Report: McCain Volunteer Who Claimed "Carved B" Attack Confesses To Making Up Story
Wow. By now you've all heard about Ashley Todd, the 20-year-old McCain volunteer who claimed that she was assaulted in Pittsburgh on Wednesday night by an attacker who scratched a "B" in her cheek after learning that she was for McCain.
The story was flacked madly last night by Drudge, even though few if any details had been established or independently confirmed.
Well, take a look at this banner headline, from Pittsburgh's KDKA:
A Pittsburgh police commander says a volunteer for the McCain campaign who reported being robbed and attacked near a bank ATM in Bloomfield has confessed to making up the story. Police say charges will be filed. More details to follow.
More soon.
Late Update: KDKA's full story has now been posted. It's based on anonymous sources. So it's still unclear what the story is. Stay tuned.
Late Late Update: It's worth keeping in mind what Fox News executive vice president John Moody had to say about what this would mean if this story proved a hoax:
"If the incident turns out to be a hoax, Senator McCain's quest for the presidency is over, forever linked to race-baiting."
Worth keeping an eye on Fox's coverage of the latest turn in the story.
Late Late Late Update: Police are set to hold a press conference to discuss the news, reports the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette.
Latest Update: There are now conflicting reports on whether Todd confessed or police simply concluded the mugging story was a hoax.
Later Than Latest Update: Some extraordinary new details about her confession from the AP:
Ashley Todd, 20-year-old college student from College Station, Texas, admitted Friday that the story was false and was being charged with making a false report to police, said Maurita Bryant, the assistant chief of the police department's investigations division. Police doubted her story from the start, Bryant said.Todd, who is white, told police she was attacked by a 6-foot-4 black man Wednesday night.
She now can't explain why she invented the story, Bryant said. Todd also told police she believes she cut the backward "B" onto her own cheek, but did not provide an explanation of how or why, Bryant said.
This does not surprise me!
October 24, 2008 1:41 PM | Reply | Permalink
That said, I actually feel somewhat bad for McCain. He had nothing to do with this lady doing what she did. Now all of the headlines will connect his name with her deed. "McCain Supporter Lies To Police", "McCain Supporter Charged With Filing False Report", etc.
He's got so many other negative qualities, this is simply piling on... :)
http://thepajamapundit.com/
October 24, 2008 2:00 PM | Reply | Permalink
Why would you be ashamed for the company he keeps?
October 24, 2008 2:06 PM | Reply | Permalink
I don't care about some hysterical attention seeking girl. He just owes the American people an explanation of what his connection to her is.
When the incident was first reported he calimed he called her. How do we know that is the full story.
October 24, 2008 2:09 PM | Reply | Permalink
Here we have a second person that McKKKain has latched upon who has lied about themself.
First Joe the tax evading unlicensed plumber that McCAIN talks about incessantly who did not vote independent but rather voted consistently Republican, but actually McKKKain cares more about Joe Millionaire
and now
The Tawana Brawley of the Republiklan party, a white girl claiming that a black man raped her and disfigured her.
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October 24, 2008 2:58 PM | Reply | Permalink
Except that the McLame camp jumped on this story, claimed to have spoken to her and were using it.
Jeezuz people - you feel sorry for this girl? Do you know what would have happened if some young black male had been nearby and picked up for this? If she stuck to her story, he'd likely go to prison.
Women who pull this shit should be locked up themselves - in asylums.
Just wait til someday you piss off a young girl and she screams: "sexual assault"
October 24, 2008 2:21 PM | Reply | Permalink
Anyone remember Charles Stuart? Being from Boston, this incident has a particular resonance.
October 24, 2008 2:28 PM | Reply | Permalink
Yes, I do! That was a horrendous story...man killing his own pregnant wife and they going to the police station and IDing an innocent black man as the assailant!! At which point, his brother finally found his conscious and refused to be complicit with sending an innocent man to prison and provided details of his brother's own complicity.
What a story. I simply could never figure out what motivated the man to kill his pregnant wife to begin with. Cold blooded killer, when you kill your own flesh and blood there is no place in hell hot enough for charles stuart.
October 24, 2008 3:43 PM | Reply | Permalink
Exactly. This story stank from the beginning so it was incredibly poor judgement for McCain to seize on it, and shows how truly desperate he's become.
Even if it had been true, that McCain would try and link it to the Obama campaign and stir up racism, was utterly shameless.
McCain embraced this wacko just as he's embraced his wacko base.
October 24, 2008 3:44 PM | Reply | Permalink
btw, as despicable as her actions are, I feel kinda sorry for this girl because she's perhaps mentally ill or brainwashed to do such a thing. Not exactly a criminal mastermind either.
