Plouffe smacks down "Mr. Grand Theft Auto" Issa

[ProSense]

'Mr. Grand Theft Auto' gets a brush-back pitch

By Steve Benen

House Oversight Committee Chairman Darrell Issa (R-Calif.), no doubt frustrated his efforts to manufacture White House scandals have faltered, started to lose his composure on CNN yesterday. Perhaps more interesting was the response from a close ally to President Obama.

After lashing out at White House Press Secretary Jay Carney as a "paid liar" -- an attack seemingly based on nothing -- the California Republican argued without proof that top Obama administration officials were responsible for the IRS controversy. Under scrutiny, however, Issa's argument quickly crumbled, relying on out-of-context quotes.



It was, however, this reaction from David Plouffe that caught my eye. In President Obama's inner circle, few are as influential as Plouffe, who ran the Obama campaign in 2008 and served as a White House Senior Adviser to the president up until late January of this year. So when he's calling the chairman on the House Oversight Committee "Mr. Grand Theft Auto" and a "suspected arsonist/insurance swindler," it reflects a striking escalation.

Unlike Issa's rhetorical jabs, Plouffe's brush-back pitch at least has the benefit of accuracy. As we discussed a few weeks ago, Issa, the man Republicans have tasked with leading investigations into alleged administration misdeeds, really has spent a fair amount of his adult life as a suspected criminal. This Ryan Lizza piece in the New Yorker from a couple of years ago remains relevant.

"Many politicians have committed indiscretions in earlier years: maybe they had an affair or hired an illegal immigrant as a nanny. Issa, it turned out, had, among other things, been indicted for stealing a car, arrested for carrying a concealed weapon, and accused by former associates of burning down a building."

http://maddowblog.msnbc.com/_news/2013/06/03/18720608-mr-grand-theft-auto-gets-a-brush-back-pitch

Ouch!

[Cirque du So-What]

1. Something about glass houses and throwing stones...

and Issa is certainly in no position to impugn the integrity of others. Here's hoping this tweet gains traction and gets spread far & wide. Think Issa will actually address his sordid past? I predict nothing but crickets from this arsonist and car thief.

[Berlum]

3. Something like this...

[trusty elf]

5. or this?

[IMG][/IMG]

[malaise]

2. Hope it left a mark

Fugging scumbag Issa needs to be reminded of his criminality - he's a first rate ReTHUG

[trusty elf]

4. ........

[IMG][/IMG]

[pacalo]

8. Hey, trusty elf!

[trusty elf]

11. Hey, pacalo!

[freshwest]

36. Those are both keepers, guys.

[AlbertCat]

12. And....

....the actual film was MUCH MORE entertaining!

[pacalo]

15. That's for sure.

Peter Sellers' bumbling character is endearing; Issa's character (literally) is pathetic.

Issa looks more like this guy, Pat Paulsen:

[SCVDem]

18. Pat Paulsen had credibility! nt

[pacalo]

21. I apologize to his legacy that I compared him to such a dishonest jerk.

[AndyA]

6. In this country, people are supposed to be considered innocent until proven guilty

But there's also the adage that says where there's smoke there's fire.

Issa has a very suspect past. That alone should disqualify him from chairing the House Oversight Committee, just as Michele Bachmann's totally crazy statements should disqualify her from being on the Intelligence Committee.

[SCVDem]

24. Innocent until proven guilty?

That doesn't seem to apply to Right Wing World!

All Dems are guilty first. They'll build the propaganda later.

[AndyA]

29. Well there you go pointing out the obvious!

True, the right wing apply different standards for themselves and others. Shame on anyone who tries to point that out, too!

[marble falls]

7. "Senator Grand Theft Auto" does have a certain ring about it. He earned it, let him wear it.

[lastlib]

9. (Uh, make it "Congressman" Grand Theft Auto...)

[marble falls]

10. Issa pisses me off soooooo much ..... thanks.

[itsrobert]

55. uh

Make inmate # 896432266.

[Beacool]

13. Considering his past, how was Issa allowed to serve in Congress?

"Mr. Grand Theft Auto and suspected arsonist/insurance swindler."

If the shoe fits.............

