why I'm backing John McNuts who's running one of the most disgraceful (and incompetent)campaigns ever.

We are witnessing the Political version of Schwarzeneggers Running Man:

Ladies and Gentleman, we've had Joe the Plumber, Joe Six Pack, Sarah the Pit Veeper, Ayers the Terrorist, even Barack's pal Bush the GOP President. RIP all of them. Now we bring you Ashley the Campaign Volunteer!!!

McCain: This is TV politics, that's all it is. It has nothing to do with people, it's to do with ratings! For fifty years, we've told them what to eat, what to drink, what to wear... for Christ's sake, Barack, don't you understand? Americans love television. They wean their kids on it. Listen. They love game shows, they love wrestling, they love sports and violence. So what do we do? We give 'em *what they want*! We're number one, Barack, that's all that counts, believe me. I've been in the business for thirty years.

Barack: Well John, I may not have been in political game show business for as long as you have. But I'm a quick learner. And right now, I'm going to give the audience what *I* think they want....

For those of you too young to remember, a very similar act was committed by one of the past democratic presidential canidates himself - Al Sharpton. Does the name Tawana Brawley ring any bells? This act is what set this race-baiters career in motion.

http://www.slate.com/id/2087557

Nuts exist on both sides.

As for Mark, who says that the Hugh Hewitt and Mark Steyn have some explaining to do - they were just commenting on a story they probably read off the AP. If there is explaining to do, it should come from the AP reporter.

Bemused...Don't take it all to personal. People just have trouble understanding abandoning all principles for hurt feelings.

THIS WILL MAKE YOU CRY!

A story from an African-American early voter:

For me the most moving moment came when the family in front of me, comprising probably 4 generations of voters (including an 18 year old girl voting for her first time and a 90-something hunched-over grandmother), got their turn to vote. When the old woman left the voting booth she made it about halfway to the door before collapsing in a nearby chair, where she began weeping uncontrollably. When we rushed over to help we realized that she wasn’t in trouble at all but she had not truly believed, until she left the booth, that she would ever live long enough to cast a vote for an African-American for president.

http://themoderatevoice.com/society/minorities/blackafrican-american/23753/hope-votes/

That was a great story about the 90 year old American, voting. That is what can be so great about this country of ours. America is still that beacon of democratic light. she still can have great and better moments, than she is now experiencing !! Senator Obama will make a great President, if America smiles on him and he will allow us to be proud of America, again. Yes, proud again, in particular, after our Bumbling in Baghdad, our monstrous Mortgage Scandals, our disregard towards Environmental destruction, towards nuclear proliferation, just to name a few reasons, why our allies look upon us, in a different way, since the Bush-Cheney administrations !! When those dismal policies are replace by sensible and realistic ones, then America, once again, will be an integral part of our world's community !!
SUPPORT OUR TROOPS, BRING THEM HOME, ALIVE AND WHOLE. NOW.

bob,

you're right, apples and oranges are both fruit.

ignoratio elenchi.

look it up.

"Posted by: Lindsay Beyerstein | October 25, 2008 1:24 AM"

What America must not forget is that McCain, Palin and most of the Christian right wing all believe New York got what they deserved on 9/11. McCain even singled out DC and NYC as un-American cites.
No wonder they got booed.

"Posted by: Lindsay Beyerstein | October 25, 2008 1:24 AM"

What America must not forget is that McCain, Palin and most of the Christian right wing all believe New York got what they deserved on 9/11. McCain even singled out DC and NYC as un-American cites.
No wonder they got booed.

This lady is possibly the most fanatical fan of any politician.

That's even worse than PUMA.