GOP Claim Dem Operatives Planned To Leak Foley Story Before Vote

[AtomicKitten]

Bait and switch, bright shiny objects to distract their voters so they turn out and vote. The implication is that the Dems knew and covered it up to use for political purposes rather than saving the children (gag). They are trying to mitigate blame. The GOP is hitting this hard. The Ethics Committee says it will take ONE YEAR to release their findings. In the interim, the GOP will talk this up on the tee-vee circuit and the MSM will be more than happy to comply with muddying the waters.

Be careful shrugging this off. This is being done to get the fundies to come to the polls. If the fundie vote is suppressed, we win in a landslide. With election fraud still rampant, we need to win in a landslide. DEMOCRATS MUST STAY ON MESSAGE.

Report: Foley story was 'supposed to drop just before election'

RAW STORY http://www.rawstory.com/news/2006/Report_Foley_story_was_supposed_to_1010.html
Published: Tuesday October 10, 2006

A story appearing in the American Spectator claims that news of then-Congressman Mark Foley's (R-FL) inappropriate communication with pages was supposed to be released by Democratic "party operatives" at Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington or American Family Voices just ten days prior to the election.

C.R.E.W. has contended that they received Foley emails many months ago, and turned what they had over to law enforcement, rather than passing it along to journalists.

The Washington Post reported that the RNC has issued "talking points" which spotlight Democratic connections to both groups.

"The RNC is shipping reams of information to conservative radio hosts, television commentators and bloggers," Jim VandeHei and Chris Cillizza wrote for the Post. "Those GOP talking points detail the Democratic connections of groups including the Center for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington and American Family Voices, which are working to turn the scandal into an issue with national implications."

Full American Spectator article here http://www.spectator.org/util/print.asp?art_id=10469

Excerpt:

Saved by Foley
By The Prowler
Published 10/10/2006 12:08:15 AM


One of the stories going around Democrat Party circles is that party operatives like Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington (CREW) and American Family Voices weren't quite ready for primetime with the opposition research materials they had gathered for the 2006 election cycle.

According to one political consultant with ties to the DNC and other party organizations, "I'm hearing the Foley story wasn't supposed to drop until about ten days out of the election. It was supposed the coup de grace, not the first shot."

So why the rush? According to another DNC operative: bad polling numbers across the country. "Bush's national security speeches were getting traction beyond the base, gas prices were dropping, economic outlook surveys were positive. We were seeing bad Democratic numbers in Missouri, Michigan, Washington, Arizona, Florida Pennsylvania, even parts of New York," says the operative. "A month before, we were looking at launching an offensive against Republicans who according to polling barely held a five-seat majority if the election were to be held at the end of August. That was doable for Democrats from September 1 to November 7. But by mid-September, Republicans were back to having held seats for a 15-seat majority. In the Senate, it looked like a wash. We held seats in Florida, Nebraska, picked up seats in Pennsylvania, but that that was about it. They were holding in Missouri and possibly within reach of Maryland and Washington. We were looking at a disaster in the making."

So how to remedy? "You pull out the bright shiny things that distract the average American voter away from the issues we all know they care about -- national security, anti-terrorism -- and focus on the ugly: Foley and Iraq."

[tk2kewl]

1. Whereas GOP operatives planned to cover it up indefinitely.

:rofl:

[AtomicKitten]

6. the implication is that the Dems knew and covered it up

[tk2kewl]

16. just long enough... rather than 4eva

[liberal N proud]

7. Yes they did and now they are mad because they got caught

[babylonsister]

2. Their 'outrage' is so ironic. What would the reaction be if the shoe

was on the other foot?
Not that I believe a Dem leaked any of this, and Brian Ross has said just that.

[Atman]

3. So, it's ethically irresponsible to leak info about perverts in the ranks?

Is this really their talking point? Is this what they're running with? "Sure, we molest boys, but the democrats are irresponsible for saying so?"

Go for, you fat pervert fuckheads! Bring it on!

-

[Debs]

47. Its their first line of defense

Remember the problem wasnt that people were tortured at Abu Ghraib it was that CBS TOLD Americans about the torture, the problem wasnt that Bush was wiretapping Americans without warrants it was that NYTimes EXPOSED the warrantless wiretapping. The problem is ALWAYS the people who rat out the MAFIA bosses its never the bosses. The problem isnt the bankrobber its the reporter who reported the bank robbery. These guys arent really that creative they sell the same garbage over and over

[Lerkfish]

4. Even if that were true, isn't fortuitous manipulative timing THEIR area?

I mean, c'mon, even Ridge says the terra alerts were politically timed.

