OMFG: Ms. Alito and the Swift Boat Liars????

[deminks]

I knew it I knew it I knew it

http://www.pnionline.com/dnblog/attytood/archives/002645.html

via Raw Story

http://www.rawstory.com/

Why are Swift Boaters -- the folks who smeared John Kerry's war record in the 2004 election -- now trying to promote Alito's nomination by capitalizing on yesterday's bizarre incident?

We're referring to this release sent out yesterday by Creative Response Concepts, an Alexandria, Va., based PR firm with deep blood lines on the far right:

The always-alert Creative Response Concepts, a conservative public relations firm, sent this bulletin: "Former Alito clerk Gary Rubman witnessed Mrs. Alito leaving her husband's confirmation in tears and is available for interviews, along with other former Alito clerks who know her personally and are very upset about this development."

In case that was too much trouble for the journalists, the firm also e-mailed out a statement from the Judicial Confirmation Network calling "for the abuse to stop."

This post this summer from the citizen-journalists at ePluribus Media notes that the Judicial Confirmation Network is essentially an arm of Campaign Solutions, "the public-relations firm for Bush-Cheney '04, the Republican National Committee and the National Republican Congressional Committee." And the JCN had hired Creative Response Concepts as a key part of its team to aid John Roberts, now the Chief Justice, and Alito in their Senate confirmation battles. (JCN's leader, Gary Marx, used to work for Century Strategies, the firm of Ralph Reed, best pal of Jack Abramoff...small world, isn't it?)

[CottonBear]

1. OK. The tears had to have been planned and staged. n/t

[Raster]

93. Of course they were staged. And they seemed to work...

after all, we even had our own "poor woman, standing by her man" contingent here on DU. Weepy, weepy, weepy. Picking on my poor husband. My poor racist, sexist, homophobic, fascist neocon husband that is going to set women's reproductive freedom back one hundred years.

Boo fucking hoo. Some people just do not get it.

The only thing you get by taking the high road is a nose bleed.

That's what these bastards and their insufferable theatrical props count on: "aren't we better than that, we certainly don't want to stoop to their level." BULLETIN: Until we learn to stoop to their level and use the same dirty tricks and cheap theatrics, we gonna keep getting kicked in the 'nads. I for one have had enough.

[saigon68]

96. She looked like she crawled out of the sewer.

After breathing the smell of warm shit

[Cronus Protagonist]

102. I shoulda used Preparation H

[PDJane]

2. Wow.........

now there's an unholy alliance.

[AX10]

3. The crying was a setup. No question.

[The Backlash Cometh]

30. Aren't they absolutely shameless.

Right there in the open. To think that swiftboaters have any shred of credibility should tell you that the Dems did not do a good case of showing them to be the mudrackers that they are.

[azureblue]

79. It was staged, and the crybaby act was step one

At the hearing where Mrs. Alito cried at the wrong cue, Rachel Brand was seated on Mrs. Alito's left, Dan Coats on her right.
Both Repug handlers.

Rachel Brand:
Assistant Attorney General for the Office of Legal Policy.
http://www.whitehouse.gov/...

Dan Coats:
Republican Representative and a Senator from Indiana, 1989-1999
In 2005, Coats drew attention when he was chosen by President George W. Bush to shepherd Harriet Miers' nomination to the Supreme Court through the Senate.

[WarNoMore]

4. I just now read this on Buzzflash.

Unbelievable!

[wryter2000]

5. I'm not sure it means she coordinated it with them ahead of time

They could just be capitalizing on something that dropped into their laps.

I don't put it past them to orchestrate the whole thing. I'm just saying this doesn't prove it.

[A Simple Game]

38. To have a lap, you must be sitting.

For something to land in it, you must be sitting in the right place at the right time.

[mitchum]

68. Well put

[EFerrari]

64. You know what was the most telling for me?

She was there again today.

There is no way the GOP is going to let one unscripted woman between them and this nomination. No way.

If they had to, they would have chained her to her hotel room, rather than risk her going off the reservation.

They're all as disgusting as possible.

