Ashley Todd and why you should know how to use a mirror
When I read about this story last night, it didn’t strike as something that was going to end up being true. Even Michelle Malkin had pointed out last night she thought the story was a fake. I’m guessing the people that tried to tell her she was wrong feel like idiots.
The whole “B” thing for me was the clincher last night before the whole “confession” today after seeing the photo online. Many years ago in a different life, under the influence of some type of substance, I did one of those “jailhouse” type tattoos on my arm in a mirror in the bathroom. I clearly wasn’t thinking logically at the time because the “L” I was going for…ended up looking like a “J”. Which would mean those of you who are planning to fake some type of a cut or planning to do a self tattoo? Make sure you remember what a mirror image means. That “J” still on my arm today years after it should have faded away is a reminder for me that everyone does stupid things that don’t go away…
Now, some of you have been chomping at the bit to be able to bash Ashley Todd, the reality is if the story would have been true, as many pointed out last night on some of the sites I visited, it had no bearing on the Obama campaign since they are not responsible for crazy supporters. The same rule should apply for the McCain campaign, they are also not responsible for crazy supporters. That’s if people were interested in being fair. I’m actually glad I didn’t hit publish last night, I’ve saved any of you who would have believed it was true from having to retract/be teased about it.
Though of course there were some on the right out there promoting this story without question and making some pretty nasty observations about Obama supporters based on this one incident, now some on the left are engaging in the never ending game of tit for tat, it’s to be expected. There have of course been the requisite accusations that she is a plant, rather than to accept the knowledge that craziness is not limited to one political ideology and to avoid uttering the words so many find it impossible to say, “I was wrong” which really if people could learn to do that? We’d live in a whole different world…
We often fall for stories like this, anyone who worried about Karyn McConnell Hancock being kidnapped should ring a bell, and then when we find out they faked it? The wrath begins, well deserved…
The young lady obviously needs help. There is no sin in being mentally ill.
October 24th, 2008 at 8:02 pmShe should have faked her own kidnapping…then she’d get off with a handslap.
October 24th, 2008 at 8:30 pmNot that I’m an expert on face-carvings, but the “B” is not really reversed.
If she stood on her head, the “B” would be right-reading. Try it, download the photo, rotate it 90 degrees and you’ll see that the “B” reads correctly.
October 24th, 2008 at 9:56 pmLOL Sepp
what, the reverse “B” on her cheek wasn’t a clue, huh?
makes me wonder if Oil Of Olay won’t “heal” that black eye thingy either
making McCain rush around with damage control looking for a “Joe” to help solve his problem
she’ll also be slapped with a racism charge, right Al and Jessie?
count your blessings, Karyn….
October 24th, 2008 at 10:02 pmIf Todd was just a volunteer, I’d agree that it’d be wrong to blame McCain or the Republican Party for Todd’s actions, but it appears from the College Republican blog and a story in the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette that Todd was a paid staffer for the CRNC.
http://crnation.com/2008/10/24/attack-on-crnc-field-rep-real-or-hoax/
http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/08298/922489-470.stm
There’s a big difference between supporters and staffers, IMO. Candidates and parties can’t necessarily choose their supporters, but they can sure as heck choose their staff, and if they hire insane people, that’s on the candidate/party. They take the credit for their staffers’ work, they take the blame for their staffers’ work.
October 24th, 2008 at 10:13 pmDo you think you would have been teased about it if you posted it? Nah I don’t think so
October 24th, 2008 at 10:18 pmCampaigns have a history of having staffers that cause problems, even some higher up than Todd, it traditionally causes some slight news, those that care let fire them, those that don’t can sometimes drag the story out as a news cycle item.
Realistically unless it can be proven someone from the campaign suggested she did this? I don’t think those who would actually consider voting for McCain are going to find it an issue.
Most of these kids hired are not really much more than volunteers, the pay is not that great, the hours are long and most of them do it because either they have dreams of future political aspirations that this would help them or really believe in the candidate.
October 24th, 2008 at 10:21 pmI saw you were, Chris, but at least you didn’t go way out there like some did, there has been a recent disturbing increase in violence.
October 24th, 2008 at 10:23 pmIf she stood on her head, the “B” would be right-reading. Try it, download the photo, rotate it 90 degrees and you’ll see that the “B” reads correctly.
And if you relax your eyes while looking at the B on her face, you can see the hidden 3D image.
October 24th, 2008 at 10:24 pmEveryone should be civilized. You can agree to disagree. Any McCain or Obama supporter, who uses violence or threats is just wrong (to yourself or others). You can be passionate without going overboard.