[SharonAnn]

28. That wouldn't do much good in Tennessee since 50% of voters will

have voted early by 10 days before Election Day.

We start Early Voting on Wednesday, October 18th and it runs through November 2nd. 50% of total voters will have voted by October 28th.

[proud2BlibKansan]

5. American Spectator

Yeah right.

[AtomicKitten]

11. Bait and Switch - an old tyme GOP tactic

"The RNC is shipping reams of information to conservative radio hosts, television commentators and bloggers"

Muddy the waters with bright shiny objects.

[proud2BlibKansan]

26. BTW,

Love that sig pic. "I'm crushing your head!!" LOLOLOL

[AtomicKitten]

31. I have the GOP in mind ...

tee-hee

[WCGreen]

23. All it has to do is be published...

And then the GOP can claim, according to published reports...

[AtomicKitten]

35. thank you

sometimes I wonder if people here forget how these bastards operate

[formercia]

8. So they made a preemptive strike

by releasing it themselves. What a hoot. :evilgrin:

[sweetheart]

9. GOP claim "sky is bright purple."

GOP claim "Clinton's penis is 10 feet tall."

GOP claim "IRRRAAq is a demokrassy", yea.

[MaineDem]

10. Hasn't this been debunked by CREW? n/t

[bigdarryl]

12. Lets take everything they say is true SO WHAT!!

As Imus said on his show so what the Dem's released it that's what there supposed to do. and it still doesn't explain why they(Republicans) never released the info. and Imus is a republican

[AtomicKitten]

29. they're working the fundie vote because that will make a difference

suppression of that vote will make a huge difference to us

be careful disregarding the implications of this ... it is important that the Democrats stay on message

[warrens]

13. This is disinformation

No Dem "operative" would talk that way.

[GumboYaYa]

14. This is typical Rove....

run straight at what your opponent accuses you of...It is the swiftboating of Kerry to cover draft dodging George all over again.

The Republicans covered up information that endangered children...wel, then accuse the Democrats of doing the same thing.

My guess is that his dog won't hunt this time. The Repubs fed the monster of hate against gays and now they are going to be the next meal.

[The Brethren]

15. Do their

"talking points" include that Foley, like any adult, is responsible for his actions regardless when the news is made public? Or is that just a minor (no pun intended) issue with them?

Their game plan is the oldest in the book -- throw the crap onto ones enemies as fast as they can so they aren't stuck holding it and pray no one notices.

[demo dutch]

So what..Foley was still doing it and the GOP was covering it up!They just

don't get it! It doesn't matter, the country is sick of it!

[AtomicKitten]

21. they are trying to mitigate blame

by saying the Dems knew and covered it up to use for political purposes -- the problem being the Ethics Committee is saying it may take ONE YEAR for findings to be released, and in the interim the laying bastards can and will say whatever they want, and the media is more than willing to entertain these baseless accusations.

[demo dutch]

22. It doesn't matter, the country is sick of it! and I don't think that the

public at large is buying that excuse. They've been caught lying about lots of other stuff and the country knows it. There's Abramoff, Iraq, Woodward, WMD's etc etc etc!

[AtomicKitten]

24. the wingnuts will believe whatever they dish up

We will win in a landslide if their fundie vote is suppressed and, with election fraud still rampant, we need to win in a landslide.

[demo dutch]

27. I agree with post #12

[AtomicKitten]

30. do so at your own peril

some of us have seen their work before

this is a warning that DEMOCRATS MUST STAY ON MESSAGE to keep their vote suppressed

[demo dutch]

38. I do agree though "with staying on message" for sure

[CTyankee]

39. I'd love to believe that the fundie vote will be suppressed but

these people are such effing zealots I don't think they can supress themselves. They are like automatons. It's a reflex. The vote I see suppressed is the mushy middle voter. I heard it today from a supposed Dem "They're all alike." Her husband and son were amazed that she was even watching part of our gubernatorial debate here in CT. Like she was crazy.

But these fundies are on a mission. People that insane just don't just get rational. They're too brainwashed.

