The Old Man's Slipping...
I'm scooping him again, on a story he picked up on. It seems that the culprit of the GOP talking points memo has been discovered. LGF reports:
http://www.littlegreenfootballs.com/weblog/weblog.php
WASHINGTON, April 6 - Senator Mel Martinez, Republican of Florida, said Wednesday that a senior member of his staff had written an unsigned memorandum about the partisan political advantages of intervening in the case of Terri Schiavo that became a controversial footnote to the debate over the wisdom and motives of Congress’s actions.
In a statement on Wednesday night, Mr. Martinez said that he had just learned that the memorandum originated in his office and that its author had resigned. He did not name the author, but aides said it was Brian Darling, his counsel.
Mr. Darling could not be reached for comment.
“It is with profound disappointment and regret that I learned today that a senior member of my staff was unilaterally responsible for this document,” Mr. Martinez said. “It was not approved by me or any other member of my staff, nor were we aware of its existence until very recently.”
Mr. Martinez added: “This type of behavior and sentiment will not be tolerated in my office. As the senator, I am ultimately responsible for the work of my staff and the product that comes out of this office. I take full responsibility for this situation.”
The anonymous memorandum, which was distributed to news organizations by Democratic aides and first reported by ABC News, became widely cited in news reports as evidence that at least some Republicans were applying a political calculus to the case of Ms. Schiavo, the brain-damaged Florida woman. Senator Bill Frist of Tennessee, the majority leader, and many other Republican Senators quickly disavowed the document, saying they had never seen it and that they condemned it.
So, I guess there is no "Rathergate" Part II. And it's nice to see Martinez taking the blame for the offense. His staff member resigned, and he's standing up, and will take the criticism for what was released. Good thing. Great thing. It's good to see someone taking responsibility for the actions of his people.
Now, if we could only get the MSM to do this, things might run a bit smoother across the political landscape. But I'm not holding my breath.
The Bunny ;
I'm scooping him again, on a story he picked up on. It seems that the culprit of the GOP talking points memo has been discovered. LGF reports:
http://www.littlegreenfootballs.com/weblog/weblog.php
WASHINGTON, April 6 - Senator Mel Martinez, Republican of Florida, said Wednesday that a senior member of his staff had written an unsigned memorandum about the partisan political advantages of intervening in the case of Terri Schiavo that became a controversial footnote to the debate over the wisdom and motives of Congress’s actions.
In a statement on Wednesday night, Mr. Martinez said that he had just learned that the memorandum originated in his office and that its author had resigned. He did not name the author, but aides said it was Brian Darling, his counsel.
Mr. Darling could not be reached for comment.
“It is with profound disappointment and regret that I learned today that a senior member of my staff was unilaterally responsible for this document,” Mr. Martinez said. “It was not approved by me or any other member of my staff, nor were we aware of its existence until very recently.”
Mr. Martinez added: “This type of behavior and sentiment will not be tolerated in my office. As the senator, I am ultimately responsible for the work of my staff and the product that comes out of this office. I take full responsibility for this situation.”
The anonymous memorandum, which was distributed to news organizations by Democratic aides and first reported by ABC News, became widely cited in news reports as evidence that at least some Republicans were applying a political calculus to the case of Ms. Schiavo, the brain-damaged Florida woman. Senator Bill Frist of Tennessee, the majority leader, and many other Republican Senators quickly disavowed the document, saying they had never seen it and that they condemned it.
So, I guess there is no "Rathergate" Part II. And it's nice to see Martinez taking the blame for the offense. His staff member resigned, and he's standing up, and will take the criticism for what was released. Good thing. Great thing. It's good to see someone taking responsibility for the actions of his people.
Now, if we could only get the MSM to do this, things might run a bit smoother across the political landscape. But I'm not holding my breath.
The Bunny ;
posted by Syd And Vaughn | 9:51 PM
3 Comments:
I'd be very curious to hear from Mr. Darling. How did it get from his hands into those of Dem aides?
It makes me uncomfortable that the same man who wrote the doc than was responsible for it's distribution.
I wouldn't call it quits on the Rathergate comparison just yet. Regardless of origin, be it Dem or GOP, it is simliar in every other way.
A dubiuos document, delivered anonymously that ultimately ends up in the press and is used to blast the GOP?
Despite the revelations reported at LGF, it is yet another crystal clear example of gross media error. If anything, the fact that we now know it's origin, casts the media that ran with it in an even worse light.
Tea Party,
True that there may be some similarities, and this does bear further investigation. We will have to wait and see. I'm sure the sites that took point on this will be looking into how that memo made it into the hands of the Dems, and into the hands of the MSM, who is only so willing to slam the GOP at every turn.
;)
The liberal/Rockefeller Republicans have once again given the MSM a mace to bludgeon all Republicans with. Last month’s star-crossed attempt by liberal Republicans to expand the role of government will hurt all Republicans. Mel is an imbecile. It is starting to look like ’06 will be a rerun of ’92 when Reagan Democrats left the Republican Party in a vain attempt to find a truly conservative party. Again liberal Republicans give the MSM the weapons to drive all Republicans out of office.
Rod Stanton
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