[txindy]

66. Good point

She was front and center again, today. In her white "I'm the Good Guy" Blazer of Purity. :eyes:

[EFerrari]

67. Which just happens to match those red and white

Alito campaigns signs. :eyes:

/spelling

[DanCa]

6. Bingo we now have a smoking gun forward this to Keith O. (nt)

[katinmn]

25. OK!

I forwarded it.

[UpInArms]

48. Creative Response Concepts

http://bottleofblog.typepad.com/bottleofblog/2004/09/karl_roves_grea.html

excerpt:

Creative Response Concepts, the Arlington, Va., Republican public relations firm run by former Pat Buchanan communications director Greg Mueller, with help from former Pat Robertson communications director Mike Russell, sent out a media advisory Thursday to hawk a right-wing news dispatch: "60 Minutes' Documents on Bush Might Be Fake." Creative Response Concepts has played a crucial role in hyping the inaccurate, secondhand Swift Boat allegations, with Russell serving as the group's official spokesman. A company spokesman could not be reached for comment.

[starroute]

82. They're tangled up in a whole lot more than that

The Republican National Committee and the National Republican Congressional Committee are both clients. (At least two of Abramoff's boys, Bob Ney and John Doolittle are on the NRCC executive board.)

So is Brent Bozell's Cybercast News Service. CRC and CNS were involved together in pushing the CBS Memos story along from the blogs to Drudge.

So is Regnery Publishing, which published the Swiftboaties' "Unfit for Command."

So is Progress for America, which was pushing Social Security privatization last year. (And which was founded by Tony Feather, a pal of Karl Rove's from his College Republican days 30 years ago.)

And that's just the recent stuff. Greg Mueller's roots go back into the 1980's and cover even more right-wing wackiness.

[long_green]

7. They're geniuses

absolute fucking geniuses. Why they're so good at this stuff and so bad at everything else is a mystery.

[CottonBear]

12. They're only "good" when doing evil. n/t

[katinmn]

16. Discussed in this brand new article

http://www.tnr.com/doc.mhtml?i=20060123&s=trb012306

Character Flaw
by Noam Scheiber
Why the Bushies are good at winning elections but terrible at governing.

[leftchick]

26. they are not geniuses

they have a fully compliant PR firm known as the US M$M that puts out their horseshit with no questions asked. I am sure a lot of hands were greased along the way. Genius had nothing to do with it.

[long_green]

29. Oh, I agree with you

Perhaps I should have said, "my God, they've got balls."

[Straight Shooter]

33. They are not geniuses.

It's just that the people who believe their charades are so frickin' stupid.

[txindy]

50. Oh, no kidding.

And I'm tired of hearing from them about the "poor woman." :eyes:

[NJCher]

88. if you're good

You don't get spotted.




Cher

[Donkeykick]

8. Why...

doesn't this surprise me? :eyes:

[rodeodance]

9. so now the dems are 'abusing' the Alito's? crapola.

In case that was too much trouble for the journalists, the firm also e-mailed out a statement from the Judicial Confirmation Network calling "for the abuse to stop."

[Virginian]

77. Abusing the Alitos?

Just which Senator made her cry and what did he say.

It was a Republican and she cried because he said nice things.

So how is this abuse and how is it the Dems fault?

[doublethink]

83. .............

..."the firm also e-mailed out a statement from the Judicial Confirmation Network calling "for the abuse to stop." -snip-

:rofl: These people are pathetic. Some kinda abuse huh? If I had the time I'd get a-hold of all their Network addresses and e mail out a statement with all the crimes the Bush Regime has perpetrated on the World, complete with photographs, statistics, facts, and what-not. But hey who's got that much time. They wouldn't listen anyway, the hypocrites. They are all complacent in the Fourth Reich, the Alito's included, they will get no slack from me. None. Peace. :)

[dogday]

10. Kicked and Nominated

[Junkdrawer]

11. Hey, can Scooter Libby's wife cry on demand....Abramoff's wife?

Mean, nasty old Democrats. :sarcasm:

[NanceGreggs]

19. Or maybe we should get THOUSANDS ...

... of Dem women to stand in the DC Mall and wail like Nancy Kerrigan -- non-stop, until the photographers and media have it locked and loaded for the nightly news.

