mccain volunteer robbed and assaulted

[JBillyGirl]

BREAKING NEWS: Local police are now saying that Ashley Todd has confessed to making up her story. She now faces charges.

http://kdka.com/local/attack.McCain.Blo ... 47628.html

[Jeemie]

Is she related to the late Morton Downey Jr by any chance?

[mellytu74]

Is she related to the late Morton Downey Jr by any chance?

Didn't I ask that earlier? Huh? Huh?

[tlynn78]

I was outside and had 4 shirts on, and was still cold

Got a foot race coming up you don't want to catch cold for?


t.

[VAdame]

BREAKING NEWS: Local police are now saying that Ashley Todd has confessed to making up her story. She now faces charges.

http://kdka.com/local/attack.McCain.Blo ... 47628.html

She's in jail. They better put her in some kind of protective custody, because if she didn't get her ass beat before, she's gonna now.

On the bright side -- a McCain T-shirt, black eye, $60 in Monopoly money, & backwards "B" would make a heckuva Halloween costume!

[Jeemie]

Maybe Fox News VP James Moody was right- that if this turned out to be a hoax, it was the end of McCain's campaign.

This is the lead story practically everywhere...and it happened in Pennsylvania, the state McCain was pinning his hopes on.

[VAdame]

Maybe Fox News VP James Moody was right- that if this turned out to be a hoax, it was the end of McCain's campaign.

This is the lead story practically everywhere...and it happened in Pennsylvania, the state McCain was pinning his hopes on.

And McCain & Palin both called her up & sympathized with her yesterday! I can just picture both of them banging their heads against the wall going, "Why? Why....?!...."

[Hell Kitty]

It was all a plot by that evil Obama to discredit the McCain campaign!!!!

[TheCalvinator24]

What kind of credibility were you expecting from an Aggie?

[KillerTomato]

While the story is awful, I don't see how anyone could pin this on McCain and Palin. The woman is obviously a little tetched, and told a stupid lie (something almost every politician has done in spades...and this year in spades!), but I don't think anyone put her up to it.

And I'd hardly call a sympathetic call from the Republican candidates a bad thing. True, she didn't deserve it, but if she HAD, and they hadn't called, the story would have been much worse. No lapse in judgement (or judgment, if you prefer), they just got as duped as everyone else.

[Jeemie]

While the story is awful, I don't see how anyone could pin this on McCain and Palin. The woman is obviously a little tetched, and told a stupid lie (something almost every politician has done in spades...and this year in spades!), but I don't think anyone put her up to it.

And I'd hardly call a sympathetic call from the Republican candidates a bad thing. True, she didn't deserve it, but if she HAD, and they hadn't called, the story would have been much worse. No lapse in judgement (or judgment, if you prefer), they just got as duped as everyone else.

The sympathy call wasn't what was bad.

What was bad was the McCain campaign jumping on this story HARD and spinning it before any facts came out.

I don't think I've ever seen a Presidential campaign run so badly in my life (and Lord knows, I thought Kerry screwed his up pretty badly).

I honestly believe now that once the full scope of the financial crisis became public a few weeks ago that McCain said "The hell with this! I'm 72- why do I want to be President and have to deal with THIS mess?"

He looks like a man who WANTS to lose now.

[Bob Juch]

The story says she had prior mental health problems. But then we figured that.

[Jeemie]

Just watched Brian Williams report on this.

He heavily indicted the McCain campaign with this- mentioned how they passed on much of the original details.

Like it or not, this is the final nail. People are going to get the idea that McCain jumped on a racially-charged issue hoping it would be a game-changer (and he pretty much did- although I don't think he was going for the race angle as much as the "Obama supporters are full of hate and violence" angle) in a state he was gunning for as his last hope.

He is finished- he cannot recover from this one. Only question now is how many Republicans downstream get caught up in the fallout.

[Bob78164]

What was bad was the McCain campaign jumping on this story HARD and spinning it before any facts came out.

I wasn't aware that the McCain campaign had pushed this story. I don't disbelieve it, but can you substantiate the claim? --Bob

[Jeemie]

What was bad was the McCain campaign jumping on this story HARD and spinning it before any facts came out.

I wasn't aware that the McCain campaign had pushed this story. I don't disbelieve it, but can you substantiate the claim? --Bob

McCain Communications Director Gave Reporters Incendiary Version Of "Carved B" Story Before Facts Were Known

By Greg Sargent - October 24, 2008, 5:12PM

John McCain's Pennsylvania communications director told reporters in the state an incendiary version of the hoax story about the attack on a McCain volunteer well before the facts of the case were known or established -- and even told reporters outright that the "B" carved into the victim's cheek stood for "Barack," according to multiple sources familiar with the discussions.

