October 24, 2008 12:15 PM
Hoax: McCain volunteer admits to fabricating attack story
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Police tell KDKA that a campaign volunteer has now confessed to making up a story that a mugger attacked her and cut the letter B in her face after seeing her McCain bumper sticker. Ashley Todd, 20, of Texas, initially told police that she was robbed at an ATM in Bloomfield and that the suspect became enraged and started beating her after seeing her GOP sticker on her car. Police investigating the alleged attack, however, began to notice some inconsistencies in her story and administered a polygraph test.This story was fishy from the start, and while it's sad that anyone would go to such lengths in order to fabricate a political story, I'm glad the truth has come out. This is probably the only time I'll ever say this, but kudos to Michelle Malkin and the some of the more reasonable right-wingers out there who called foul from the very start. Another interesting facet of the story: John Moody, executive VP of FOX News, is on record saying that, if true, this story could sink Obama. If not, says Moody, McCain is done. We're awaiting your update, John. Jon Perr adds: "Joe the Plumber" has been replaced by "Ashley the Fraud." UPDATE: From Jamie:
MSNBC is now reporting that in a press conference with police Todd said she didn't know how she got the B, but she may have done it herself. They also say she has had mental problems in the past. So far she is being charged with filing a false police report and other charges may still follow.
They also said she has had some previous mental issues.
Say what you mean. Mean what you say. But don't say it mean.
Lib and Proud and I both commented earlier that this was a fab job and she didn't know the B was backward.
Can't wait to hear how FOX will handle this one.
BillO and Hanitty will be crushed.
No, they'll ignore the facts and continue to talk about all the "undocumented" attacks by evil Obama supporters against the saintly mcsame crew.
The "B" was backwards? OMG - the poor girl. Just sad.
To see the look on her face when the cops asked her about the backwards 'B'. Definitely a D'OH! moment.
I was briefly watching Fox early this morning, while having my breakfast, and the morning blonde bimbo - MegYn something - and the special reporter guy were making a very big deal about this story. Som I'm wondering if they maed as big a deal about
announcing it was a fraud.
Fraud = Republicans = Fox
"Egotism is the anesthetic that dulls the pain of Stupidity" - Frank Leahy
You can dig at Fox and the Republicans about a ton of things - but every news outlet I have listened to, including Fox, has said from the onset that they think this one is not true.
Sorry - but when you make up complete falsehoods against McCain or Obama or the news media that are all bias, you weaken any valid arguement.
What part of Drudge and Fox's reporting did you miss??
I'd say the part where they jumped on this story as gospel from the very beginning and a modest search will reveal the videos to prove it.
What was your point again?
I greatly respect you Patricia, but I think poor Ashley was aware of what she was doing.
Her warped world-view could easily be complicated by mental issues. The mental-issues part could also explain her need for attention.
Only an idiot would imagine they wouldn't be found out - and while it's completely possible she's an idiot too - that doesn't mean she isn't disturbed somewhat mentally.
Think of it -- it's likely she comes out of a conservative home in a conservative social environment. How many messed up talking heads are there out there? You can't make the argument that Bill O'LIElly isn't mentally damaged - he clearly is. I don't make the argument that they all have mental issues, but she might.
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I don't think the fact that she has mental issues is an excuse. I think it's just making clear that only a person with mental issues would try something like this.
Until Ashley is diagnosed with an illness that contributed to her committing this apparent pre-meditated crime, I'll just choose to see her as a dumb bigot who got caught doing a hate crime.
Every criminal has a "mental problem" at the time they commit crimes.
They imply a known history. But it doesn't mean she's not responsible unless she has a disorder that specifically indicates that she's not responsible for her own actions.
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She was chronological. That's is pretty rational to me. She knew the political AND racial ramifications of her actions.
All I'm saying is that we don't have enough information about her mental condition to make a definitive judgment on her actions.