They could come armed with boxes of Kleenex and wave giant handkerchiefs -- and tell the press they're all utterly distraught over how mean the Republicans are being to the Dems who tried to do their jobs and ask the tough questions.

[Fridays Child]

34. Enroll now in the Martha Alito Institute of Crocodile Tears!

[louis-t]

37. Whoa! That's what she looks like?

Tammy Faye school of Cosmetology, right?

[Fridays Child]

42. Well...I helped her along, just a little bit...

[louis-t]

94. Oh....heh-heh.

Didn't see that part of the hearing. Bunch of phonies.

[Junkdrawer]

47. LOL. She looks like a Tammy Faye protege...

[katinmn]

13. They sent a news release and had speakers lined up to be interviewed!?!

And the media lapped it up like hungry kittens.

How pathetic and sad for our country.

[txindy]

49. Coincidentally coordinated, weren't they?

As if. The fix was in. And, yes, it is tremendously sad for the country.

[FreedomAngel82]

53. It is

They knew they didn't have a chance in hell with him but than this was the perfect way.

[Hobarticus]

14. Wow, that took all of one day...anyone else wanna feel bad for her?

She's one helluvan actress....

[txindy]

51. Yes, she is that

And I've noticed a sudden lack of support in this thread for the wife.

About time, too.

[shaniqua6392]

15. I never saw Hillary shed tears

when they were crucifying her husband and family. I can tell by the reaction of the media today that the tears were a setup for sure. The people who are pushing for this reich wing ideologue to be confirmed to OUR Supreme Court probably put a thumbtack under her ass just for a good photo op.

[malaise]

17. She didn't cry during questioning from a single Democrat

she cried when Graham was talking. That needs to be hammered home.

[katinmn]

22. She cried when he said: "I'm sorry your family has to hear this."

With that, she cried. She was crying for herself. Waaah! Poor me.

She needs to get her meds updated.

[malaise]

40. Who told her to take her family there

The Senate has the right to question him - fugging constitutional right. These right wing nuts have gone crazy with this fugging propaganda.

[FreedomAngel82]

55. Question

I don't remember but was Roberts' family there? I know they have younger kids but was the wife at least there? :shrug:

[malaise]

60. Don't remember so clearly she wasn't as visible

this was deliberate. This is no family sanctioned appointment. This is a serious fugging process and it is the duty of Senators to grill this right wing candidate for a live long position. Dems need to hammer this point home ad nauseum. Who the fugg cares if she cries or not. Maybe dems need to find a street corner and peel some onions and have a crying fest for the entire nation. Maybe some photos of crying widows, parents and children of dead soldiers need more publicity. They want tears - give them some real fucking tears. I am now pissed.
Edit - sp.

[EFerrari]

76. It seems to me that the camera angle was different

for Roberts and that his wife was there. But, she wasn't in each frame.

I'd have to go look at CSPAN because that's only a memory.

[FreedomAngel82]

54. Someone called in Malloy last night

and made the point there was someone in the audience there who was with the RNC (I think in the past) and he kept coughing and he thought it was some type of cue.

[txindy]

58. I believe it was Ed Gillespie to whom the caller was referring

Although I'm not 100% certain.

[EFerrari]

73. He was there again today as well. n/t

[Name removed]

18. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[Fridays Child]

20. The right wing machine never ceases to amaze me.

PR firms involved in SCOTUS nominations? Holy fuckety fuck. Our side needs to take a serious look at their playbook. Fire must be fought with fire, especially when the corporate media is in their pocket.

Yesterday, I caught the tail end of short a Free Speech TV piece on the media. It can be seen here. Scroll down and look for "The Quinn Report," on the righthand side.

[FreedomAngel82]

56. Send it to Dean, Pelosi and Reid

[demgrrrll]

21. I just read this and all I can say is they play to win. Whatever it takes

honest or dishonest it does not matter. They do not care what they have to do. What does one say? If you say she is faking you look hard hearted. The Media will be more than willing to jump on that bandwagon. Their cynicism is unparalleled in modern history. The sympathy gambit is one that is effectively used by narcissistic people. No one is better at arousing pity than a narcissist. It would not surprise me that a band of narcissistic win at all costs individuals would come up with a plan like this. Even if this was not a staged event they sure are good at swooping down on any opportunity to win that presents itself. The thing is that they are so in your face and Poor Dean is out there all alone flailing away at the Republican machine like Don Quixote. Read Daou at the Huffington Post. This is what we are up against.

That being said Rove's possible indictment has the potential to really shake up the equation.

[Fridays Child]

44. They play to win. We need to do the same.

Of course, we're bound by ethics and will never go as far as they do. But that only means we need to play smarter. And we are smarter, so that shouldn't be a problem.

[EFerrari]

71. I've been thoroughly chewed out by DUers that I admire

over this. And to tell you the truth, I intuited that it was bs before I could verbalize why I knew it was fakery.

My point is, enough of us knew in one way or another just as soon as it happened to do rapid response. And we tried to, by calling our senators and suggesting the Scalitos were taking on more than they could handle. :evilgrin:

It's a start any way.

[Cooley Hurd]

86. Yep - it just didn't make sense that she cried WHEN she did...

...and the "WHY she did" was pretty freaking weak (yes, the Dem's questions were tough, but they weren't hurtful, by ANY stretch of the imagination).

What really set off my BS detector was Graham's sniveling. As I watched it, I thought, "why the hell is Graham breaking up? What Alito's family went thru was NOTHING compared to the drubbing Harriet Miers got from everyone on both sides of the political spectrum."

It just SCREAMED of bad stagecraft...:thumbsdown:

[EFerrari]

97. Yes. And more, under ALL THAT PRESSURE, most people

would not cry -- would not allow themselves to be that vulnerable.

They would numb out, go into a wee bit of shock -- and breakdown LATER when it's safe. And of course, that's just my opinion based on my experience and my observations.

The interesting thing here, imho, is that this bit of theater really did not play in a significant way. And that's what I thought in the first place: This may have a short term effect but most Americans will feel repelled by this display.

The Thugs boo-booed.

(And, it's not that I want to beat this to death, but learning their tactics and keeping track of how they play can't hurt.)

On edit: So, Graham took his own coaching too seriously?

:rofl:

[txindy]

98. I've noticed one thing

That those who have indignantly posted in Mrs. Scalito's defense in every last thread on the subject, have avoided this one completely. Gee, now, why would that be? :shrug:

:eyes:

[EFerrari]

99. Well, most of those DUers have a lot of empathy.

And that empathy was just betrayed bigtime. I can't blame them, really.

That was a lowdown dirty trick the GOP pulled, and here we are, trying to stay human and humane, dealing with these souless bastards and basterdesses.

[KittyWampus]

23. Remember the fake outrage when Kerry mentioned Cheney's lesbian daughter

[w13rd0]

35. That was actually Edwards I believe...

...and yes, the fake outrage, the crying victim, the needing Daddy Bush to spy on them to make them safe. They do this ALL THE F'N TIME!!! They steal your wallet after clubbing you over the head, then when you turn around and punch them, they cry and say you are abusing them. Bunch a f'n pansie-ass whiney beyotches.

[FreedomAngel82]

57. No it was Kerry

The last debate.

[bklyncowgirl]

41. Absolutely--this is going to be worse to deal with than Mary Cheney.

Remember the outrage from Lynn Cheney (author of the lesbian soft porn novel "Sisters") over the very thought that her little darling's private live become a public issue. (

This one's going to be even more hard to deal with than Mary Cheney. The Democrats could have shown that Mary's sexual orientation was no secret and that in fact she was something of a professional lesbian--having worked on outreach to the gay and lesbian community for Coors.

Unfortunately a sobbing spouse with no apparent political agenda is not something that is easily countered. Unless someone can come up with definitive proof that she was coached, the Democrats are going to look like total shits for beating up on poor lil' Judge Alito in front of his wife.