October 24th, 2008 at 10:34 pm# # 1 Brian Schwartz Says:
October 24th, 2008 at 8:02 pm
“The young lady obviously needs help. There is no sin in being mentally ill.”
Ah, and this is why karen has been relived of her racist attack.
October 24th, 2008 at 10:35 pmLisa,
I’ve worked on campaigns before, so I am well aware of the hours and the pay. I fail to see what relevance the hours and pay have to Todd’s decision to cut up her face and try to revive some of the oldest stereotypes in this country.
No matter how long I worked, or how little I was paid, I never, never ever had any impulse of carving the opponent’s initials into my face and claiming I was assaulted. Nor have any other staffers I’ve talked to. The CRNC was negligent in hiring her, and they should bear the consequences of that negligence.
Plus, it now appears as if the McCain campaign was only too happy to shop the story to reporters before any details were known, while playing up the racial aspects.
http://tpmcafe.talkingpointsmemo.com/
For the past month, the McCain-Palin campaign has run the most vicious, hateful operation I’ve ever seen; as ye sow, so shall ye reap.
October 24th, 2008 at 10:36 pmOne more comment tonight,
This staffer did much more than just cause a problem. Ashley Todd purposely tried to enflame racial hatred and possibly violence in order to benefit her candidate. Todd falsely accused a black man of a crime that, up until recently, would have been a lynchable offense regardless of the truthiness of that accusation. The Republican Party put Todd on the payroll and gave her the opportunity, and shame on anyone who would say that the GOP or McCain should be let off the hook because they didn’t explicitly order Todd to do it. As John Lewis said, McCain and Palin have created an environment where racism and bigotry can thrive; Todd’s action is a natural result of that.
October 25th, 2008 at 1:09 amJohn Lewis retracted his statement, the implication that only one campaign has created hatred is not the reality I’ve seen. I understand that you are are presenting that particular “message”, but both campaigns have created the current environment.
Sure most normal campaign staff/volunteers or supporters don’t make up assaults or carve B’s into their faces, some do things like hack into emails, threaten people, burn signs, destroy property, vote illegally, and I could go on.
It’s not shocking to me that someone made up a story, or that race was a factor. I’m not going to get all outraged when here in Toledo a former councilperson and attorney claimed she was kidnapped by white men (she was black) and she faked the kidnapping. She received the same slap on the wrist that I expect Todd as well as the many other women out there who have reported false assualts have received. Now personally? It disgusts me as a woman when any woman for any reason makes up a fake assault, as a former victim it makes it easier for men especially in a domestic violence situation to play games with blame. That has nothing to do with McCain creating it…
October 25th, 2008 at 9:27 am……..this whole story is so scary. Any time you fabricate a story against a person of another color is wrong, wrong, wrong. No matter the severity. It reminds me of this story from our past: http://crime.about.com/od/murder/a/susan_smith.htm
October 25th, 2008 at 9:20 pmThis isn’t the first time Todd pulled something like this. She used deceptive tactics while working for the Ron Paul campaign this spring.
http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/08299/922849-53.stm
I really hope someone in the MSM connects the dots on this one. The CRNC should have their noses rubbed in this mess. Absolutely disgusting.
October 25th, 2008 at 10:14 pmPresidential campaigns bring out the passionate side of people. And some of those people aren’t too balanced to start with.
I echo the sentiment that this young lady is obviously in need of some help. I pray there is someone in her life to intervene and get her the guidance that she so obviously needs.
I’m not sure how this lady is being referred to as ‘Karen’??? That doesn’t make any sense.
October 25th, 2008 at 10:50 pmShe should have gone with an “O”…
October 26th, 2008 at 8:48 amThe thing that comes to mind is that this young woman did not end up getting the type of attention she was seeking out. Whether it was sympathy and outrage she sought or someone to just hold her and tell her it will be alright is another question. Either way she is an unstable personality. Possibly brought on by the long thankless hours working a campaign? A mere sideshow to the real issues at hand and another “Hey look at this” distraction from the things that matter.
October 26th, 2008 at 11:35 amGood point, and her quick confession helped end the media cycle as well as those who did not believe her story from the beginning. Who knows what makes people do those kinds of things, but it’s definitely not someone who is stable.
October 26th, 2008 at 11:40 amI’m sure she is probably loving every minute of the attention she is getting. Hey, look at me!
October 27th, 2008 at 3:00 pm