All ATMs have security cameras... (duh)
The backwards "B"is odd... Was she assulted by Leonardo Da Vinci? Why not an "O" which is actually the campaign symbol, and symmetric..
A 6'4" scary black man story... he was probably pitch black too... like you could only see his white eyes, white teeth and red lips peering out of the blackness... why not 10' tall? No turban? Perhaps a Zulu shield and spear....
This is one incredibly immoral and premeditated false accusation. It's also one of the stupidest ever.
October 24, 2008 4:03 PM | Reply | Permalink
PS, to clarify though, she obviously has to pay the criminal price for false allegation. She needs jail time and counseling.
I feel sorry for her being a wacko. That doesn't mean she should be set free without consequences.
October 24, 2008 4:10 PM | Reply | Permalink
The girl is flat out racist..which is why she used race to inflame the issue and hurt Obama.
She is nothing but a racist. Those are the only type of folks who make up shyt and blame blacks as the perpetrators...racist born and bred.
October 24, 2008 4:13 PM | Reply | Permalink
I agree, a 23 year old should know better than to make up racial violence stories, someone could have gotten hurt. That said, to my mind McCain is the one who needs his message to get out if he's going to change the race and anything that fills up the news hole and blocks his message is a good thing for us.
October 24, 2008 4:15 PM | Reply | Permalink
Thanks Tena,
It is true. No subject has been historically more inflammatory in this nation's history a than that of a white female aggressed by a black male, and the number of black males who have consequently suffered the "to kill a mockingbird" fate is frightening. This woman played with the worst of the worst of incendiary racist cards all for political purposes.
October 24, 2008 4:43 PM | Reply | Permalink
What seems to me to be the most frightening thing about this incident is not the obviously deranged woman who perpetrated the crime, though her motive is obviously a huge problem incitement...
However, anyone looking at the photo of the "incident" and seeing the backwards B needed to take a step back and say waitaminutehere!! To my mind what makes this really frightening is the idea that the right-wing echo chamber so willingly went along for the ride...
Even as the evidence that something wasn't right here is a plain as day in the photo!
Let us hope this Bust Story prevents other incidents of this type - but be on guard in any event.
October 24, 2008 5:06 PM | Reply | Permalink
Frightening indeed, but sadly not at all surprising.
October 24, 2008 5:11 PM | Reply | Permalink
"He had nothing to do with this lady doing what she did."
Are you quite certain of that?
October 24, 2008 4:07 PM | Reply | Permalink
What makes you think McCain/Palin had nothing to do with this young lady's misadventure? For weeks they have been inciting violence and preaching hatred of Obama. They created the climate of fear and distrust that led to this incident. McCain has a lot to answer for in this incident.
October 24, 2008 4:38 PM | Reply | Permalink
I don't feel that bad, he released the hounds so to speak.
I am trying to set up a blog on here and update my profiel and all I ever get is a screen asking for username and password over and over again...any tips?
October 24, 2008 6:09 PM | Reply | Permalink
I smelled a rat from the beginning. Muggers that care about politics? Hell, they are all in the Bush administration!
They carved a B into the face of the Nation!
October 24, 2008 2:09 PM | Reply | Permalink
Why a "B"?
October 24, 2008 2:23 PM | Reply | Permalink
B for Bush.
October 24, 2008 2:36 PM | Reply | Permalink
She probably should have gone with the "O". Reduces the chance of getting it backwards.
October 24, 2008 3:27 PM | Reply | Permalink
Don't give her any ideas!
October 24, 2008 4:02 PM | Reply | Permalink
So she carved a 'B' into her own face? Talk about craving attention . . .
October 24, 2008 1:42 PM | Reply | Permalink
Craved is a strong word, more like scratched.
October 24, 2008 1:43 PM | Reply | Permalink
This young woman has lost her damned mind. Seriously. I hope she's punished for this.
And then I hope she seeks professional help. I'm serious. This is not all rational. This is lunancy and she's a danger to herself and others.
October 24, 2008 1:52 PM | Reply | Permalink
I think you could say this is an extreme case of projection!
October 24, 2008 2:08 PM | Reply | Permalink
She is at least a danger to herself OR others. But if it's either self or others, we must assume AND others.
What she did is extreme. It is wise to view her actions as extreme.
October 24, 2008 10:02 PM | Reply | Permalink
Most cats scratch deeper than that when they aren't even trying.
October 24, 2008 2:01 PM | Reply | Permalink
That's the first thing I thought when I saw the picture last night, that her face was only scratched, not cut. (I've gotten far worse scratches trimmming shrubbery!) And that it was suspicious that the "B" was the wrong way around.
So I was wondering from the start if it wasn't a Tawana Brawley-type of hoax, at least so far as the face-cutting went (somebody obviously hit the girl in the face), but at the time I hesitated to say so without knowing more actual facts about the case.
