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The parties are planned by local activists, but promoted by the Republican National Committee, so we placed a call to spokeswoman Tracey Schmitt. "It appears to be a hoax from an individual with too much time on their hands," she said, adding that her office would continue to look into the matter to see who was behind it.
It wouldn't be the first time a Bush web site had caused unexpected trouble. Remember during the presidential race in 2004, when the campaign allowed supporters to create their own signs for Bush on the Internet? The program was quickly scuttled after obscene -- and decidedly anti-Bush -- signs were being made on the site.
By late Monday afternoon, Republicans said they had organized 1,375 parties. (Plus or minus the one in Bloomington.....)
“The State of the Union parties are an excellent way for supporters to get to know each other while watching President Bush address the nation,” Republican Party chairman Ken Mehlman said in a statement. “This is an example of yet another successful Republican grassroots effort to galvanize support for President Bush and Republican candidates nationwide.”
link:
http://newsblogs.chicagotribune.com/news_theswamp/2006/01/a_gop_house_par.html"...an individual with too much time on their hands" sounds like an excuse, but the GOP is going to "investigate" itself again. I'm sure that will get to the bottom of it. :eyes: