Mitch McConnell denies he or his staff had anything to do with smearing Graeme Frost
Matt Gunterman October 13th, 2007
It’s the scandal that keeps on giving.
From the blog WHAS’s Mark Hebert:
McConnell On……..
Here are some quotes from U.S. Senator Mitch McConnell today on Al Gore, Fletcher and allegations that one of his aides prompted the GOP’s criticism of a 12-year-old boy.
[...]
On allegations that one of his aides e-mailed reporters encouraging them to check the background of 12-year-old Graeme Frost, the kid who gave the democratic radio response to President Bush last weekend (see earlier post): McConnell gave a curt “no” to most questions I asked about his staffer’s link to the story finally adding “there was no involvement whatsoever.
Q: From your staff?
A: None “
UPDATE: ThinkProgress has more coverage. It seems the White House is now endorsing and, indeed, embracing the smear campaign against Graeme Frost and family:
White House Embraces Right-Wing Blog That Called For ‘Destroying’ Graeme Frost
Much of the far right’s smear campaign against 12-year old SCHIP recipient Graeme Frost was driven by the right-wing blogosphere. One blog in particular, Redstate, featured especially vitriolic comments. A poster there wrote of the Frost family:
If federal funds were required [they] could die for all I care. Let the parents get second jobs, let their state foot the bill or let them seek help from private charities. […]
I would hire a team of PIs and find out exactly how much their parents made and where they spent every nickel. Then I’d do everything possible to destroy their lives with that info.
Rather than distancing themselves from the smear campaign, the White House today decided to embrace RedState and reward the blog with an official White House posting.
In a post entitled “Democrats’ SCHIP Budget Gimmick,” Nicholas Thompson, a staffer in the White House’s Office of Strategic Intiatives, rallied the conservative troops around Bush’s hard-line stance, reminding them that “we are less than one week” from Congress’ veto override vote.
[...]
UPDATE: According to RedState, the poster who smeared Graeme was actually a respected voice in the right-wing blog. “As it turns out, it was the well-known contributor mbecker who posted that now famous comment.”
- Graeme Frost , Mitch McConnell , SCHIP
- Comments(5)
This gem from Don Davis of Satirical Political .com
RIGHT-WING DINGBATS ‘SWIFT-DINGHY’ A TWELVE YEAR OLD
“We Have Conclusive Evidence That The Kid Never Even Served In Vietnam”.
Finally. The Louisville media picks up the Graeme Frost story. Mark Hebert asked McConnell about the email from his office (Don Stewart) with bogus talking points to smear Graeme and his family. Hebert got a testy “NO” from McConnell. He needs to keep asking McC, until we get the truth on this developing scandal.
Hebert should be at UofL on Monday 10/15 8:00am, Bigelow Hall, when McConnell will introduce Sen. Reid. Call Hebert and tell him not to let Mitch off the hook, 582-7711.
Next thing you know, they’ll call 12-year-old Graeme a “phony soldier.”
Attorney General Stumbo
The media has made such a sensational issue of why Stumbo looked into the request by a state employee that was impacted by the Merit confusion it very well, in the long term impacted AG Stumbo. Since, most of us don’t know AG Stumbo personally, all we have to assist, in forming an opinion, is what we read in the media, BLOGS included.
Early on it was expected AG Stumbo wanted to be “in the mix” and make a run for Governor. However, he mounted and rode the wrong horse. I can’t understand that decision, other than availability of $$$$$ assistance from Lunsford. A failed politician who was so wealthy, from screwing the Federal Government, via MEDICARE, when he had to pay fines for abuse, made fortune an then “bailed out on his stockholders with millions in his bank account, perhaps that was the REASON Stumbo partnered with Lunsford?
There was, at the time, a lot of push back toward Jerry Lundergan, the GOOD OLD BOYS choice to run the KDP. The former chair will always be Ahole buddies with Stumbo, they think alike. Lundergan’s place, as the KDP chair, was done by THE OLD GUARD. When Lundergan began to rule with his OLD GUARD iron fist, then there was a rebellion toward “the establishment.” And, his lack luster structure and work to elect a full Congressional ticket accelerated the opinions.
Media focus on Stumbo made this merit scandal, a story which could be blogged by many people. Because of the previous “perception?” of Stums politics, some formed an opinion based on what was read on blogs and in the media. And, that is generally, where voters get their information about the candidates.
But, the real truth is almost 50% of the Commonwealth could care less about reading and understanding politics.
The action, by the Attorney Generals office set the pace for the debate, or discussion. And, that grew as the GOP trolls blasted away, because they felt they had a reasonable issue, and they did.
The problem was that discussion only got tiny legs and was not able to advance to the point where it impacted Stumbo personally.
The defeat of Stumbo and Lunsford, IMO, was not the action that was triggered by the unpopularity of Attorney General Greg Stumbo. It was Lunsford’s previous endorsement and financial contributions to Ernie Fletcher that marked him with the “traitor” label.
When it came time to bat ‘CLEAN UP’, for some reason, AG Stumbo folded his hand, got out of the mix, thinking that would take THE HEAT OFF.
Now, with the Senate race coming up, AG Stumbo has decided to feel around, see what support he might have for US Senator. So far we don’t know how that went. But don’t write AG Stumbo off. He is a seasoned Eastern Kentucky politician and still has very good support in that geography.
The question is, did the investigation and the later indictments, hurt or help AG Stumbo across the other geographies of the state? We don’t know that . . . yet. Stumbo, probably, (IMO) should have known, Ernie Fletcher would do whatever it took to get even with AG Stumbo, thus we have the ETHICS procedure proposal, that is going on right now.
Because, that committee is loaded with Fletcher’s supporters, Fletch probably thought if he could impact AG Stumbo’s chances, by referring AG Stumbo’s actions to the Ethics Panel, that action, if successful, would benefit the R’s in the Senate Race, especially, Mitch McConnell.
Now that is something that I can’t sort out. Why would Fletcher accept the “nose rubbing” of McConnell, now that it appears McConnell could very well loose his bid for another term?
As to what impact, that will have on, AG Stumbo’s chances, to be the Democratic nominee, we won’t know till AG Stumbo gets out and about and collects, as he probably already has, some polling data on his appeal statewide.
If the KDP could pull it off, and they probably will not be able to, a heavy concentration should be placed on the potential candidate that has the best statewide polling numbers.
But, the ego of those that want to join “Mr. Smith in Washington” won’t allow for a non contested primary. And in this instance, the Democrats are going to need all the guns and all the money we can raise to defeat Mitch McConnell.
Many will push back, that is wrong. Well, in most instances that may be an unacceptable solution.
What we (the D’s) are up against, as most political junkies know, is a powerful GOP Senator that has been entrenched in national politics for many, many years. He has a good base of support that no matter how he performs in the Senate, they will still vote for him.
There exist great opportunity here, but will a mass of candidates and a shortage of money for the next round, hinder the D.s?
Now that will not be a very acceptable statement, but it does have LOGIC. But, then politics is not based on logic, is it?
Posted by: Jim Anderson Stivers | October 13, 2007 at 12:05 PM
A sign outside McConnell’s House tonight, 10/14: “KY Sen. Scrooge Smears Sick 12-year old”
When McConnell’s big SUV pulled up to his garage and he got out, he saw this sign.
Great job Judy, keep it up!!!