October 24, 2008 2:21 PM | Reply | Permalink
I'm not convinced anyone hit her in the face, and it's not simply a bad makeup job. Look at her eye. It's black, but not swollen, and her eyeball isn't red like it was part of the trauma.
I got popped in the eye in a football mishap and my eyeball was bloodshot and you could tell from looking at one eye as compared to the other that it was swollen, as well.
Whatever.
October 24, 2008 2:37 PM | Reply | Permalink
It's eye shadow. I've seen enough black eyes in my life to know what they look like. That is eye shadow.
October 24, 2008 2:51 PM | Reply | Permalink
Do you remember Joe Pine?
Years ago a right winger talk radio / TV guy was down in his ratings, and in a train station or bus station he went to the men's room where he claimed to have been beat up by a gang. They supposedly carved or painted a swastika on his forehead. He syuffered from the same ailment as this young lady. Used a mirror in order to place it just right, but forgetting that the mirror reverses the image.
October 24, 2008 4:11 PM | Reply | Permalink
I think the B is backward because she did it in a mirror. Which shows how brilliant her forethought was.
I'm not saying she wasn't punched in the eye, because she most assuredly was. Maybe she was mugged and decided after to turn it into a "black thugs are out to get us" statement.
October 24, 2008 2:38 PM | Reply | Permalink
No kidding. A real criminal mastermind.
That McCain/Palin actually called to console her... and didn't have the sense to be even a little skeptical, now THAT is stupid.
October 24, 2008 5:11 PM | Reply | Permalink
Can we compromise on "engraved"?
October 24, 2008 2:42 PM | Reply | Permalink
Etched...?
October 24, 2008 3:24 PM | Reply | Permalink
Talk about carving attention!
October 24, 2008 1:53 PM | Reply | Permalink
LOL
October 24, 2008 1:54 PM | Reply | Permalink
"Lying is the most fun a girl can have without taking her cloths off, but its better if you do."
Female
23 years old
College Station, Texas
United States
_____
The above is from her blog. "Lying is fun" is sine qua non for Republican.
October 24, 2008 1:56 PM | Reply | Permalink
You know that College Station is the home of: Texas A & M - the Aggies - and Poppy's presidential library.
October 24, 2008 1:58 PM | Reply | Permalink
Of course they caught her. "How do you get a one armed Aggie out of a tree? Wave."
October 24, 2008 2:13 PM | Reply | Permalink
That sounds like a bad blond joke! :-)
October 24, 2008 2:34 PM | Reply | Permalink
You know how many Aggies it takes to screw in a light bulb? Ten - one to hold the lightbulb and the other nine to turn the room.
October 24, 2008 3:06 PM | Reply | Permalink
No, I didn't know that. What strikes me is the loose morals -- beginning with the "lying as fun" and then lying while naked being even more fun.
This whole episode is sick, and we see with phone calls McPalin were working to exploit it for partisan political/racist gain.
October 24, 2008 2:21 PM | Reply | Permalink
No, I didn't know that. What strikes me is the loose morals -- beginning with the "lying as fun" and then lying while naked being even more fun.
This whole episode is sick, and we see with phone calls McPalin were working to exploit it for partisan political/racist gain.
October 24, 2008 2:23 PM | Reply | Permalink
Quadruple post, wow. You must be in serious need of suitable nodes . . .
October 24, 2008 2:30 PM | Reply | Permalink
No, I didn't know that. What strikes me is the loose morals -- beginning with the "lying as fun" and then lying while naked being even more fun.
This whole episode is sick, and we see with phone calls McPalin were working to exploit it for partisan political/racist gain.
October 24, 2008 2:24 PM | Reply | Permalink
No, I didn't know that. What strikes me is the loose morals -- beginning with the "lying as fun" and then lying while naked being even more fun.
This whole episode is sick, and we see with phone calls McPalin were working to exploit it for partisan political/racist gain.
October 24, 2008 2:26 PM | Reply | Permalink
You know, I was laughing until I read this post.
She is one seriuosly sick puppy. Damn.
I remember in one of Chris Rocks old stand-ups, he asked, "Whatever happened to crazy?"
Well, we have an answer.
October 24, 2008 2:12 PM | Reply | Permalink
I was coming out of Starbucks this afternoon when a big fat hillbilly ran over to me and knocked my half-caf soy latte out of my hand and said "You look like an Obama supporter, I'm going to teach you to support McCain". Then he knocked me to the ground and pulled out a swiss army knife. "I'm going to carve an 'M' in your face, liberal," he insisted, and then he paused,"How do you spell, 'M'" , he asked. "Well, then, I'm going to make you squeal like a pig..."
Or, maybe I just dreamed this at my desk after lunch. I did doze off for a moment...it is SO HARD to tell dreams from reality, these days.