Don't get me wrong - it's completely reprehensible from the outside looking in -- but if she's sociopathic - they really don't see their actions as being morally offensive - their worldview is radically different than that of a normal person. To me - this completely explains Bush's hard core 23 or so percent base.
http://www.mcafee.cc/Bin/sb.html
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The Nazi's hate speech mobilized the sadists, conspiracists, socio-paths and mentally disturbed within society to act out on their most deeply seated fears and fantasies. Public officials were suddenly telling them it was 'okay'.
The Nazi's were bankrupt of ideas to save Germany from their economic collapse so they turned people's energies to HATE
The Republic party seems to be using the same tactics.
John McCain and Sarah Palin are destroying this country with their vile rhetoric.
On a lower note.....
BWAHAHAHAHAHAAH.... WHAT A TWIT!!
Hate is all they have.
What they don't understand is that the left doesn't think or react as they do. We're a party of critical thinkers. They're a party of ignorant, reactionary, troglodytes. By now - the re-Thuglics are tearing their hair out because they really DON'T understand why the country isn't having race riots - after all - they're been doing everything in their power to make sure this happens.
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I couldn't help myself. Here's a nice pic of McCain as Ashley Todd:
http://mojopo.blogspot.com/2008/10/mccain-cam...
How desperate do you have to be? It's people like this that make it easier to understand how the Sean Hannity's and Bill O'Reilly's of the world found a platform.
Goodnight, Frau Blücher
can't get that backwards.
Man smart, woman smarter.
Part of the Republican strategy seems to be built around feeding raw meat to the mad dog fringe to whip up a frenzy among their more moderate, and I don't know how much their calculations have included the possibility that they might be stoking up some imbalance among some genuinely "sensitive" members of their constituency. She's an adult who has committed a crime and she should be punished by whatever the law has deemed reasonable for this crime. That is for the judge to decide. Let us...you and me... reserve our larger disgust and criticism for the circus that put her mind in the position it found itself in when she faced herself in a mirror and carved the initial "B" in her face and called the police and reported a false crime in the name of advancing a losing candidate who has done nothing but instill the sense that his opponent is some kind of anti American "other," and the whispers not from McCain himself but certainly from his supporters that Obama is somehow anti-white. That McCain has done little to hush these whispers makes him complicit in them as far as I'm concerned.
I don't believe in a god, but if I did this woman would be in my prayers tonight in the hopes that she finds some guidance and peace, and some comfort in family and friends. I would also pray that her therapy bills be covered by the RNC. If you pray, please keep her in mind.
I like the snafu the commentator made calling Obama "Obiden." Makes me wonder if racists would be more comfy with voting for an "O'Bama," which is a fine Irish name ;-)
What's green and sits outside all winter?
Paddy O'Furniture!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EADUQWKoVek
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XD
If those calling for swift justice will still be calling it now that this girl is the criminal?
She was attacked by "Joe" the plumber. He scratched the B on her face with a rusty toilet lug.
I think I'm turning Japanese, I think I'm turning Japanese, I really think so.....
I take no pleasure in this story. To me, it's simply very sad. This girl has scarred herself for life, quite possibly. There needs to be intervention so she can get access to professional help before the scars get any deeper...regardless of her political affiliation.
She needs help - despite her political affiliation.
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a big black mugger. Yikes! So it could have been Obama himself! Are we sure he's in Hawaii visiting his grandmother? Can u be sure??Better churn up more FEAR, FEAR, FEAR!!!!!!!!!
Did she say her attacker was Black? It wouldn't surprise me at all - of course - it would be a critical centerpiece to the story. The "scary angry black man." The fulminated bigotry by re-Thuglics has been nausea inducing.
Re-thug-lics -- the party of immature, voraciously rapacious, despotic, doughy white, cowardly, aggressively angry, bigots, racists, perverts, xenophobes, pedophiles, murderers, war criminals, homophobes, misogynists, self-hating women, fetid wombs and consummate chronic liars.
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Black and six foot four.
Wow. She's a rotton liar.
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Oh, I fucking knew it! From the mysterious "black male" carving a (backwards?) "b" instead of the easier and more obvious "o", to her supposedly walking away after handing the cash while the guy was still there...the whole thing sounded strange.