[LawrenceBlockFan]

24. I kind of thought it would just be a matter of time before

something like this came to light. Everything is orchestrated. These people play rough, they play dirty, and they stop nothing short of victory no matter the consequences. I say, let's find a way to match them. I guess the only difference I would suggest is that we use every legal means available to scheme the game.

[EFerrari]

74. Welcome to DU, LawrenceBlockFan

:hi:

[otohara]

27. delete - self

wrong thread opps

[phoebe]

28. I'd like to see the replay of her mouthing "bullshit" or what looked a

whole lot like it during the first session with Joe Biden when he was discussing the subtle racism that occurs when hiring..

[Cooley Hurd]

31. K&R - I just KNEW she was full of shit!

:grr:

[EFerrari]

61. I guess our hats are safe.

:)

[Cooley Hurd]

69. *snarf!*

Yep... for now. :rofl:

[AuntiBush]

32. Bet She Won't Be Crying As She Receives...

that 100k check from Mobile Oil, and enjoying all the neocon prestige since her hubby might more then likely be a Supreme Court Judge in a lifetime career.

Maybe they were tears of pure, unadulterated joy. Yeah. Or, guilty? Nah. These people are self-conscious minded. They only care about themselves.

Lifestyles of the super-rich, super-powerful and now super-famous. So what is all the boo-hooing about? Attention I'd say.

Is that the best they can do, one has to ask...

[PATRICK]

36. During the Thomas hearings

it was the Repukes who detailed the FBI secret files and called it a Dem smear and likewise they who drew more out of the Anita Hill testimony to make it backfire. Common, tired GOP strategy by now of two wrongs make a Right and both those wrongs are the left's fault.

Big-Lie-Plus-One strategy. And it only works with intimidation and spin.

[Ksec]

39. Not at all surprising.

We catch them everytime and they slither away and create another smokescreen.

This is just the way these creeps operate. We all know that and they prove it everyday.

[yellowdogmi]

43. Kick and Nominated

[DoYouEverWonder]

45. ROGER STONE'S ex-wife owns this company

ROGER STONE is the one who brought us Elian, the Miami Riot and the CBS Forgeries. He is also very involved with INDIAN GAMING and was on the Bush Transition Team for the Interior with Jack ABRAMOFF.

Between this and Lindsey Graham coaching the Alitos at the WH, this was a set up from start to finish.

This alone is enough of a reason to filibuster this nominee.

[dansolo]

59. Did Lindsey Graham coach them?

That would explain his bizarre question, and her immediate response. It was if they had agreed ahead of time for her to cry if a Democrat accused Alito of being a bigot. But the Democrats were far too diplomatic, so Graham had to give her the cue on his own. This whole thing stinks of a setup. They get to avoid any discussion about Alito's (lack of) answers by having this non-issue dominate the new cycle.

[DoYouEverWonder]

65. Lindsey Graham coached Sam Alito

at the White House. I think under the circumstances we can assume he also coached Mrs. Alito, since Graham is the one you got her crying in the first place.

[Bozita]

46. Where's Jon Stewart when you need him?

[raysr]

52. Faux

http://www.crooksandliars.com/ Will the vicious Dems pay for driving Alito's wife to tears??

[Sydnie]

62. Graham coached her husband - why not coach her too?

He WAS all but absent from the questioning today, wasn't he? Perhaps he was making some calls, arranging some PR's? Makes sense to me.

[EFerrari]

63. kick

[Lost-in-FL]

70. She needs a bitch-slapping. That will justify here...

here allegator tears!!

[samhsarah]

72. well that explains a lot

[geniph]

75. Ya know, if you can't take the heat, get outta the kitchen

If she's too delicate to take having her husband asked questions and having his record publicly aired during the hearings, then perhaps as a kindness to her fragile emotional state, he should drop out as a SCOTUS candidate. Just sayin' - one normally makes sure one's spouse is cool with the requirements to get a new job, and that applies tenfold in anything political, where ugliness is damned near a guarantee. I'm still dealing with the repercussions of having run for office when my husband really didn't want me to. He still resents it.

