Apparently the DNC is up to some sleazy tactics in the Alioto nomination. The link below has the text and actual video footage of Hardball's Chris Matthews of all people condemning the sleazy tactic of saying that Alioto purposely lost a case against the mafia because Alioto is Italian. Matthews says it is the DNC's document. Other sources (Captain's Quarters--see below link) also note the unsigned Word document being circulated by email in the capitol and the press has Metadata showing the document was authored on a DNC copy of Word and edited by DNC staffers.
IF it was authored by the DNC, it's despicable, not to mention profoundly, historically, monumentally, transcendantly STUPID. But i would would keep my powder dry for a couple days. This would not be the first time one side "leaked" a forgery to make the other look bad.
While serving as a U.S. Attorney, Alito failed to obtain a key conviction, releasing nearly two dozen mobsters back into society. ...
U.S. Attorney Alito Failed to Obtain Conviction of 20 Mobsters, Saying "You Can"t Win Them All." Federal law enforcement agencies sustained a major rebuff in their anti-mafia campaign with the August 1988 acquittal of all 20 defendants accused of making up the entire membership of the Lucchese family in the New Jersey suburbs of New York. The verdict ended what was believed to be the nation"s longest federal criminal trial and according to the Chicago Tribune, dealt the government a "stunning defeat." Samuel Alito, the US Attorney on the case, said, "Obviously we are disappointed but you realize you can"t win them all." Alito also said he had no regrets about the prosecution but in the future would try to keep cases "as short and simple as possible." Alito continued, "I certainly don"t feel embarrassed and I don"t think we should feel embarrassed.
A factual account of what happened in '88. Don't see how that is smearing anyone, a sleazy tactic, or an indicator that ethnicity comes into play. Just moreBS from the right trying to spin something that isn't there.
I think that without warning Bill Frist should stand up on the Senate floor, invoke Rule 21 and go into closed session. Then behind closed doors he could throw a real tantrum ala Harry Reid and demand an investigation on the source of this letter.
But then, that would be childish and irresponsible, wouldn't it?
As Dem leader of the Senate, what was Harry Reids' comment on this smear tactic? I haven't heard him denounce it, but I've been traveling some and might have missed it.
Interesting that this document was circulated within minutes after Alito's nomination was announced, indicating that the authors had dirt gathered and announcements prepared on all the nominees considered to be on Bush's short list.
I'm sure we'll here more on this, but as the Captain points out, you gotta be real careful trying to be anonmyous online and with computers. It's hard to walk in cyberspace without leaving tracks.
The metadata in the Word doc release indicates that the author of this goes by the name "prendergastc", most likely Chris Prendergast who works for the DNC. By displaying the document properties in Word, bloggers have found out that the company holding the license for the copy of Word that created the document is -- the DNC.
All I can say is that as a 100% Italian American, I sure as hell don't need/want/particularly like to have the likes of Michael Drudge, Orin Hatch, Chris Mathews, and Rush Limbaugh speaking for my ethnicity. Now, who wants a good bottle of Dago Red for Christmas???
I think Alito should be confirmed immediately. But, the "up or down vote" is out the window since the republicans didn't allow one on Miers. But I guess changing the rules on the fly and jumping from one foot to the next is what politicians do.
The smear is that ChrisMatthews implies that Alito lost the case purposefully, because he is Italian. It's false and blatently aimed at hurting his nomination to the Supreme Court because of his conservative views. The fact that he lost the case, is true. Like Alito said, win some lose some. He lost the case because he's Italian, is the bullcrap.
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"Error never shows itself in its naked reality in order not to be discovered. On the contrary, it dresses elegantly, so that the unwary may be led to believe that it is more truthful than truth itself."
-Irenaeus of Lyon
Alioto Smear