October 24, 2008 2:48 PM | Reply | Permalink
OK--that is the third screen I've gone through today. . .
October 24, 2008 4:43 PM | Reply | Permalink
The best part of that story was that it reminded me of one of my husband's platoon sergeants (a SFC, mind you) who was making up the training schedule for the next week. When he got to the block he wanted to fill in for physical training he turned to my husband and said, "Murphy, how do you spell PT?"
LMAO!!!!!!!
October 24, 2008 4:47 PM | Reply | Permalink
And she must have carved it while looking in a mirror without realizing the image would be reversed.
This person is sick and/or stupid.
October 24, 2008 2:18 PM | Reply | Permalink
One of the cardinal rules of criminal face carving is to go with the 'O' whenever possible.
October 24, 2008 3:19 PM | Reply | Permalink
somewhere susan smith is smiling
October 24, 2008 1:43 PM | Reply | Permalink
hahaha!
That's all.
October 24, 2008 1:43 PM | Reply | Permalink
seconded.
October 24, 2008 1:51 PM | Reply | Permalink
And McCain can thank Matt Drudge for officially obliterating his campaign because of this incident!
YAYYYYY!!!!!!
October 24, 2008 1:43 PM | Reply | Permalink
THIS IS EXCELLENT NEWS!! FOR MCCAIN!!!
October 24, 2008 1:44 PM | Reply | Permalink
THIS IS EXCELLENT NEWS FOR MATT DRUDGE !!!
October 24, 2008 1:53 PM | Reply | Permalink
Excellent news for truth, justice, and American pie.
October 24, 2008 1:57 PM | Reply | Permalink
As of this moment, Drudge has yet to acknowledge this development. It must be hard to let go.
October 24, 2008 2:03 PM | Reply | Permalink
It's up now. hee hee.
October 24, 2008 2:11 PM | Reply | Permalink
Why isn't it in huge letters with red font?
October 24, 2008 3:02 PM | Reply | Permalink
In all fairness, he had it in red at first; but not for long.
October 24, 2008 3:41 PM | Reply | Permalink
Welcome back, my friend!
October 24, 2008 2:08 PM | Reply | Permalink
Can you say:
"The GOP just stepped into deep do-do?"
I knew you could!
October 24, 2008 1:44 PM | Reply | Permalink
I was so busy yesterday with other things that I did not get much chance to listen to the news. Did this story get much coverage? If not, then I am not sure that the follow-up will get much coverage either. It seems to me that this is not likely to hurt McCain's chances much. Not that it matters, he is tanking anyway. At the rate that he is flaming out right now, I doubt that this story, even if widely circulated, could accelerate the rate of his decline much.
October 24, 2008 1:49 PM | Reply | Permalink
It got a fair amount of coverage. Drudge was all over it, naturally (and, to my surprise, Malkin was very dubious), and it did make the CNN web site.
But I think the hoax story will get more play than the original story did.
October 24, 2008 1:54 PM | Reply | Permalink
It was getting coverage this morning on MSNBC. "Shocking story of a McCain campaign volunteer being attacked", blah, blah, blah.
I tend to think the hoax is probably going to get more coverage.
Funny, when you consider it. This is the McCain camp's chance to shine with Obama out of the spotlight. It would be ludicrous beyond words if this story becomes THE story on this Friday.
October 24, 2008 1:59 PM | Reply | Permalink
I think so too. Hoax with race baiting from a desperate campaign is a kind of story that gets more play -- plus, those news organizations that were played will try to "redeem themselves" which may lead to more coverage about this.
October 24, 2008 2:03 PM | Reply | Permalink
Two make up stories in one day. Priceless.
October 24, 2008 2:16 PM | Reply | Permalink
I can't believe so many picked up this story. Didn't Dan Rather teach them anything? sheesh.
October 24, 2008 3:44 PM | Reply | Permalink
Great supporters you have there, John.
October 24, 2008 1:44 PM | Reply | Permalink
Just as Obama should not be blamed for the fake mugger, McCain should not be blamed for the actions of this stupid girl.
October 24, 2008 1:46 PM | Reply | Permalink
Huh?
October 24, 2008 1:52 PM | Reply | Permalink
Huh what? McCainiacs have been saying since this story came out that Obama is somehow to blame for this or his "supporters". It is a ridiculous argument.
Just as ridiculous is linking the actions of this girl to McCain, his campaign, or his mainstream supporters.
October 24, 2008 1:58 PM | Reply | Permalink
I don't recall the blog (may have been Ambinders or Smith), but they were reporting that the McCain camp was pushing the story behind the scenes. So yes, they do deserve some of the blame here.
October 24, 2008 2:00 PM | Reply | Permalink
If true, then the McCain camp does deserve blame.