[freshwest]

38. From the link as well:

But the key takeaway here is the fact that Plouffe was willing to go there in the first place, as if to say to Issa, "You want a fight over honesty and ethics? That's a great idea."

What's more, also keep in mind that if Democrats seriously pursue this as a line of criticism, Issa and his allies will be cautious in pushing back because they'd prefer not to have this conversation at all -- the last thing Republicans want now is a discussion about Issa's scandalous background and whether he's the best person available to lead investigations into others' suspected wrongdoing.

[SoapBox]

14. His district must be SO proud!

[homegirl]

28. money and where is the DCCC

Issa has a $1.5 million campaign chest. Last time he ran the Democrat running against him had $7K! And got 39% of the votes. Put the blame on the DNCC for not supporting their candidate. Time to have rallies and marches in the streets in that CD to oust Mr. Issa.

[xtraxritical]

65. R. Ken Calverts district is just to the north and just as entrenched.

[Mr.Bill]

34. His district would elect Charles Manson

if he ran as a Republican.

[freshwest]

37. Must be a pretty weird place. Stranger things have happened, know of two instances up close. n/t

[cascadiance]

41. It was where the Heaven's Gate cult "went to heaven"...

... to give you an idea of some of the mentalities there...

[libdude]

43. I have met

several people from Issa's district, all to a person interjected the problems with Hispanics in their neighborhoods, I thought it odd, now that explains Issa and his representing this district. What is the old truism, birds of a feather?

[hopemountain]

44. please elaborate or

substantiate/explain your comment. thank you, "libdude".

[Mr.Bill]

45. I have lived in California for 52 years.

I find it hilarious when people here, many of whom arrived within the last decade or two complain about "all these Mexicans" and say we should send them back to where they came from. Most of the Mexicans I have known here are from families that have been here for many generations. In San Jose (which at one time was the capital of Mexico), where I grew up, they had a saying: "We didn't cross the border, it crossed us".

If every Mexican left California tomorrew, it would be an economic disaster that would make this state resemble a third world country. Even if just the illegals left, it would destroy our major industry, which is agriculture that feeds about two fifths of this nation.

[Ligyron]

16. Issa reminds me of Joe Mc Carthy for some reason

I think he even kinda looks like him myself.

[Beacool]

22. Maybe he too will end up a washed up alcoholic.

[SCVDem]

25. That makes two of them

Ted Cruz is the dead ringer!

[on point]

17. Ad Hominem attacks are a sign you have nothing valid to say on the issue. Beware

[CatWoman]

19. oh

grow up

[on point]

26. I love your tongue in cheek sarcasm. Thanks for illustrating my point so well!

[11 Bravo]

39. Recitation of facts don't actually qualify as ad hominem attacks.

But thanks for playing.

[on point]

40. When facts attack the person but have nothing to do with the issue that's

A foul.

And that is exactly the definition. Confront the issue but don't attack the person with irrelevant info

[Cha]

48. Oh look.. we have someone defending Darrell Issa.. isn't that special.

Oh, and it has everything to do with the "Issue". Goes to his fucking character as a Liar.

The congressman, for example, claimed to receive the "highest possible" ratings during his Army career, despite the fact that at one point he "received unsatisfactory conduct and efficiency ratings and was transferred to a supply depot." Issa also claimed to have provided security for President Nixon in 1971, which wasn't true, and said he won a national Entrepreneur of the Year award, but didn't.

[Gore1FL]

59. If the issue is ethics, it's quite relevant.

This is especially true when weighing the merit of the accusations from a perspective of trust.

[CatWoman]

53. anytime

however, you still need to grow the fuck up

[Cali_Democrat]

32. Surely you said the same thing when Issa referred to Carney as a paid liar, right?

Right?

[CatWoman]

52. is that crickets I hear?

?????

[Agschmid]

67. Yes and they are SO loud today! n/t

[LanternWaste]

33. The use of a clever and relevant Ad Hominem in response to another's may also often illustrate...

The use of a clever and relevant Ad Hominem in response to another's may also often illustrate the other's hypocrisy, as it did here.

Beware indeed... here there be absurd dragons and idiots.

[SCVDem]

20. I hope the Dems have binders full of facts!

Thay cannot argue facts but we can beat them down with them!

Keep at it!

Hey Issa! Take that!