[AtomicKitten]

40. I saw a piece on CNN where some fundies were interviewed.

They were very proud of themselves declaring that they are "smart enough" to understand this is just one person in the GOP that sinned, overlooking the massive cover-up completely.

It is the pervasive cover-up the Dems need to hammer home. Hard to excuse more than one sinner, eh? But if they can find a way, I'm sure they will.

[CTyankee]

42. Oh, I wish. From your mouth to God's ear, as they say.

but I don't know. True believers are just that. True, no matter what. Go figure...

[The Brethren]

44. anything but one person.

it is not one person in one situation. It is not the exception, more like the norm - do as they wish and if caught, excuse it anyway they can. Clearly we can see through their lies, but I hope that the middle of the road/moderate republican voters will also see this for the con that it is. And will demand the truth from the party regardless how the GOP tries to spin it.

Unfortunately, i also know one reality no matter how much b.s. it is, is the more the GOP talking heads keep drilling their messages to their supporters the more likely they are to make it stick. But republican supporters need to think for themselves past this manipulation - what's involved are a number of things including once again another cover-up by republican leaders.

[enough already]

52. The country may be "sick of it", but.....

....idiot redneck fundies are stupid enough to buy it. If this rallies them to the polls, it could be trouble. Sitting on this longer before leaking it would have been better.

[Catherine Vincent]

17. This is asinine.

[buff2]

18. American Spectator?

:spray: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl:

[greeneyedboy]

19. another attempted distraction, proven false already n/t

[AtomicKitten]

34. Since when does the truth matter to them?

The repetition of lies over and over again frequently works for them, sadly, at least with their base whom they are directing this crap at. The object of the game is to suppress turnout for them. They are trying to rally their vote. Doesn't matter if WE know its bullshit.

[BR_Parkway]

20. So Dems actually did something to protect the children when the

Repugs wouldn't? This is a bad thing?

[Renew Deal]

25. They knew for 6 years and did nothing.

They get what they deserve.

[wyldwolf]

32. If true, all I can say is, "Damn! I wish it had gone as planned!"

[AtomicKitten]

33. ain't that the truth ?!

although the story is getting fuglier as time goes on

[warrens]

36. Oh, BS...

Saving it for the final days makes it far less likely that it will get traction because A. there's a lot of other news and B. the media doesn't like to get into explosive stuff just before an election when there's no time to develop the story. That was their reaction to the Bush TANG news and drunken driving news.

[yellowcanine]

37. I love this. The longer they beat this drum, the more they both keep

this issue in the news and the more they remind voters that they were trying to cover up Foley's crimes and were perfectly happy allowing Foley to be reelected - all in the name of preserving their majority, no matter how many children who might have to pay for their win. It is called winning and holding onto power at any cost. Democrats don't have to and should not say a thing as long as they keep digging at the hole thay are in. That is not to say that Dems should not run campaign ads against against Hastert, DeLay, Cunningham, Ney, Foley, Abramoff et al. as the "culture of corruption". They should. Just don't focus on Foley, since the Republicans are doing such a fine job of that.

[The Brethren]

46. you got me thinking

if this were all about timing, which is the only defense the GOP can muster, and as they claim were being done strictly for political gain, then it would've been much more advantageous for us, not less, to have broken the story sooner - assuming we had that power. It would've given much more time for the public to think about what Foley and the GOP did long before the elections and may have brought up even more related info. that they don't want discussed. Now, if these accusations were false...an earlier release would have been to their advantage - they would've had more time to refute the charges and show proof. However, as of yet, I haven't seen any proof showing his innocence in this issue. So logically speaking, it would not have been much wiser for us not to have waited so close to the elections to address this if we could and to have let this story snowball even longer.....and it would mean he would have been caught sooner.

you're right, the more they keep spinning their mouths in defense...the more they're digging a deeper hole for themselves.

[AtomicKitten]

41. UPDATE: CREW fires back - says Spectator article UNTRUE

Group fires back Spectator claim they held Foley emails

RAW STORY
Published: Tuesday October 10, 2006
http://www.rawstory.com/news/2006/Group_fires_back_Spectator_claim_they_1010.html

A non-profit group at the center of the Foley scandal has responded to a report in the American Spectator that it held and released the story for political gain by Democrats by issuing a summary of what they contend are media misrepresenations of the group's involvement.

A number of CREW's contentions can be verified as true. Others, at this point, cannot be verified or refuted.

