RNC Attack Campaign Drawing Republican Critics

[babylonsister]

http://www.washingtonmonthly.com/archives/individual/2008_12/016079.php

RNC ATTACK CAMPAIGN DRAWING REPUBLICAN CRITICS.... Within a few hours of Rod Blagojevich's arrest, the Republican National Committee was circulating materials to reporters hoping to prove that the governor was closely tied to Barack Obama. As the week progressed, the attacks intensified, reality notwithstanding.

This culminated in a three-minute web video, released over the weekend, featuring evidence of instances in which the senator from Illinois met the governor of Illinois. This was helpful in proving ... well, that the RNC is pretty desperate right about now and hard up for content with which to smear Obama.

On Sunday, John McCain distanced himself from the RNC's efforts, saying there's corruption in both parties and describing the RNC's campaign as a distraction.

Today, Newt Gingrich went even further. From a written statement issued by the former House Speaker:

"I was saddened to learn that at a time of national trial, when a president-elect is preparing to take office in the midst of the worst financial crisis in over seventy years, that the Republican National Committee is engaged in the sort of negative, attack politics that the voters rejected in the 2006 and 2008 election cycles.

"The recent web advertisement, "Questions Remain," is a destructive distraction. Clearly, we should insist that all taped communications regarding the Senate seat should be made public. However, that should be a matter of public policy, not an excuse for political attack. <...>

"This ad is a terrible signal to be sending about both the goals of the Republican Party in the midst of the nation's troubled economic times and about whether we have actually learned anything from the defeats of 2006 and 2008.

"The RNC should pull the ad down immediately."

Interesting. Now, I won't presume to know Gingrich is thinking here, and for all I know, his statement was sincere.

But I think his denunciation speaks to a larger strategic truth -- there's just no reason for Republicans to pursue an Obama "connection" with Blagojevich, because, as is obvious by now, there's nothing linking the president-elect to this scandal. The more efforts the Republicans invest, the more time they waste, and the less credibility they'll have when their attacks fail to pan out.

Substantively, the RNC is pursuing a scandal that doesn't exist. Politically, the RNC has nothing to gain by throwing around bogus smears that no one seriously believes anyway, in a time of crisis where tolerance for far-right nonsense is awfully low.

Gingrich, whatever his motivations, is for a change offering his party some good advice.
—Steve Benen

[Alter Ego]

1. Well, I'm inclined to take McCain at his word, considering

he's really got nothing to gain by defending Obama.

[FrenchieCat]

2. The Republicans that are dogging Obama on this Blago issue

are traitors to the American people.....as is the Media who is helping them in this endeavor.

[CitizenPatriot]

3. exactly.

I see that they aren't playing guilt by association with the Norm Coleman scandal. If they're such patriots, why are they running around making a big deal out of only the Dems corruption? Ted Stevens? Palin??? Why aren't they calling for transparency from these folks?

They are truly the party of complete and utter hacks. No substance. Unbelievable that they are willing to humiliate themselves over and over again, proving in no uncertain terms that they really are a dead party.

I PUKE, therefore I am.

[HillWilliam]

8. Lucky us. The GOP lately only stop shooting their own feet

just barely long enough to reload.

When one's enemy is making a mistake, by all means don't interfere :)

[nc4bo]

5. Their colors are showing (again). M$M is a mirror image of the GOP

M$M is the GOP's Mini-Me.

It's disgusting, boring and reeks of desperation. Both M$M and the right-wing (and its loony supporters) refuse to get it through their thick skulls that America is tired of their destructive ideology and tactics. The proof of that; the election of an African-American Democrat for President and a fired up electorate.

The GOP is in serious need of a mirror and 12-step program. I can toss in MJ's Man in the Mirror cd for free.

I'm no fan of Gingrich but I'm glad he spoke up against the RNC and to his fellow Republicans.

[MiniMe]

4. Newt is a smart politician, and he knows that Obama was not involved

What they leaked from the tape pretty much exonerates Obama when Blago says they want something for nothing.

I still hate Newt for many reasons, but he is right here.

[randr]

6. The RNC is addicted to Rovian tactics and have no one with the balls

to stand up to Karl.
Rove will keep his un-American clammy hands on his Republican agenda until someone grows some.

[xxqqqzme]

7. Is newt starting his '12 run for

the presidency already?