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.

The KDKA reporter had called McCain's campaign office for details after seeing the story -- sans details -- teased on Drudge.
The McCain spokesperson's claims -- which came in the midst of extraordinary and heated conversations late yesterday between the McCain campaign, local TV stations, and the Obama camp, as the early version of the story rocketed around the political world -- is significant because it reveals a McCain official pushing a version of the story that was far more explosive than the available or confirmed facts permitted at the time.

The claims to KDKA from the McCain campaign were included in an early story that ran late yesterday on KDKA's Web site. The paragraphs containing these assertions were quickly removed from the story after the Obama campaign privately complained that KDKA was letting the McCain campaign spin a racially-charged version of the story before the facts had been established, according to two sources familiar with the discussions.

Read the rest at the link.

http://tpmelectioncentral.talkingpoints ... rs_inc.php

[Bob78164]

What was bad was the McCain campaign jumping on this story HARD and spinning it before any facts came out.

I wasn't aware that the McCain campaign had pushed this story. I don't disbelieve it, but can you substantiate the claim? --Bob

McCain Communications Director Gave Reporters Incendiary Version Of "Carved B" Story Before Facts Were Known

By Greg Sargent - October 24, 2008, 5:12PM

John McCain's Pennsylvania communications director told reporters in the state an incendiary version of the hoax story about the attack on a McCain volunteer well before the facts of the case were known or established -- and even told reporters outright that the "B" carved into the victim's cheek stood for "Barack," according to multiple sources familiar with the discussions.

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.

The KDKA reporter had called McCain's campaign office for details after seeing the story -- sans details -- teased on Drudge.
The McCain spokesperson's claims -- which came in the midst of extraordinary and heated conversations late yesterday between the McCain campaign, local TV stations, and the Obama camp, as the early version of the story rocketed around the political world -- is significant because it reveals a McCain official pushing a version of the story that was far more explosive than the available or confirmed facts permitted at the time.

The claims to KDKA from the McCain campaign were included in an early story that ran late yesterday on KDKA's Web site. The paragraphs containing these assertions were quickly removed from the story after the Obama campaign privately complained that KDKA was letting the McCain campaign spin a racially-charged version of the story before the facts had been established, according to two sources familiar with the discussions.

Read the rest at the link.

http://tpmelectioncentral.talkingpoints ... rs_inc.php

This link isn't working (it doesn't work when I get there via Google either), but the portion you quoted answers my question. Thanks. --Bob

[KillerTomato]

Again, this seems like stupidity rather than malice. The campaign was duped by a twisted, sick individual. Yes, they went ahead with the story, which was a stupid choice without really KNOWING all the facts, but unless it can be proven that someone REALLY high up in the campaign acted with malice aforethought, I'm inclined to give them a pass on it... or at least not assume that the Republicans are doomed. Especially if they do the right thing, come out strongly against what this woman did, and admit that they, like so many others, were taken in and acted foolishly.

And I'm hardly biased towards the Palin/McCain campaign.


On the other hand, if they follow the typical political playbook, they'll probably try to spin this as being Obama and Biden's fault. And if they do, they should be crushed.

[Jeemie]

Again, this seems like stupidity rather than malice. The campaign was duped by a twisted, sick individual. Yes, they went ahead with the story, which was a stupid choice without really KNOWING all the facts, but unless it can be proven that someone REALLY high up in the campaign acted with malice aforethought, I'm inclined to give them a pass on it... or at least not assume that the Republicans are doomed. Especially if they do the right thing, come out strongly against what this woman did, and admit that they, like so many others, were taken in and acted foolishly.

And I'm hardly biased towards the Palin/McCain campaign.

I agree it was stupidity...stupidity that will cost them.

On the other hand, if they follow the typical political playbook, they'll probably try to spin this as being Obama and Biden's fault. And if they do, they should be crushed.

This is already happening (although not by the campaign, but by many rabid right-wingers).

I go to a lot of right-wing sites, and you would be astonished at how many "Todd was an Obama plant" threads are being made out there!

[KillerTomato]

On the other hand, if they follow the typical political playbook, they'll probably try to spin this as being Obama and Biden's fault. And if they do, they should be crushed.

