Mehlman is being investigated for at least two events.

[madfloridian]

I don't think our party chairman should debate him. I think it was very embarrassing to our party if what is being said here is true....if McAuliffe was making it sound like Dean was scared of Mehlman. If people don't see what's going on here, they need to start being aware.

Dean was probably traveling. He was in Minnesote at several events yesterday...and today he is in CT with Lamont. Right now I think. That is pretty tight travel time.

Here are the things Mehlman is in trouble for, and it is just being ignored. Did McAuliffe mention them? Dean does frequently. That's why he won't "debate" him. One can't "debate" someone who only uses talking points.

Looks like Mehlman had someone fired on behalf of Abramoff
http://journals.democraticunderground.com/madfloridian/416

Whatever happened about Ken Mehlman and the phone jamming in NH
http://journals.democraticunderground.com/madfloridian/413

[madfloridian]

1. Oh, I forgot.

Dean has always refused to appear with Mehlman. He has never made that a secret. He has said it would be like trying to sensationalize it.

But Mehlman tracks Dean's appearances like a little puppy dog, and he has a temper tantrum if he is not asked to be on after him...whiny right wing baby.

[havocmom]

2. Mehlman is total scum and totally pathetic. Sells out for concert tickets

Fires a guy who was working to stop sex slave trade cuz Abramoff's clients make money on that trade. Wants tickets to a concert for the effort.

WHAT A GUY!

Attention Republican voters: Is THAT what your values are for? You gonna support this sort of activity? SLAVES? Is that OK with you? Not OK with any of the loyal opposition I recall from days when we had our differences, but we were all in favor of freedom and self determination.

Mehlman is a pathetic sycophant with NO MORAL FIBER. He will do whatever he is told for the chance to sit at the 'cool kids' table. He is the head of the national GOP. That just about says it all.

[madfloridian]

3. I would love to see the Today Show video or transcript of McAuliffe

I truly hope he did not make it sound like Dean was a coward.

[blm]

6. It was the implied tone from TODAY Show that Dean refused to be on

not McAuliffe - but TODAY asking McAuliffe to appear in PLACE of Dean is the surprise. Why not someone who holds a CURRENT leadership position in the Dem party?

[madfloridian]

7. You know the answer already.

But we must not say it out loud.

[blm]

10. Too late. I already have in other threads.

So how close ARE Russert and Carville and Matalin these days?

[madfloridian]

13. Isn't it amazing how cozy they all are?

I never ceased to be amazed. McAuliffe I understand was grinning from ear to ear at being on air with cute Mehlman.

[madfloridian]

4. And our chairman is NOT under investigation....

isn't that a nice situation to have?

It is amazing to me that anyone would start a post because Dean refused to appear with Mehlman.

It is Mehlman's tactic. Dean can't appear anywhere without his tagging along.

Fact: Mehlman will be in court over the NH deal...if only as a witness. Yet McAuliffe is proudly appearing with him.

[Kagemusha]

5. Unlike Dean, Mehlman is a big, fat liar.

He lies repeatedly and vehemently about many subjects and it's simply not worth debating a liar of such low standing.

[madfloridian]

8. Good tactic, Mehlman...Good tactic, Rove. Keep Dean off the air..

Unless he agrees to debate a fool who is being investigated for at least two questionably legal things.

I hope Dean never stoops to debating him.

He never has done it.

[madfloridian]

9. Media Matters asked Mehlman about Sabbath with Abramoff

http://mediamatters.org/items/200610170001

Suggested question for Mehlman: Do you really not recall whether you had Sabbath dinner at Jack Abramoff's house?

Summary: Republican National Committee chairman Ken Mehlman has been inconsistent in his public statements about his relationship to disgraced GOP lobbyist Jack Abramoff. In recent interviews, CNN's Wolf Blitzer and U.S. News & World Report staff writer Will Sullivan passed up the opportunity to challenge Mehlman about these inconsistencies.
As the scandal surrounding disgraced GOP lobbyist Jack Abramoff has inched closer to the White House over the past year, Republican National Committee (RNC) chairman Ken Mehlman has offered inconsistent accounts of his relationship with Abramoff. In a January interview,

Mehlman described Abramoff as "someone who we don't know a lot about. We know what we read in the paper." In April, however, an RNC spokesperson was quoted conceding that Mehlman had known Abramoff "in various capacities" after emails surfaced suggesting that, as White House political director during Bush's first term, Mehlman had repeatedly been in direct contact with the lobbyist. And when even more details recently came to light regarding the political favors Mehlman allegedly carried out on Abramoff's behalf, Mehlman told the Los Angeles Times that he did not "recall the details of his contacts with the Abramoff team."

