Wonder why those RandPaulistas were so intent on claiming that the MoveOn volunteer they curbstomped was “a deliberate provocateur” trying to “frame” those poor innocent defenders of… curbstomping? Dave Weigel at Slate unearths a tidbit the NYTimes didn’t feel worth sharing until safely after the election:
Before the election, I noted that a number of Democrats had put themselves in trouble — more trouble than their votes would have put them in — by acting like asses on video that had been uploaded and hyped up for months afterward. Two of those Democrats, Bob Etheridge and Phil Hare, lost…
__
In June, two young men identifying themselves as “students” found Etheridge walking to a fundraiser and asked “do you fully support the Obama agenda?” Etheridge blew up, pushing away the cameras and headlocking one of the young men as the other one filmed… I was asking who the young men were, because neither Etheridge or his opponent knew, which meant Etheridge couldn’t apologize in person and the local GOP couldn’t call on them to follow up.
__
Finally, we find out who they were. Sort of.
__
[Republicans] also tried to push Democrats into retirement, using what was described in the presentation as “guerilla tactics” like chasing Democratic members down with video cameras and pressing them to explain votes or positions. (One target, Representative Bob Etheridge of North Carolina, had to apologize for manhandling one of his inquisitors in a clip memorialized on YouTube. Only this week did Republican strategists acknowledge they were behind the episode.)
__
Does that matter? No. Etheridge manhandled the two men, and that’s all that matters. But when you think back to that week in June you realize how brilliant the guerrilla tactic was. The two men would only identify themselves as “students working on a project.” The political press, with a hot video but few scraps of information to go on, reported that Etheridge had assaulted “college students.” The anonymity of the videographers didn’t matter, because the news cycle doesn’t wait for details.
Bet the sure thing: When a Republican accuses his opponent of pecculation, it means that Republican can’t be trusted not to steal the small change out of a blind vendor’s tip tray. And if a Republican accuses someone else of sexual irregularities, don’t leave him alone with your spouse, your kids, or your barnyard animals (unless you’ve got the stomach for a really NSFW viral video).
Martin
The student was revealed when the event happened, btw. I forget who reported it, but someone identified the guy and noted the parsing of the phrase ‘students working on a project’ technically wasn’t a lie, as it wasn’t a school project.
But Republicans are remarkably good at sweeping all ethical and legal issues out of the way in the effort to make it look like Democrats are breaking a law.
gocart mozart
Another truism is that the more a Republican talks about the Constitution, the less they no what’s in it.
Allan
I’ve always felt that the reason some right wing moralists dedicate their lives to creating new legal restrictions on the liberties of gays is that they themselves need the threat of legal sanction to stop them from indulging in some hot sweet forbidden gay sex right now.
Tattoosydney
@Allan:
Well you know how we gays are always throwing ourselves at old, pasty, fat Christians. How could they resist if it weren’t for Mr God tapping his feet and frowning up there in heaven?
Singularity
Ever noticed how Repubs in general and Conservatives specifically will always do something morally or ethically shaky, if not downright illegal, to influence an election?
The phone-jamming in New Hampshire, the bogus write-in candidate flood in Alaska, the various rat-fucking expeditions pulled by fake students, fake grassroots organizers, fake “outraged citizens”. They bussed in operatives to Florida to pose as Floridians angered by the vote counting in Miami in 2000. It has always been like this, at least as long as I’ve been alive.
It’s almost as if they have no confidence in their ability to sway voters with the quality of their positions, so they have to resort to the underhanded crap to fool people into voting for them.
JamesC
Off-topic (in an open thread?!), but any other Californians out there breathing a sigh of relief?
Since when were we the sane state? We gave the nation Nixon AND Reagan. State government bankruptcy aside, I think we just managed to take the crown of “biggest feat of karmic houdini ever.”
Mako
…When a Republican accuses his opponent of pecculation, it…
“pecculation” is not a word, in fact its something creepy left there to fuck with editors and until it is gone i will go “AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA
aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa n a
aa
Mako
hmm its still there, unnacceptable really
Xenos
I would speculate that peculate is misspelled due to its similarity to ‘peccato’. I have sind and committed a few peccadillos in misspelling peculate myself, at times.
BR
@JamesC:
I’ve been embarrassed since Arnold’s election. Finally we correct that mistake and maybe have a chance to lead the nation again.
My hope for Jerry Brown is that he gets it on energy and the need to make California fossil fuel independent – particularly oil independent. Peak oil is bearing down on us and California is way too car dependent. And he needs to smack around Palo Alto and cities like it that think it’s smart NIMBYism to block the high speed rail project.