However, I still fail to see how I should somehow associate this person's actions in with the general McCain supporter population.
October 24, 2008 2:03 PM | Reply | Permalink
+1
October 24, 2008 6:10 PM | Reply | Permalink
It becomes linked to the campaign when jerks like Matt Drudge decide to make it front page material giving much more publicity than needed be unfortunately.
If Drudge Report hadn't linked it, and Right Wing radio hadn't all brought it up, then it would be a non issue.
October 24, 2008 2:04 PM | Reply | Permalink
Agreed, to an extent.
McCain isn't responsible for what this obviously disturbed person did, but neither is he completely guilt-free. Palin spent the better part of a week whipping up frenzy among supporters at rallies. McCain himself stood by while one of his "supporters" labeled Obama a terrorist. He could have spoken out more forcefully and at length, and he chose not to. That sends a signal to all his followers.
No, he didn't perpetrate this hoax. But his behavior may have contributed to an environment in which someone would think this hoax would be believed.
October 24, 2008 2:05 PM | Reply | Permalink
Finally, the real CT is back...did you just say McCain and Palin may be partially responsible for the actions of an obvious nut cases craving for attention?
October 24, 2008 2:11 PM | Reply | Permalink
If CT isn't I am. But then again, unlike you, I don't make excuses for racists who stir up racism then deny responsibility when someone acts on the stirrings-up/permission to bbe and act on the racism.
Then again, I'm not Republican, so I'm not a liar as a matter of course who, as result of pretending to be stupid as a regular practice end up being actually stupid.
October 24, 2008 2:18 PM | Reply | Permalink
Co-Sign.
they jumped with both feet into this story - McLame claimed that he and Cindy spoke with her and they were using this -
They got themselves involved. Again.
October 24, 2008 2:29 PM | Reply | Permalink
Co-co-sign.
October 24, 2008 2:31 PM | Reply | Permalink
"don't make excuses for racists who stir up racism then deny responsibility when someone acts on the stirrings-up/permission to bbe and act on the racism."
So McCain and Palin are racists...and they're out stirring up racism...are you one of those left wing nut jobs who claim all Republicans are racists, or just the ones who haven't endorsed Obama?...and what are the Independents and Democrats who aren't voting for TheOne?
October 24, 2008 2:32 PM | Reply | Permalink
Yes.
Yes.
You're pretty sharp today, SFC.
October 24, 2008 2:43 PM | Reply | Permalink
Actually, as to McCain, I think the answers are "no" and "yes."
I think McCain's racism is limited to Southeast Asians. But being a non-racist who's complicit in race-baiting is worse than being a racist who does so.
October 24, 2008 5:22 PM | Reply | Permalink
No. I'm saying they're responsible for the fostering of such an atmosphere that this nutcase thought a hoax like this would play.
Words have consequences, SFC. This young woman is disturbed. But McCain and Palin are not blameless, either.
October 24, 2008 2:20 PM | Reply | Permalink
I kind of think election season gets that 'atmosphere' going for everyone. Here in ABQ, campaign signs go missing the first night they go up. Someone sprays swastikas on other campaign signs. Ads from both nimrods (in NM-01, I'm starting to think BOTH campaigns are run by nimrods) spew a bunch of crap, innuendo, and outright lies. There's a lot of craziness out here, and that's what this season brings.
Yes, maybe Palin and McCain went with it a little when some crazies started shouting idiocy. But this girls actions are her own. I'm just glad this moron didn't try something much worse.
I kinda think that we are in for a big change in our country, no matter who wins. the atmosphere's crazy. We all can feel it, so maybe we're all drinking the Kool Aid a little bit.
October 24, 2008 3:39 PM | Reply | Permalink
Yep. It is not McCain's fault. However, Palin spending all that money on a make-up artist may have had something to do...Well, mabe it was like the poor mom in SC who let her babies drown in the car that she backed into the lake. Come to think of it, Newt Gingrich used that to call for the election of a Republican Congress.
October 24, 2008 2:21 PM | Reply | Permalink
SFC Wallace - if you really are/were a SFC - you would know a commanding officer is responsible for the actions of those people under their command. McCain has gone out of his way to state he has the necessary command leadership qualities to be commander-in-chief, not Obama. So regardless of the mental stability of the person in question, McCain is ultimately responsible for the actions of the people campaigning for him. It's his responsibility to ensure all team members are capable of performing tasks they are give to move his campaign forward. If anyone fails to perform in a professional manner, McCain is the one who must answer for their failure.
October 24, 2008 2:35 PM | Reply | Permalink
"a commanding officer is responsible for the actions of those people under their command."
So you're saying Barack Obama is personally resposible for all of y'alls actions (including the nutty stuff you post daily)?