This pretty much sume it all up: Ashley Todd has decimated McCain's presidency with 11 days to go....
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/greg-mitchell/f...
So, the next move from the repubs will be to say that Ashley is really a democratic mole who did this to discredit the McCain campaign, similar to what they are claiming about Al Queda's "endorsement" of McCain.
actually said that?Hoo Hooo what a f'n clown.
Palin fabricated a definition of the job she is running for!
... B U S H E D!
We're not going to get very far if you keep injecting logic into the conversation!
Truly pathetic. Sounds like she needs help.
I can't wait for this election to be over. It really is making some people crazy.
Todd the Fraud
its snappier.
because the 'B' was a mirror image (backwards).
If you need funds to pay for essentials, you have a revenue problem
If you need funds to pay for frivolity, you have a spending problem
It's kind of sad really. The kid needs help and now all she will get is ridiculed.
Say what you mean. Mean what you say. But don't say it mean.
There's more to this story....much, much more.
Just like the "plant", Joe Wurzelbacher, the Alaskan Plumber, thanks to the internet we all get the truth. Joe's a sham and now Ashley's a sham....more collateral damage of the ruthless McCain campaign human pyre.
She tried to influence the election AND I'm REAL FUCKING tired of the 'it was a black man' lie.
There is tons of injustice in this country. She can stand to take everything she deserves coming to her.
Does the McCain chicanery ever end? This is not even creative stunt-making; just like Joe the Plumber's Crack, it's adding fuel to the voraciously burning fire of the McCain campaign pyre.
Add to this Miss Saks Secessionists's remark criticizing the fruit fly as "pork", yikes! I guess her handler's didn't realize that the tiny fruit fly has been involved in ongoing autism research??
This statement makes the word "gaffe" look totally benign.
Just more hyperbole from FOX...trying to make news.
This isolated incident would not have impacted either campaign.
Either way, it would and is a sick commentary on our society.
The inflammatory rhetoric in this country is beyond reason...and it inflicts the most damage on those with diminished mental capacity and the ignorant.
Vote GOP and move forward to the 18th Century.
It wouldn't matter if it were just a benign coincidence; however, it matters tremendously as it adds more overt chicanery to the McCain campaign of smoke and mirrors.
What's more important is if she's admitted that it was a total lie and that she was prompted by the McCain campaign to do this. Now that's where the true diabolical nature of this comes into play.
I doubt that the campaign is directly involved. They're desperate but this is bat-shit crazy. It's more likely a combination of zealous devotion to the party and a desire to get her 15 minutes of fame coupled with some serious mental issues.
There's a name for that. It's called republicanism.
I think I'm turning Japanese, I think I'm turning Japanese, I really think so.....
The whole thing by Moody was disgusting, but he starts with the assertion that this "had to happen."
No it didn't.
what a clown.
With the PALIN/mccain campaign stoking irrational fear of a terrorist sympathizer socialist secret-muslim elitist liberal taking over the country it was bound to happen. Just not they way Moody thought it would.
Turnabout is fair play.
I'm certain she pulled a Susan Smith and claimed the assailant was a black guy.
At least we're getting close to the bottom.
If she's mentally ill there is no real justification for what she's done, either her own or any we could impugn her with.
Lack of rationality means all rationalizations are ill-rational.
Diabolus est Deus Inversus
Maybe she should have said her attacker was a gay Arabic-looking illegal immigrant abortionist.
...who needed the money to buy his boyfriend an engagement ring.
Even if this had been the real deal, I do not see how it would reflect on either candidate. Neither can be blamed if freaks come out of the woodwork at any time.
Say what you mean. Mean what you say. But don't say it mean.
This young woman is need of help. Acknowledging she lied is as far as we need to go. McCain and Palin are not directly responsible for her behavior. They are, however directly responsible for their own lies and are also in need of help (toward the exit of the national stage.)
but...geez...what is it with Texans?!?!
Vote GOP and move forward to the 18th Century.
I drove through the top of Texas last year. Try it and your question will be answered.
... "Don't Mess with Texas, Cuz Texas is Messed Up Enuff!"
We're not going to get very far if you keep injecting logic into the conversation!
I am a Texan, and sorry to say, I can't find anything to counter the fact that most of this State is..as I have posted before...pathetically backasswards!! I am lucky to live in Austin, however, the little island of blue sanity here. Travis county will go blue again this Presidetial election!!!
Obama/Biden '08!!!
Did anyone hear anything from or about this girls parents? You would think that even they would have seen this as suspicious considering they would have known she has some previous problems.
Say what you mean. Mean what you say. But don't say it mean.
Here's why the story is questionable at best:
- The letter 'B' is backwards, suggesting Todd self-mutilated herself while looking in the mirror.
- Obama's campaign logo is an 'O,' not a 'B'.
- If you were pinning a woman down, wouldn't you have a hand clamped over her lower face to keep her from screaming? It makes no sense for the letter to be on her cheek. (On her forehead would be more believable.)
- A dull knife? How did you know it was a dull knife? Maybe because you did it to yourself, and that's what you used?
- "I didn't realize I'd been cut until later." Let's see, you lose consciousness, someone gouges a letter into your face, and you don't feel anything odd when you wake up? Nothing stings? No wetness or stickiness from blood on your face?
- No confirmation of location. If you're jumped outside the ATM, you remember being jumped at the ATM, not outside the pizza parlor or your apartment.
Other things to question:
- Did she show classic defensive wounds (cuts/scratches on forearms)?
- Are there skin scrapings under her fingernails, another sign of struggle?
She still had her blackberry, in spite of being robbed, which she updated with the assault instead of getting medical attention. She had also been updating her blog with it, with that she was looking for an ATM.
I don't think she is permanently scarred, it was my impression the marks did not break the skin, but she definetly seems to need help. As for not remembering, according to her blog/diary she seems to have been setting this up for a while ahead.
The biggest hole in her story was that she admitted she made it up.
Yeah, that pretty much settles it, don't it?
'It was a BLACK man' - that always makes me suspicious in these situations.
I feel sorry for this young woman: she obviously has issues. The really bad thing about this story is that it will probably live on in the Conservative mythology and in their e-mails. Sure the story has been proven false, but so has the 'Obama is a Muslim' story, yet that remains strong. There may be reprisals from the right for this fabricated incident, if only because they are so uninformed, hate-crazed and violent.
Besides the "B," the black eye is phony as a $3 bill. If a 6'4 dude hit you in the eye, that sucker would've been swollen shut and bloodshot. She also would've had bruising around her nose and cheek. (My sister had a boyfriend that used to beat the shit out of her, so sadly, I know what a black eye from a fist looks like.) When my kid got a black eye courtesy of a knee hitting his face during a playground accident, his eye was bruised, swollen and blackened, but there was no swelling anywhere else on his face. This is totally and utterly pathetic.
This will now be carved into history - unlike the hoax on this idiot's cheek: John McCain presidency campaign - campaign of hate and racial baiting.
This is the sign of true desperation.
But some folk tell me I sound like a Northener.
I tell them it's sinus problems.
)O(
Diabolus est Deus Inversus
drudge is now responsible for 2 questionable people for mccain
joe the illegal plumber
and
ashley the fraud
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tawana_Brawley
Why a "B" anyway, shouldn't it have been an "O"? Geez, they can't even LIE effectively anymore...
But is it even possible to make a backwards O?
Diabolus est Deus Inversus
Yes, you can make a
sdrawkcaB O,
but only if you're a mathematician.
:rofl:
An old retired fart.
http://www.dailyprincetonian.com/archives/200...
Princeton student, less than a year ago. Wiped his face on a brick wall and claimed he was mugged by mean liberals, or something.
CNN is reporting that McCain's campaign staff is sending out their resume's to the private sector.
Win or lose, his campaign workers will be out of a job on Nov 5
Say what you mean. Mean what you say. But don't say it mean.