R. Porrofatto
That NY Times article about the GOP “plan” boils down to two things: sleazy anonymous money, and ratfucking. Thank you Roberts and Alito for the former, and Richard Nixon for the latter. Nice to know they’re keeping up the cherished traditions.
burnspbesq
@R. Porrofatto:
Those things didn’t begin with Nixon. Read Pearlstein’s book about Goldwater, and you’ll see the amazing variety of stuff Republican factions did to each other in the run-up to the 1964 convention.
Mako
@Xenos:
Hey you are right, “peculate” is a word. One I didn’t know but probably would have left me looking for a dictionary rather that completely confused. Mistermix and Annie Laurie should probably retire. Nobody reads there posts. Seriously, if they expect to be read around here, they should pump up the
Mako
Hey check this out
OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO
Tattoosydney
@Xenos:
I saw what you did there.
bemused
Strange coinkidink. I’ve been thinking about republican projection again this week. I’m not saying projection is limited to conservatives but they display projection to an astonishing degree.
Republicans sneer at spending money for any progressive policies that improve lives of non-wealthy americans and scoff that these policies can also save money and boost our economy even when data supports it. Local example: Oberstar haters really get worked up about his transportation legislation like light rail and they go totally ballistic about bike trails. Rightwingers sure have a raging hate-on for bike riders. They don’t care about and refuse to believe these projects have a positive economic impact on the area.
What slays me is how often they assert that liberals live in a fantasy world, that we believe progressive policies will create a utopia. I’ve never heard or read any liberal making that claim. oth, conservatives are all excited about the election results saying that now this country will prosper when the wealthy and corps get more tax cuts (even if many aren’t paying any taxes now) and get rid of regulations. We’ve been there, done that many times and it hasn’t worked out like they pretend it has but they’re positive if we cut taxes and deregulate once more, it will work this time. Who is really dreaming utopian fantasies?
pablo
The point as I see it is…why the fuck don’t you lib kids get your cameras out, and start stalking some of the wingnut wackos. Imagine what they will say, or do when they aren’t constrained with having to be civil (!?!) in front of the MSM.
Doesn’t any know how to play this game except conservatards?
debit
@bemused: What kills me is that people who hate bikers and bike paths don’t seem to understand; every person on a bike is one less person in a car slowing down your commute.
cleek
our media is a failure.
Marlowe
Projection point taken, but …
… even if the provocateurs are fake ‘students on a project,’ is it really a bad thing to force politicos to state where they stand on the record ?
brantl
I’m as liberal as anybody, and I have to tell you, this is bullshit. The elected official could have called the cops, he could have asked that they keep the camera out of his face, he could have made sure that he repeatedly told these two knuckleheads to leave him alone, and if they continued to pester him, he should have gotten an injunction, after getting a cop to get these two punks’ names.
You don’t get to put people in a headlock, for Christ’s sake. Don’t try to excuse this shit, it just won’t wash, and it shouldn’t. Face it, we’re going to have to be smarter than these assholes, and by and large, we are.
And Pablo’s got it right, go out there, identify yourself straight up, and pester them. They’ve got seriously short fuses, and their governors are worn completely away; that’s where the rampant greed comes from.
Kay
Agreed. Great post, Anne Laurie.
Do conservatives know they’re raising up “win at all costs” psychopaths here? These “kids” (I actually consider them adults, but I know that’s not fashionable) know at some level they bamboozled the media and misrepresented the actions of the congressman. They were there. They know what they did. If they don’t know, they don’t have a conscience.
I wouldn’t hire one of these young conservatives in any capacity, because I couldn’t trust them as far as I could throw them. I wouldn’t have them in my house, or give them access to emails or records or really anything. They’ll do anything, unless there’s a specific law barring what they’re doing. In the case of O’Keefe and the Rand Paul leader, they actually cross the line into illegality. That behavior applies across the board.
Among the delinquent juveniles I represent, there are two broad groups. There are the people who violated a law but recognize that they also violated some unwritten rule, trust, responsibility, honesty. I don’t have to say it, and I don’t say it. I’m not there as a moral arbiter. They do. They bring it up. Then there are the people who focus exclusively on the legality of their actions, and defend their violation of the unwritten rule (or don’t even recognize it). I gotta tell ya, I wouldn’t leave the members of the second group unsupervised in my office for five minutes.
Suffern ACE
@pablo: No. No one does. The best ones have been bought up and are on retainer, and when one becomes available for our side to use, it is usually because he or she has become contrite (aka-doesn’t want to do it any more).
