A ‘bad apple’ in the RNC’s office

August 11, 2006

To update a post from this morning, you’ll be pleased to know that a) Dems were apoplectic about the RNC’s Giuliani fundraising letter that sought to capitalize on the terrorist plot; and b) the RNC has found a scapegoat.

The RNC blamed a low-level staffer for distributing the fundraising appeal, which the party said had been scheduled for release before news of the plot broke.

“Once the RNC learned of this error we ceased distribution of the e-mail,” said Tracey Schmitt, a party spokeswoman.

I’m not sure what the RNC means when it says the party “ceased distribution” of the letter — once an email is sent to a list, it’s sent to the list — but the fact that Republican officials are capable of feeling some shame is a real breakthrough. (I half expected Schmitt to say, “Of course we’re using terrorism as a fundraising gimmick; what are you going to do about it?”) Maybe now the RNC will do the classy thing and donate the money it received yesterday from the Giuliani letter to a 9/11-related charity, as an acknowledgment of how inappropriate the appeal was.

As for blaming the “low-level staffer” for the incident, this is far more in line with what we’ve come to expect from the RNC. Remember in 2000, when then-Gov. Bush delivered a convention speech that promised to usher in “era of responsibility,” when people will stop passing on problems to others?

It sounded good at the time. Some people probably imagined a political system in which bosses would take responsibility for mistakes, instead of blaming the closest available “low-level staffer.” Little did we know at the time this wouldn’t apply at the RNC, or FEMA, or the CIA, or Abu Ghraib….

Thanks for the update, CB.

Wow! Democrats actually making the case, standing up like men and women. Amazing.

  • CB,

    Dude, you missed the best part of the whole event! You should really include the Democratic snort of derision and the sneer at such a lame excuse:

    “The defeat of the London plot is a warning that we should redouble our efforts to defeat terrorism. It shouldn’t be used as a political defibrillator by Republicans on electoral life support,” said Phil Singer, a spokesman for the Senate Democrats’ campaign committee.

    The smackdown. Dems swing back.

    Consider this your morale boost for the day…

  • Classy bunch them Repubs. Up there with the “let’s use the Schiavo mess to rile up the ignorant bible thumping rubes” memo.

    At least the Dems finally grew a pair and fought back. Personally, I’d make a copy and use it as a national commercial to show the electorate that this is what the Repubs mean when they talk about fighting terrorism.

  • They tried to paint the Vietnam War and the Korean War as police actions. Well, the war on terrorism should BE a police action.

    No wonder they can’t manage a country, they can’t even manage a low-level staffer. Of course, they’re only pretending to try to manage either.

  • “No wonder they can’t manage a country, they can’t even manage a low-level staffer.” – Dale

    LOL

    Thanks Dale

  • but the fact that Republican officials are capable of feeling some shame is a real breakthrough.

    You are far too charitable, CB. They likely only donned some apparent shame after a focus group gave it high favorables.

    Maybe now the RNC will do the classy thing and donate the money it received yesterday from the Giuliani letter to a 9/11-related charity, as an acknowledgement of how inappropriate the appeal was.

    The tiny breakthrough on shame aside, I don’t think they are ready for common decency.

  • I am truly hoping that the more “human” of the rethuglican side will begin to see that they are not being American or patriotic when they use 911 as a political tool. I am hoping there are some folks who pause a moment when they look into a mirror – maybe wondering if God would have approved of their tactics. Maybe – just maybe there is a small change occuring where folks are starting to know they have been lied to and used for partisan purposes. Maybe they are fed up with being mere props for Bu$hco. I really hope this is the case.

  • That same “low-level” staffer is also responsible for N. Korea’s missile program, bad news in Iraq, Hurricane Katrina, Hizbollah, Herzbollah, and diaper rash. Heck of a job, Staffie.

  • .

    Since when is Rudy Ghoulipanti a “low-level” staffer?

    Did the mean to say a “low-life” stuffer?

    lol

  • Maybe when they start naming these “low level staffers” we can find out who actually authorized the memo.

    I think it’s the old straw man or “low level staffer” position, the job requirements are simple, you are invisible, but always fuck up. I doubt you have an office, and your name remains a mystery. But through the magic of politics, you make a six figure salary.

    Their idea of responsibility is blaming a “low level staffer”, but not naming them, that would just not be the responsible thing to do.

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