Typically the managing members of a Presidential Campaign get appointed to government jobs after the Inauguration. I had a roommate who worked for the Department of Interior under Jimmy Carter. He was from Atlanta. It was not a high falootin' job either, but it was a decent job.
i think they still have it on their news page.
http://www.politico.com/news/stories/1008/148...
I spent Thanksgiving just outside of Houston with a friend's family, so I have.
I think the problem is not enough air conditioning!
Vote GOP and move forward to the 18th Century.
What the heck is up with Michelle Malkin lately? She's actually called BS on a couple of things. She's usually right out front when it comes to spreading right wing lies.
Crazy recognizes Crazy.
Any bets that she's another insane Christian extremist? That seems to be the only kind of idiot who still supports and defends the Bush/McSame regime's treason against us and crimes against humanity.
the economy is NOT fundamentally sound. Companies are announcing job cuts like crazy!
So...good luck with the whole "resume'" thing.
Oh...and when they cash their unemployment checks...they should remember to thank a liberal.
Vote GOP and move forward to the 18th Century.
Good One!
Really hope she finds the help that she needs..... Sad
Thankfully, the right wing has not destroyed all those terrible socialist programs that can assist poor souls like this young lady.
Vote GOP and move forward to the 18th Century.
Don't kid yourself. Mental health care in this country is so expensive it is out of the reach of most of us. It is too bad Palin has not taken advantage of it since she can probably afford it.
Very good point.
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I figured this was coming soon. More bad news for McCain.
http://www.thenation.com/blogs/campaignmatter...
you betcha and good golly! Say, it ain't so, Joe!
I won't delve into whether the young woman in question is entirely culpable for her actions or mentally ill, but wasn't it rather obvious that this story was fake?
That is not what an actual black eye looks like, and certainly not what it would look like just a day after the incident.
The police weren't able to take any pictures of her when she reported the incident.
The "B" on her face is backwards, as though drawn while looking in a mirror.
The story so conveniently played on the racial tensions between the two campaigns.
And there's more, but seriously, I didn't buy this one for a minute. I'm not surprised at all that it was a hoax.
Everyone is equally entitled to the pursuit of happiness. Wasn't that once self evident?
He didn't have anything to do with her stupidity.
McCain and Palin have already taken care of that on their own, this may make a few people rethink their prejudices if we are at all lucky.
Thanx for that video.It wasa hoot.
You're welcome. :)
In that scenario,IF I had voted it would have resulted in a tie. Jest sayin,heehee
In a very general way it highlights or reflects the kind of campaign McCain is running. So while it doesn't have anything directly to do with him it does tend to serve as a reminder how ugly McCain's campaign has been run.
he broke this story
thought it was a big deal
hahahahahahahahahahahaaaa
I'm just saying...
The police respond: Our radars went up instantly. It was a serious waste of time that could have blown up into a national incident.
Everyone is equally entitled to the pursuit of happiness. Wasn't that once self evident?
and thanks to PPD for good police work.
God bless this little child. She needs a hug.
It is also a shame that society has pounded into her brain that imaginary muggers have to be big black dudes...
is indeed the lesson here.
We can't leave the parents out of this equation. My kids would be horrified to come face to face with true rabid bigotry. To others, it's a way of life. parenting matters.
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"Kudos to Michelle Malkin..."
WTF??? For saying this:
Throughout my career, I’ve covered dozens of fake hate crimes — campus hate crime hoaxes, Muslim hate crime hoaxes, fake noose hangings, etc., etc., etc. Most were perpetrated by liberals, but there have been some shameful ones on our side of the aisle as well.
Please, do not encourage these delusional hatemongers. The only thing they deserve is a warm, padded cell.
indeed a better man than Me. IMO They deserve only to go back to that cold pond they oozed from.
the race angle, I'd be sympathetic. She was cunning enough to make up the big, black man part, linking the attack to an Obama supporter, thereby playing on racial fears and bigotry. She deserves contempt, not sympathy.