Not that I don't think the whole damn thing was a bit of theatrics for the tabloid audience, but I just don't see how anyone could possibly say that her crying means people can't ask a SCOTUS candidate tough questions. What a tempest in a teapot.

[EFerrari]

78. OMFG 2: azureblue posted this on another thread:

"Rachel Brand was on Mrs. Alito's left, Dan Coats on her right.
Both Repug handlers. She miscued.

RB: Rachel Brand is Assistant Attorney General for the Office of Legal Policy.
http://www.whitehouse.gov/ask/20051216-2.html
Dan Coats:
Republican Representative and a Senator from Indiana, 1989-1999
In 2005, Coats drew attention when he was chosen by President George W. Bush to shepherd Harriet Miers' nomination to the Supreme Court through the Senate."


* * *

This needs to go to Media Matters!

[K8-EEE]

80. What Question Was She Crying At, Actually?

I would like to know WTF this crybaby was carrying on about, and why anybody should give a fuck. If she can't stand the heat, it doesn't mean that we shouldn't ask people who are candidates for LIFETIME APPOINTMENTS THAT WILL AFFECT ALL OUR LIVES, why shouldn't we ask the hard questions, because of Mrs. Babycakes? Get her out of there if she can't deal!

He looks like a kingsize WIMP FASCIST FROM HELL....GWB's dream for sure.

[nomatrix]

81. I said last night expect the dem's to be swiftboated today

Just waiting for the photoshop "bandaid purple heart" to appear. Anyone?

[PittPoliSci]

84. waaaaaaaah!!! poor sammy can't take the criticism!!!

[Up2Late]

85. Haven't these people ever heard of a "Nervous Breakdown?"

I like the way they described her quick recovery on "The Daily Show" tonight, "Nothing that Zanax and a new outfit from Talbot's can't fix..." (I think it was Zanax).

[MetaTrope]

87. Is she ultimately going to be suicided to bring Alito the pity vote?

And then the knot will be tied between Alito and Condoleeza Rice, so Condi no longer embarrasses her husb--the president.

[ArmchairMeme]

89. Fake Tears due to praise of her husband

As I watched Graham "question" Alito the first time and he was saying there was nothing Alito could say that could make him vote against him, fawning over him so extravagantly I began to listen and watch more closely. It was his demeanor the next time when Graham seemed to be "badgering" Alito praise. His volume was higher and a tone of anger was used as he praised Alito. It was a very strange situation and then the cameras focused in on Mrs. Alito beginning to show her tears - she was being abused by Graham's demeanor - not his words and certainly not any questions the Democrats had raised. The Democrats were always very polite in their demeanor.

I concluded that it was staged and pre-planned on the part of Graham. It worked far better than was expected. Sort of like "hell fire and brimstone" used on your own flock. It works and it works predictably.

[Botany]

90. Creative Response Concepts

helped w/ the NOLA response; state & Locals @ fault, NSA cover stories, Dan Rather, Tom Daschle,
J. Gannnon and proudly put on their web site that they help to insert stories in non traditional methods too.

They are own Rove's speed dial.

http://rawstory.com/exclusives/map_conservative_ties_raw_story_415.htm

[deminks]

91. Nora O'whatever's (and many other's) best friend. CRC writes the news

so Nora (and others) doesn't have to.

I'm picking on Nora because she is the one that jumped on the 'poor wittle wifey' story the highest. Many others did as well.

[Botany]

please it is Whore A O'Donnell

GOP call girl

I have been on C.R.C. for over a 2 years ........ they hire ex media types and pay them big bucks to plant stories.

[Botany]

92. dupe

[redqueen]

95. Has anyone read the comments below the story?

God how I loathe idiotic wingnuts. If only it were fatal to be that stupid.

[agincourt]

100. Scalito should have brought his family in,

some brats to jump on Democratic congressman's desks and a Schnauzer to growl at Ted Kennedy when he asks questions. There's the ticket, GOPig family values. Good catch on the swift shitters, money talks again.

[Junkdrawer]

101. .

[hootinholler]

103. But they got it all wrong! She was crying because

She realized she had put on the slip-cover from her sofa instead of her jacket.

:evilgrin:

-Hoot