P.S. If you had any sort of military (or other experience that has a chain of command) background you'd realize how utterly stupid your claim was before you typed it...I guess that's Barach's fault too...huh?
October 24, 2008 2:45 PM | Reply | Permalink
Obviously the SFC is just but a hereditary title...you never earned the stripes. You have no understanding of command responsibility.
October 24, 2008 2:52 PM | Reply | Permalink
Actually you are the one who is confused...Command responsibility, in this case, could reasonably be attached to all of his campaigns paid staffers. They are agents of the campaign and could reasonably be considered to be working under the direction of McCain's staff. Had this girl been a paid staffer or a voulunteer working thw hoax with a staffer then McCain's "chain" would be responsible. Depending on the severity of the offense (meaning how high up the chain any knowlege of the hoax went) an appropriately high enough official would pay the price. McCain would also have to properly appologize for the acts of his subordinate. This will most likely just turn out to be a lone attention seeking nut job who was more about getting attention than getting out the vote in PA, so a sypathetic expression of concern for her well being (that says politely that she was a nut case for making the outlandish accusations) will suffice.
October 24, 2008 3:00 PM | Reply | Permalink
You ever frag one of your looies?
October 24, 2008 6:22 PM | Reply | Permalink
And that's the point I'm trying to make all along. The "SFC" is a fraud. End of story.
October 24, 2008 3:15 PM | Reply | Permalink
I agree, HUH?? The mugger was a figment of her imagination, the girl is real!! How can you equate them? She admitted she did it to help McCain! Now maybe McCain shouldn't really be "blamed" for the actions of one woman who is probably suffering from borderline personality disorder, but the culture he and Palin created surely led to this kind of "anything goes" mentality.
October 24, 2008 2:05 PM | Reply | Permalink
I'm equating the behavior of the wingnuts pre-hoax to the bahavior of some members of this board post-hoax.
October 24, 2008 2:11 PM | Reply | Permalink
She crossed that border a looong time ago . . .
October 24, 2008 2:18 PM | Reply | Permalink
It becomes linked to the campaign when jerks like Matt Drudge decide to make it front page material giving much more publicity than needed be unfortunately.
If Drudge Report hadn't linked it, and Right Wing radio hadn't all brought it up, then it would be a non issue.
October 24, 2008 2:06 PM | Reply | Permalink
"Just as ridiculous is linking the actions of this girl to McCain, his campaign, or his mainstream supporters."
What "mainstream supporters"? The moderates have been fleeing McCain like it's the Lusitania right after the explosion. All that's left of his base are the wingnuts. And McCain hasn't had the moxie to tell them to shut up. Therefore we have to assume that McCain has embraced the flat-earth brigade.
The antebellum south will rise again!
October 24, 2008 2:06 PM | Reply | Permalink
A good amount of his base supporters are fringe type people. But there are many many people who are the "limited government", "low taxes" type who are secular. I think they are making a mistake supporting McCain, however, in general I do not find these people to be wingnuts.
October 24, 2008 2:14 PM | Reply | Permalink
Like Civilization, I think Conservatism is a great idea, I wish someone would try it someday. Republican Conservatism is National Socialism wrapped in a flag, waving a bible and produced on an airtight soundstage by Disney. Taxes are rotten, except when they are funding the Military Industrial Complex or the Prison Industry. These "Real Americans" aren't racist, they're just against "welfare mothers" and "rising crime." Reagan got huge applause from the base for promising to cripple government, then made sure it only served the interests of big business. Result: free base and Oliver North on talk radio instead of in jail.
October 24, 2008 2:23 PM | Reply | Permalink
Current Republicant conservatism is corporate fascism. The power brokers of the GOP only care about how to line their pockets with money, period. The biggest dupes backing the Republicant party are the religious wing-nuts. A true grand old payoff doesn't give a shit about a 'moral majority', or evangelical anything, or right to life backer. All these groups are placated every election cycle by tripping their 'hot' button and like dedicated sheeple, they fall right in line.
What's going to be really entertaining is watching them eat themselves. True political theater at it's finest!
October 24, 2008 5:12 PM | Reply | Permalink
"All that's left of his base are the wingnuts."
You don't get it, the moderates were McCain's base...us "wing-nuts" are just stuck ewith him.
October 24, 2008 2:14 PM | Reply | Permalink
So what you guys need to do is re-gain control of your own party . . .
and maybe teach 'em to respect principle above person or party.
I live in an allegedly conservative place--but I get accused of being a socialist prisoner if I point out that the Defense spending that is essential to the survival of my town is "redistributing wealth" . . .