In other words...they pump Dean over every little detail, and they give Mehlman a pass. There is so much more...posting more later.

Thank God our chairman is a decent man who really cares about our party and our country.

[Dr Fate]

11. I'd rather he debate him and make the charges you just made.

Half the time DUers are putting out conspiracy theoris about how Dean and others are "not allowed" in the media or they are "censored" or they "have to be invited."

The the other half of the time is spent making excuses for why they dont show up when they DO have media access.

This not a jab at Dean- this goes for all DEMS- they should be on TV every chance they get. They moslty all seem to be clueless when it comes to this- not just Dean.

If McCullife was afraid to bring up these scandals, then Dean should have gone and thrown them in Melman's face.

You can deabte someone who uses only talking points. You say - "That is not factual- it's just more talking points- here is the truth..." Or whatever. In fact, it is EASIER to debate talking points b/c you already know what they are.

[madfloridian]

14. Whatever.

That is just how I feel today to come here and see threads criticing Dean for NOT appearing opposite Mehlman. He has never done it, he said he never would.

Mehlman is under some serious investigation. Why did McAuliffe appear with him with a big smile on his face?

Whatever.

[Dr Fate]

15. The fact that he has never done it before bothers me just as much.

On general principle, I disagree with running from a debate with a Republican- no matter who the DEM is.

[madfloridian]

12. Ken Mehlman, Abramoff's "Rock Star"

Lots of embedded links I am not transferring, so be sure to visit the TPM Muckraker page. I hope people think twice here before criticizing Dean for not appearing with this guy. But they won't. Yesterday was bash Kerry day, now it is Dean's turn again. It varies. The others get off pretty lightly.

http://www.tpmmuckraker.com/archives/001638.php

"RNC Chairman Ken Mehlman did so many favors for Jack Abramoff, the lobbyist's team viewed him as a "rock star."

In an email exchange from November 2001 (you can see it here), Abramoff associate Tony Rudy writes Abramoff, "Mehlman said he would 'take care of this.' He was a rock star." Abramoff replies: "He's great."

The two were referring to Mehlman's agreement to get Abramoff's client the Mississippi Choctaw millions in federal funds to build a new jail -- but Mehlman, who had Sabbath dinner at Abramoff's house and visited his restaurant Signatures, did more than that to gain rock star status.

In a January 2001 email (posted here), Rudy reports that Mehlman had agreed to get an Abramoff foe "fired" at the State Department. The House Report details other instances of Mehlman's help, such as providing Abramoff with a White House endorsement for Republican candidates close to Abramoff on Guam; and making sure that a Republican running in the Northern Mariana Islands did not get an endorsement in the governor's race there, since he was opposing Abramoff crony Ben Fitial.

Permalink | TOPICS: Jack Abramoff

[madfloridian]

16. Mehlman helping GOP funnel money to Lieberman.

I know, I know, Insight is a right wing source.

http://www.insightmag.com/Media/MediaManager/Lieberman2.htm

"The White House funneled millions of dollars through major Republican Party contributors to Sen. Joseph Lieberman’s primary campaign in a failed effort to ensure the support of the former Democrat for the Bush administration.

A senior GOP source said the money was part of Deputy White House Chief of Staff Karl Rove's strategy to maintain a Republican majority in the Senate in November. The source said Mr. Rove, together with Republican National Committee Chairman Ken Mehlman, directed leading pro-Bush contributors to donate millions of dollars to Mr. Lieberman's campaign for re-election in Connecticut in an attempt that he would be a "Republican-leaning" senator.

"Joe took the money but said he would not play ball," the source said. "That doesn't mean that this was a wasted investment."

"The source said that under Mr. Rove's plan, Mr. Lieberman would vote with the GOP on national security issues and help provide the party with a 50-50 split on major legislation. The deciding vote would then be cast by Vice President Dick Cheney."