Desperate times call for desperate measures. Question is who put this young girl up to this. I find it hard to believe she concocted this whole charade on her own. Someone thought it would be valuable to McCain to anger the people who be inclined to get angry over something like this. It clearly plays on the racial fears of some white people. I think an investigation needs to occur to see who put this girl up to this. Obviously, based on her execution of this hoax, she is not smart enough to scheme this up on her own.
two ways to go,here. 1. She is ill and needs help. OR 2. Somebody put her up to it,and They belong in jail.
It might well be both.
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If anyone remembers, about ten years ago drew a backwards swastika on his own forehead. When I saw the backwards B, that immediately came to mind and I told my wife it would come out that she did it to herself.
Never heard from him,again as I recall. Which was fine with Me.
She's a McCain worker. She's just staying on message.
Its an egg....
To what depths will they plunge?
Ever hear of an abyss?
We don't inherit the Earth from our ancestors, we borrow it from our children - Native American proverb
If being cold means there's no such thing as global warming, does being full mean there's no such thing as world hunger?
I don't stare into the abyss
I mosh innit.
Diabolus est Deus Inversus
It's all getting very silly indeed.
I wish silly was the extent of it. I've heard true stories about bumper stickers torn off cars and left crumpled on the ground -- slashed tires, verbal abuse nearly beyond belief, Poll workers attacked, the guy who was shot three times -- and we've quite a way to go. My son is doing door to door canvassing - I'm so worried for him.
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Next campaign theme: "The Ashley the 'abuse yourself to get McCain elected' tour."
http://www.allaahuakbar.net/image/christian_s...
Diabolus est Deus Inversus
A thousand other Republicans would have managed to pull this off and keep their race-baiting lies straight. McCain doesn't have the competence to be president.
Whatever.
I suffer from depression and anxiety, but the worst I've ever done to someone with a McCain/Palin sticker was give an obscene gesture and offer some kind of curse.
The backwards "B" is hilarious.
What a moron.
or the photo is flipped.
Yes - the mind balks at the ignorance.
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He was selling a t-shirt which said, "First O.J., and now Kobe. That's it. No more white women for me."
just saying.
...committed a crime that may well have or well result in real violence against black people, not to mention Obama supporters or Obama and his family. Sure the likelihood of someone or some groups already planning to do harm to the above mentioned has and is likely taking place as I write, but this "childish" Republican just solidified the problem with this country and its politics. Democracy, I'm sorry to say, cannot survive this deceitful, win at all costs, lie, lie, lie, steal, steal, narcissism for much longer. There was a crime committed but the perpetrator was not a black man or a Mexican or Latino or a lefty or a liberal... It was a young white Republican woman without regard to the repercussions of her actions. Lock her up.
Make no motto of love that worships war
No brains for the woman in the picture that is.
A BACKWARD B?
Now that the secret is out the rest of the mental giants who make up the republican party will know NOT to carve the letters backward.
perhaps next time they will be UPSIDE DOWN instead.
Joe the Plumber did it.
Ya just know its coming out don't ya?
http://www.ronnierayjenkins.com/topics/deathi...
I live about a 5-minute drive from that ATM. While that area has seen some holdups/muggings, at 9 p.m. there would be foot traffic for the bars and eating establishments on that busy street who couldn't miss a woman being held down and engraved like a watch.
She's obviously sick and needs help. I hope she gets it.
eom
Bonehead!
another episode of "Grabbing at Straws"...
I think I know how she got the "B" on her face. She probably look at the letter "B" on a piece of paper. Then, write on her face as though tracing the letter. She didn't know that would make the letter reversed.
Is she proof that to be a McCain supporter, you have to be mentally unbalanced.
No wonder life is so creepy in America these days. The Republicans have created an atmosphere in which it is illogical to believe anything bad you hear about a Democrat.
Quite simply, anything you hear that makes Democrats look bad was almost certainly concocted by Republican operatives.
A Thought for Republicans: if your party has to lie and pull dirty tricks to survive, it's time to put your party to sleep.
The Nice Democrats:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RYxqSipov5E
I'm still flabergasted that Malkin was so honest about this. But since she was I will second your kudos this one time.
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