How should Dems respond to the Ashley Todd incident?

[OneGrassRoot]

(the backward "B" girl, alleged mugging in Pittsburgh which has already essentially been debunked and won't gain legs as a true crime, certainly not one politically motivated, other than by Ashley herself)


The two options I see for us (NOT the Obama Campaign itself) are:

1. Let it go. Don't give it any more energy and let it fade into the night and await their next pathetic attempt at an October surprise. Neither side can be responsible for their supporters.

2. Hit back hard and expose it for the fraud it is (people have twitter entries, myspace entries, and other incriminating evidence that Ashley has essentially fantasized about being a McCain-Palin poster child, a Joan of Arc for the right-wingers). And, expose how this is the height of their race baiting..."scary black man attacks white girl." Expose how McPalin's rhetoric at their Klan rallies leads to such insanity, and criminality on the part of their supporters.

[Voice for Peace]

1. Definitely deceptions should be exposed. Shine a bright light on it.

I love how it happened outside the range of the videocam,
and the way the assailant is so similar in appearance to
Obama.

[POAS]

2. Just another

"Joe the Plumber" for the GOP to exploit. Leave it alone, they will hoist themselves on their own petard soon enough.

[ck4829]

3. Hit back because no matter what...

There will be Republicans who will still believe it and pass it along, believing it to be true.

[PetrusMonsFormicarum]

4. This really riled Freeperville yesterday

I saw some of the more disturbing posts that I've ever seen (and I lurk on their boards regularly. Know thy enemy and all that.) regarding this alleged attack.

I don't think we should give it any more legs.

[cboy4]

5. Who cares what "we" should do? You make it sound as

though we can have an affect on the race if or not we blog about it.

A more interesting question would be to ask, what should the Obama campaign do?

[eilen]

6. The Obama campaign, if asked for comment

should say something like "so far as we know this a criminal matter. We are confident the Pittsburgh police department is doing all it can in regard to this unfortunate incident. We are concerned about our campaign volunteers and encourage guidelines to promote personal safety in our neighborhood canvassing groups." (or something to that effect).

The incident as reported has nothing to do with the campaign.

Did she file a police report?

[OneGrassRoot]

8. They did put out a statement, the Obama camp, similar to what you wrote. Simple. n/t

[cboy4]

9. Well, she called Pittsburgh PD to report it, so I assume they

took a report.

And I agree with your suggestion of what the Obama campaign should say.

They shouldn't do anything else to potentially threaten Obama's (at least) 10-point lead.

[OneGrassRoot]

7. I disagree, and that's why I was specific about saying NOT...

the Obama Campaign.

I'm no political operative or guru...just an average, informed voter.

But the Joe the Plumber thing was effectively, and rightly, neutralized by the blogosphere and sites such as DU.

That's why I ask. It's possible we, more than the Obama camp, can be much more effective in countering bullshit coming through M$M.

[OneGrassRoot]

10. This link seems to be a good "latest update" on the story...

she filed a police report, the police are essentially skeptical...blah, blah

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=389&topic_id=4296989&mesg_id=4296989

[timtom]

11. Okay. She's outed.

Republican business as usual. Move on.

(Not a mandate; just a terse wording of my opinion.)

[ogneopasno]

12. Nah, ignore it.

She's small time, not worth it, no one ever thought for a second that it was true. Going after her would look like piling on -- the kid clearly needs help, and she'll be punished enough by the police.

I'm tired of this "take no prisoners! never back down! MUST! DESTROY! ALL!" mentality I'm starting to see. I know we've been heartsick for the last eight years, but I don't see how acting like avenging Republicans is going to make anything in this country better.

[OneGrassRoot]

13. Good perspective, good input. Thank you. :)

I think the blogosphere got all over JTP because he injected himself into myriad interviews and made himself fair game.

Unless this girl starts to do the same, perhaps it is best to leave it alone. Hopefully she will get some help; she's obviously disturbed.

[B Calm]

14. It's no secret that republicans are into self inflicted pain. . . .

[ThomWV]

15. Who is Ashley Todd?

I have no idea at all who tis person is.

[OneGrassRoot]

18. There are tons of threads (or were yesterday), about this McCain worker...

who was allegedly mugged in Pittsburgh, and then claimed the mugger came back to attack her after seeing her McCain sign and "carved" a "B" onto her face.

Sorry, I can't find a nice, neat thread or article to summarize it best. It certainly seems to be a hoax, however.

http://www.dailykos.com/storyonly/2008/10/23/202615/23/1002/628531

[radfringe]

16. condemn the attack

urge the police to apprehend the mugger, do a full and through investigation

[MiniMe]

17. First, while she is a McCain campaign worker, it had nothing to do with the mugging

She was in an unfamiliar neighborhood and stopped at an ATM, not a drive through ATM but one you had to get out of your car in. She did know enough to drive to a friend's house who lived close by. I believe that she was mugged, but it had nothing to do with the election, with McCain, or with Obama, or the campaigns.

Second, the police reviewed the tapes from the ATM where she said that it occurred, and found nothing. They are actually giving her a lie detector test. She didn't call the police to report it when it happened, she drove to her friend's house.

I want to hear more about what the police find before I feel like I can answer the question.