Scott
All the Republican noise about voter fraud made me wonder just how much Republicans are cheating on elections. I wonder if someone did a serious study of election results, how much they’d find that final results had been fabricated by GOP election officials and secretaries of state — I’ve always wondered if that’s why the extremely unlikeable Rick Perry keeps winning elections in Texas…
Bender
Yeah, Bob Etheridge is a HERO for assaulting people who ask him questions! “Heeeew Ooooor Yeeeew?!!” Why can’t the stupid voters see that bullying and physical violence are signs of good Democratic governance? Waaaaaaaaaaaah! Dirty tricks!
Another magnificent post, Anne Laurie. So well-thought and cogent…Now go get your shinebox.
By the way, the main difference between the students and the Madcow wannabe in Kentucky was that kd Lang Jr. physically pushed a placard into Rand Paul’s face through his car window. People are allowed to film politicians on the street — they aren’t allowed to physically assault them. (Another difference: The students didn’t obviously lie about getting a concussion to sensationalize for the media.)
(Oh, another difference: National Leftist Media didn’t give a toss about a Democrat congressman assaulting citizens on the street, but put the MoveOn Madcow on network TV every day for the week before the election.)
Scoreboard: Paul 1, Etheridge Nil. The voters knew the difference — all that matters.
The Republic of Stupidity
@Allan:
Forbidden fruit and all that… blah blah blah…
The Republic of Stupidity
@Bender:
Whoa…
Nice collection of strawmen and trite stereotypes ya got there…
The Republic of Stupidity
@JamesC:
Yes…
Not totally crazy about Brown and Boxer, but cringed at the thought of Gov Whitman and Sen Fiorina…
Mnemosyne
@Bender:
So the problem for you was that Etheridge did the beatdown himself and didn’t have his campaign volunteers give the kid a concussion on his behalf?
I guess you guys really do believe in outsourcing.
SFAW
Correction: one oft-overlooked part of the Citizens United decision was the part in Scalia’s concurrence where he finally, after years of trying, gets the Court to issue a ruling that IOKIYAR.
Thus: O’Keefe and the Randites were fully justified in protecting America from Lieberals by any means necessary.
Kay
@Bender:
I wouldn’t hire a conservative activist. ABC found that out with Breitbart. He lied on his site and when they corrected him, he lied again. They had to fire him. Publicly.
Which is completely consistent with his history.
Joe Miller has a work history like that, incidentally, and so does Sarah Palin. They’ve screwed every employer who has had the misfortune to hire them.
SFAW
By the way, the main difference between the students and the Madcow wannabe in Kentucky was that kd Lang Jr. physically pushed a placard into Rand Paul’s face through his car window.
Right. Except the Randroid stomped her before she got anywhere near Nutjob Jr., at least according to his own statement. “She looked threatening”. Yeah, so do our cats when they’re asleep – but only if you’re a wingnut.
“Oh hep me, hep me! Somebody hep me!”
Jules
@Bender:
So young men (stop calling them “students” like they were still in high school) getting pushed/headlocked by an old dude = young woman getting slammed to the ground and stomped on by a group of middle aged and larger men.
(and consider this…Rand’s real security had already dealt with the gal in a professional and safe manner.)
There was no “outrage” because no one really cares if healthy young men get pushed out of the way & “headlocked” by some cranky old guy….not that it is a good way to treat the “press”.
I would have cared much more if after they had been pushed Etheridge then threw him to the pavement and one of his staff members had stomped on them.
Kay
@SFAW:
Have you ever read Donald Segretti’s defense of the work he did for the GOP? It’s almost poignant. He thought it was a game. He served 4 months in prison and his license to practice law was suspended. He ran McCain’s campaign in California, in 2000. Who else would hire him? He’s an admitted liar and cheat. He’ll do anything he’s ordered to do.
SFAW
Kay –
No, I haven’t. I’d probably get depressed if I did.
Between him and Liddy, Nixon had quite the crew. (I’m not forgetting Haldeman nor Chuck “I found Jeebus so all my past scumbag activities are forgiven” Colson nor any of the other pre-Roves.)
Luthe
@Tattoosydney:
Is God tapping his feet to get Buddha’s attention in the next stall? Or is it just a “wide stance”?
Death Panel Truck
@Mako: What are you, five years old? Stop playing with your mommy’s computer and toddle off to kindergarten, will ya? Grownups are trying to talk here.
Glidwrith
@Scott: Get thee hence over to Bradblog. He’s got a huge chunk of the stuff that’s been going on with respect to election integrity.
I would also like to introduce new definitions: voter fraud is the fake stuff the Rethugs get all upset about (ie millions of fake votes being cast by the tanned-people); election fraud is Diebold machines flipping votes, hacked touch-screen machines and election officials failing to protect the integrity of the process and/or outright defrauding the results.