October 24, 2008 2:36 PM | Reply | Permalink
Defense spending isn't redistributing wealth, taxation for the vital activities of government is required. It's even acceptable for nonvital funtions that society agree need to be addressed. Taking money through taxation and cutting a check to your constituents is "sharing the wealth" Obama style and that is when he gets accussed of socialism.
October 24, 2008 2:52 PM | Reply | Permalink
Please show me where Obama has said he will give money to people who don't work. A middle-class tax cut does not equate with welfare.
October 24, 2008 3:08 PM | Reply | Permalink
It's not a tax cut for the 40% who pay zero tax....you can chop zero up as many times as you want and it's still zero.
October 24, 2008 3:30 PM | Reply | Permalink
Exactly. It's zero. If you don't pay tax, you don't get the benefits of a tax cut. He is not handing out money to everyone.
You have jumped on the strange 40% thing without thinking about it. Obama said 95% of working Americans, but once he said 95% of Americans and the wingnuts jumped on it.
But please show me how a tax cut can benefit someone who makes zero dollars in taxable income.
October 24, 2008 3:44 PM | Reply | Permalink
Dude, that's the point, 40% of working Americans pay zero income tax. which leaves 60% of working Americans...he's calling a "Tax Credit" (or check) a tax cut and sending it to the 40% that pay zero, hence it isn't a cut it's a check directly out of another guys pocket...that is redistribution.
October 24, 2008 3:50 PM | Reply | Permalink
It is not a check. Tax credits only work when you have a taxable income to apply to them. My student tax credits had zero value until I applied an income to them. I could not take my tax credit and get a check cut from the government.
Please research how tax credits work and how you NEED a taxable income for them to have an effect.
October 24, 2008 4:08 PM | Reply | Permalink
You guys are talking past each other because SFC is using the common conservative argument that somehow only income taxes matter. Those 40% of workers that don't pay income taxes still have social security taxes withheld, and those people are part of the 95% of workers whose taxes will be lowered by Obama's plan.
So yes, those 40% who pay no income tax will still get more money back, and yes, it is still because it is a tax break, just on a different kind of taxes. SFC is trying to spin that as giving money to people who pay no taxes, but only because he is trying to treat income taxes as the only kind that counts when he says that.
October 24, 2008 5:22 PM | Reply | Permalink
I'm going to (oh, God, I can't believe I'm going to say this) come to bat for SFC Wallace on this and say that he's one of the few mainstream supporters they have left. He's a military man who's been in for a while (based on rank) and they usually don't let wingnuts rise that high in rank.
Now if you want to say mainstream media even Faux is starting to pull back on them a little. . .
October 24, 2008 3:00 PM | Reply | Permalink
Oops--meant to close the italics after "media".
D'oh!
October 24, 2008 3:04 PM | Reply | Permalink
SFC is a SFC because he has no class...He should have been at least a SGM after 20 years if he had any ability...Enough said.
Just call him NFC from now on.
October 24, 2008 3:04 PM | Reply | Permalink
You've obviously been out for awhile...not many SGM's at the 20 year mark...there are some 1SG's depending on your MOS but SFC at 20 ain't that bad anymore.
October 24, 2008 3:45 PM | Reply | Permalink
Thanks
October 24, 2008 3:56 PM | Reply | Permalink
I'm not blaming McCain, I'm just saying his supporters are lunatics.
October 24, 2008 2:19 PM | Reply | Permalink
This particular supporter is a lunatic.
I think we should try to rise above. Try to think WWOD?
October 24, 2008 2:24 PM | Reply | Permalink
But I can't fly to Hawaii right now!
Okay, David Frum, you've actually have got a rational point there. Still, as one of those disgruntled folks that got downsized by a Bushie, please allow me to bath in all this schadenfreude while it's still flying about and I've got nothing but free time on my hands and a high-speed internet connection that enables me to screed at the speed of light.
October 24, 2008 2:33 PM | Reply | Permalink
You think I'm a troll? Sad.
October 24, 2008 2:36 PM | Reply | Permalink
No, I don't think you're a troll. I do think that David Frum made the right point, but he made it in the wrong place. He should have started his dialog concerning extreme speech on O'Reilly and then moved on to Olbermann---Rachel Maddow is a pussycat in comparison. Actually, Frank Luntz struck me as rational and reasonable during his appearance on Real Time last week and Bill Maher should have thanked him for pointing out that Obama is winning because he is reasonable, doesn't air his grudges or even seem to have any grudges. WWOD is a reasonable thing to say and you are no troll.
On the other hand, I just might be a tasmanian devil.
October 24, 2008 2:57 PM | Reply | Permalink
A bit of an obscure reference then, but I see where you're going with it.
However, if I had a chance to go on BillO's show I would probably end up punching him out.
October 24, 2008 3:02 PM | Reply | Permalink
I know the feeling all too well. I've started to get a similar reaction when Olbermann attempts an impersonation of O'Reilly.
