http://theplumline.whorunsgov.com/uncategorized/anonymous-attack-on-gop-chair-candidate-uses-fake-newspaper-cover/Anonymous Attack On GOP Chair Candidate Uses Fake Newspaper Cover
Uh oh — it looks like viral email dirty tricks (okay, parodies) are now entering into the race for Republican National Committee chair.
This image of a parodied USA Today cover is being anonymously blasted around among Republicans — it imagines what the front page of the paper will look like if South Carolina GOP chair Katon Dawson, who was a member of a whites only club, wins the RNC chairmanship:
The image was pasted in an email circulated to undisclosed recipients that bore the subject line: “USA Today Headline.” The email said: “Please make sure to take a look at the USA Today image attached regarding the RNC Chair race.”
The email and image, another sign of how bitter the RNC chair’s race has gotten as Friday’s election day approaches, was forwarded to me by a Republican operative who says that its making the rounds among Republicans involved in the race.
“RNC Chooses Whites Only Chairman,” the headline blares.
The subheads: “White House Rejoices With GOP Selection.”
And: “GOP Leaders and Independent Voters Upset.”
The “front page” does specify that it’s a “parody.” The idea, obviously, is to hit Dawson by pointing out that electing someone who was a member of a whites only club as the new public face of the GOP won’t exactly help the party counter charges that it’s become a southern regional party that’s been hijacked by intolerants.
Dawson has defended himself by saying that he pushed for the club to change its ways, but that hasn’t stopped his opponents from doing their best to make it a big issue.
No word on who’s behind the image.
Update: South Carolina GOP spokesperson Rob Godfrey emails over this response:
Members of the national committee have come to disregard these anonymous attacks as sad attempts by cynical political insiders to manipulate the outcome of the chairman’s race. These attacks have proven to be as ineffective as they are uncreative. Those responsible for these attacks are clearly not interested in a Republican renewal and appear ready to embrace the failed political playbooks of the past. I hope candidates for chairman continue to hold their campaigns teams to higher standards than to circulate this material.