This is already happening (although not by the campaign, but by many rabid right-wingers).

I go to a lot of right-wing sites, and you would be astonished at how many "Todd was an Obama plant" threads are being made out there!

Then they should be crushed. That's absolutely reprehensible.

I have to admit that at first, when I read the thread title you quoted, I was trying to figure out what the First Dude of Alaska had to do with it. Then I remembered her name....

[Beebs52]

What I don't understand is why anyone, on any side, would arbitrarily believe a weirdass story like this to begin with. It's as if everybody has lost their minds. This shit happens on all sides. It's totally not even worth discussing on the face of it. When it came out any reasonable person would ask themself, "Gee. Do you think this was some sort of misappropriation/drunkass posing/stupidity of....insert your noun here?"

I find it amazing that this thread is this long. And that the news even deals with it seriously this long.

[Jeemie]

What I don't understand is why anyone, on any side, would arbitrarily believe a weirdass story like this to begin with. It's as if everybody has lost their minds. This shit happens on all sides. It's totally not even worth discussing on the face of it. When it came out any reasonable person would ask themself, "Gee. Do you think this was some sort of misappropriation/drunkass posing/stupidity of....insert your noun here?"

I find it amazing that this thread is this long. And that the news even deals with it seriously this long.

It has legs because the McCain camp sold it hard.

If the McCain camp had ignored it, the media probably still would have fussed over it for the sensationalism.

But it wouldn't have stuck to McCain the way it's going to stick now.

McCain's campaign has been a series of tactical errors. He kept throwing the long bomb instead of coming up with a systematic attack plan. Palin. Suspend my campaign to "save the country". Ayers. Wright. Rezko. Joe the Plumber (although that one might have worked had it ben done right). Now this.

He just got sacked before he could get the last bomb off.

[BigDrawMan]

this was a stupid idea even for a texan.
Now I understand why they have so many people locked up down there.

I watched the local news for the first time in months tonite to watch this story, as well as the Holmes thingy.And to see if fast willies one week injury will stretch to 4.It will.my fantasy team is sinking like mccain.

anywho, Todd's black eye has cleared up.
I hope she retains the backwards B scar for a while.

it is a bad idea to steal from the Al Sharpton playbook.

[Beebs52]

What I don't understand is why anyone, on any side, would arbitrarily believe a weirdass story like this to begin with. It's as if everybody has lost their minds. This shit happens on all sides. It's totally not even worth discussing on the face of it. When it came out any reasonable person would ask themself, "Gee. Do you think this was some sort of misappropriation/drunkass posing/stupidity of....insert your noun here?"

I find it amazing that this thread is this long. And that the news even deals with it seriously this long.

It has legs because the McCain camp sold it hard.

If the McCain camp had ignored it, the media probably still would have fussed over it for the sensationalism.

But it wouldn't have stuck to McCain the way it's going to stick now.

McCain's campaign has been a series of tactical errors. He kept throwing the long bomb instead of coming up with a systematic attack plan. Palin. Suspend my campaign to "save the country". Ayers. Wright. Rezko. Joe the Plumber (although that one might have worked had it ben done right). Now this.

He just got sacked before he could get the last bomb off.

The "sold it hard" thing has me confused. Was it the local people who sold it hard? I didn't even see it on the networks tonight that much. What is this "sold it hard"? The websites sold it hard? I'm not trying to be obnoxious, just that apparently I missed the BIG STORY in the whole thing.

[Jeemie]

The "sold it hard" thing has me confused. Was it the local people who sold it hard? I didn't even see it on the networks tonight that much. What is this "sold it hard"? The websites sold it hard? I'm not trying to be obnoxious, just that apparently I missed the BIG STORY in the whole thing.

The McCain camp sold it hard to KDKA...even adding "details" they couldn't have possibly known at the time (and were "invented" anyway).

Scroll for my post on this a few posts up.

[Beebs52]

this was a stupid idea even for a texan.
Now I understand why they have so many people locked up down there.

I watched the local news for the first time in months tonite to watch this story, as well as the Holmes thingy.And to see if fast willies one week injury will stretch to 4.It will.my fantasy team is sinking like mccain.

anywho, Todd's black eye has cleared up.
I hope she retains the backwards B scar for a while.

it is a bad idea to steal from the Al Sharpton playbook.

Again, anyone who places any "legs" on this story, and I question whether anybody really, really did, is an idiot. In both parties.

I guess that would include you and yours. At least you're not running for office.