October 24, 2008 3:10 PM | Reply | Permalink
Let's blame McPalin anyway, since they gave permission to their followers to be lying sociopaths.
October 24, 2008 2:00 PM | Reply | Permalink
I remember that from the convention speech...wasn't that the line right before "fight with me?"
October 24, 2008 2:16 PM | Reply | Permalink
I agree. If her original story was true the attacker was a psycho. If it turns out her story is BS (full story not out yet, only "police sources") then she is a psycho.
Either way this should be irrelevant to both campaigns. Of course I'm sure it will get lots of coverage and people will use it to fan the flames of hate.
Watch how Obama deals with it and note that his rising above stuff like this is what makes him great presidential material.
October 24, 2008 2:01 PM | Reply | Permalink
Obama doesn't have to deal with it because its' not his problem...it's McCain's.
October 24, 2008 2:16 PM | Reply | Permalink
You've got a point. All the blame should be on her.
October 24, 2008 2:10 PM | Reply | Permalink
Back up a moment there, mate. He draws them to him. Therefore, he has is the one responsible for their actions.
Think of this as a commanding officer who is responsible for the actions of his ship and the personnel under his command. After all, McCain says he has the command leadership ability to be commander-in-chief so he has to take the bad with the good.
October 24, 2008 2:13 PM | Reply | Permalink
Thats the kind of crap argument the wingnuts use for Ayers-Obama. Obama chose to associate with him, therefore he is responsible for Ayers actions. Or, Obama "draws" these type of people towards him (Ayers, Rezko) therefore he is responsible for their actions. Stupid argument.
October 24, 2008 2:19 PM | Reply | Permalink
McCain's folks dredged up the Ayres attack as a crypto-racist slur. The 'red meat' base ate it up, and then the Schmidt-heads expanded operations in search of new and increasingly creepy ways of playing out the racist subtext in these campaigns. In the process they opened up a national dialog on identity politics and definitions of words like "terrorist" and what it means to be a "real American."
Upshot: It really is the GOP's fault and they deserve every bit of denigration they're basking in right now.
October 24, 2008 2:47 PM | Reply | Permalink
The GOP deserve all the fallout they get for running a dishonest and scurrilous campaign that tried to link Obama to terrorism.
Whats that have to do with this?
And why are you engaging me? You think I'm a troll.
October 24, 2008 2:50 PM | Reply | Permalink
You're no troll. The point I'm making [using your remarks as a jumping off point---not the same as attacking you] is that most of what has been happening with the McCain collapse is due to attempting to exploit racism without ever invoking race directly.
October 24, 2008 3:03 PM | Reply | Permalink
I agree.
October 24, 2008 3:10 PM | Reply | Permalink
question, will drudge make it top headline?
October 24, 2008 1:44 PM | Reply | Permalink
BTW, this has nothing to do with this, but I thought everyone would find this funny and entertaining...
http://www.thelocal.se/15138.html
October 24, 2008 1:45 PM | Reply | Permalink
merci beaucoups pour ceci
October 24, 2008 1:50 PM | Reply | Permalink
Well, it makes me glad that foreign countries can enjoy the same sort of elevated discourse that can be found in the U.S. Bravo!
October 24, 2008 1:55 PM | Reply | Permalink
Do you think the Hockey Moms chipped in their personal stash?
October 24, 2008 2:13 PM | Reply | Permalink
Ewww . . .
October 24, 2008 2:24 PM | Reply | Permalink
That's the best thing about being over here. The locals are kewl!
October 24, 2008 2:42 PM | Reply | Permalink
I work with a Swede and forwarded the link to her. She thought it was hilarious and told me that the team responsible for the "shower" is notorious for pulling stunts like this--they're the Swedish version of red necks is the way she put it.
October 24, 2008 3:40 PM | Reply | Permalink
The thing that bothers me is the racism plastered all over her story. Black Male 200lb 6'4". Every white girl's nightmare. Reminds me of the Racist "runaway bride" from Georgia. "B" indeed.
October 24, 2008 1:45 PM | Reply | Permalink
I thought she was trying to describe Obama actually, in a weird sort of way.
October 24, 2008 2:00 PM | Reply | Permalink
Then her observation powers are a bit off, 'cause O isn't that tall and is way skinnier than that.
October 24, 2008 2:10 PM | Reply | Permalink
Well yeah!
That's the entire goddamn point - this is race-baiting, big time.
October 24, 2008 2:06 PM | Reply | Permalink
Runaway bride? Try the original:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jesse_Anderson
October 24, 2008 2:30 PM | Reply | Permalink
P.S. TPM: Please fix the broken/slow commenting. It's been going on for months.
October 24, 2008 2:55 PM | Reply | Permalink