The list, as released by CREW, follows:
#

LIE:

The email messages between Rep. Foley and a former page have been in CREW’s possession as far back as April.

FACT:

CREW received the emails on July 21, 2006 and promptly sent them to the FBI, and no one else, that same day. CREW did not discuss the email messages or their content with anyone else. The only call CREW’s Executive Director Melanie Sloan made regarding the matter was to the Washington FBI agent to whom she sent the emails to confirm receipt of the messages.

LIE:

CREW provided the FBI with incomplete information and heavily redacted emails. CREW refused to disclose the page’s name and contact information to the FBI.

FACT:

The emails Ms. Sloan sent to the FBI were not edited or redacted in any way. The page’s full name and email address were in the emails, as was the name and email address of the Congressional staffer to whom the page was sending the emails.

LIE:

The FBI investigation into Rep. Foley was hampered because CREW refused to comply with the agency’s request for additional information.

FACT:

After CREW sent the emails to the FBI, CREW’s only subsequent contact with the Bureau was one telephone call from the special agent to whom CREW had sent the material confirming that the emails were from Rep. Foley. CREW had no further contact with the FBI.

According to several government officials, the FBI sent the emails to three squads: a public corruptions squad, a criminal squad and a cyber-squad. After reviewing the matter, the FBI determined that there wasn't enough evidence at the time to suggest any criminal activity and did not move forward with an investigation.

LIE:

Fox News’ Sean Hannity said on October 5, 2006 that CREW had “been bragging about on its website as early as July 21st.”

FACT:

CREW first posted the emails to www.citizensforethics.org on September 29, 2006, one day after ABC News reported them.

LIE:

CREW has been working with ABC on the Foley story and was reporter Brian Ross’ source for the emails.

FACT:

Ross told The New York Times he received the emails from Republicans. CREW was not involved in the broadcasting of his story. In fact, Ross didn’t even know that CREW had the emails until after he broke the story.

LIE:

Rep. Mark Foley resigned from Congress after CREW posted some of his email exchanges with a former page.

FACT:

Brian Ross has reported that Foley resigned hours after ABC questioned him about the sexually explicit internet messages.

LIE:

The blog Stop Sex Predators is owned and operated by CREW.

FACT:

CREW does not own, operate, or have any connection or involvement with the Stop Sex Predators blog. CREW first heard of the blog in media reports after the Foley scandal broke.

LIE:

One of CREW’s funders, George Soros, was behind the Foley scandal and has been directing CREW’s involvement in the case.

FACT:

George Soros had no knowledge that CREW had the Foley emails, nor does he have any input over CREW's day to day activities. CREW has not discussed the emails with any donors or Democratic operatives, strategists or staffers. All CREW did was send the messages to the FBI. After ABC broke the story, CREW posted the messages to its website.

LIE:

Rep. Jack Kingston (R-GA) called CREW a “partisan 527 organization” on the October 8, 2006 edition of Fox News Sunday.

FACT:

CREW is a nonpartisan and nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization.

[The Brethren]

43. thank you

AtomicKitten. This is helpful info. :) And good for CREW for speaking up!

[AtomicKitten]

45. gotta hammer 'em back

toe-to-toe
never surrender

[Trajan]

48. I wish it were true .....

It would be nice to see the Democrats FIGHT for once .....

But alas, it is just another lie from the liars ..... Too bad ....

[Justice]

49. as Jon Stewart said last night after showing McHenry's quotes

the the Democrats planned this - you are giving the Democrats waive too much credit!

I laughed b/c it is true - you can't say we have no plan and then say we had this brillantly evil one, that somehow no one has been able to prove...

What is also amazing is - even if it were true - so what, does that change anything about Foley and the kind of person he was or change anything about the coverup?

[seabeyond]

50. all saying IF this is true. NOT true. the basis alone shows NOT true

these emails were out a year ago. they went to crew in summer who gave to fbi. reporter abc got in august

ALL this shows it was nOT a coverup by dems in anyway. the very basis of the story. quit saying if true.... just promoting something that is total fabrication. for republicans to shift it to dems. they cannot. because there is nothing to suggest dems held to it, all to suggest had nOTHING to do with dems

[Justice]

51. Stalking teenagers is so bad that people will not be distracted by the

Republicans expressing outrage at how it became news.

[AtomicKitten]

53. Media Matters weighs in.

http://mediamatters.org/items/200610100017