[sheshe2]

23. K&R!

The shoe fits alright. It fits like a glove!

[Major Hogwash]

27. Issa is busy . . burning down the House!!

There was a famous song about burning down the house, but that song wasn't about the House of Representatives, for crying out loud!!!

Issa is a stupid cork soaker!!

[kitt6]

61. And he will keep doing it;

until he's released from duty. His ego is on the line now. I feel for Rep. Elijah Cummings (D-Md) having to put up with Issa's ass.

[Thinkingabout]

30. The oversight committee chairman needs to be as honest with the American people as he expects others

to be. Oh, honesty is only for Democrats, GOPers needs to continue to lie to the public. He needs to resign from this position and only return after he becomes honest and stop his accusactions when there is no evidence of what he is saying.

[Cali_Democrat]

31. ...

[Initech]

35. How does that convicted criminal keep getting elected?

[Cha]

49. Gerrymandering. Camp Pendelton is in his District.. I just wish

the Marines would wake up.

Although, San Diego does have a Dem Mayor now and the county did go for PBO in 2012!

http://www.democraticunderground.com/?com=view_post&forum=1014&pid=499285

[Initech]

51. I thought he was from Nor Cal - like Oakland area.

I'm in that district and Bob Huff is my representative.

[Cha]

54. I dunno, Initech.. says the 49th District

which is Issa's Contains..

California's 49th congressional district is a congressional district in the U.S. state of California. The district covers the northern coastal areas of San Diego County, including cities such as Oceanside, Vista, Carlsbad and Encinitas, as well as a small portion of southern Orange County.[2]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/California's_49th_congressional_district

Jaysus.. I use to live in Encinitas and Carlsbad!

Are we talking about his Bob Huff?

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bob_Huff

[Initech]

57. Guess I don't know my districts very well then.

I should go ask Stephen Colbert!

[Cha]

58. Hey, bright side..

ya just learned something and so did I!

[Bette Noir]

56. He wasn't convicted.

IIRC, his brother was.

I was a local. The story in the community was that the brother would steal cars that Darryl would then sell through his dealership. He had a VERY bad reputation for ethics.

[Major Hogwash]

42. "And then dickless here turned it off." "Is this true?"

"Yes, it's true . . . this man has no dick."

[notadmblnd]

46. Rev Al mentioned it on his show tonight too!

[Cha]

50. Good! thanks notadmblnd

[Cha]

47. So, who's the "paid Liar"? Mr stupid opened up a whole can of worms on himself..

<The congressman, for example, claimed to receive the "highest possible" ratings during his Army career, despite the fact that at one point he "received unsatisfactory conduct and efficiency ratings and was transferred to a supply depot." Issa also claimed to have provided security for President Nixon in 1971, which wasn't true, and said he won a national Entrepreneur of the Year award, but didn't

.

thanks ProSense

[Blue Owl]

60. Won't be long before Issa is a Hasbeen

n/t

[KauaiK]

62. FINALLY!!!

I have known that Issa is a criminal since he was a car dealer in San Diego. Good on Maddow - you go girl!!!

[flamingdem]

63. oh my!

[Gabby Hayes]

64. Newt and Durl

"And loose ethically today." Hmm. Reminds one of Newt Gingrich lying about his harem during the Clinton impeachment crusade. When Republicans start pointing fingers it's a good idea to look over their shoulder. Congressman Durl and his Tea Party brothers, Durl and Durl, don't want us to see something. Is it an honor among thieves matter involving the recent dip in gold stocks? Maybe investors are grousing about non-existent Mayan Doomsday shelters. Or maybe Durl has simply succumbed to his OCD and started stealing cars again.

It's also curious that Brian Williams is tossing his credibility by trying to serve as "balance" against reports from MSNBC. He's starting to remind me of Tom Brokaw during his service as Coulter and Drudge's mouthpiece in the 1990's. Noticed Brokaw is muttering in public again too, trying to attach his name to the current stampede against the Obama Administration. This from a guy who apparently didn't notice that, prior to his "Greatest Generation" revelation, a large percentage of schools, streets and buildings were already named after WWII figures. That is besides the countless movies, television series and books about the very same generation and war. We've seen the suit, Tom, sit down and stop trying to block our view of the real scandals.

[PD Turk]

66. lol