Ashley Todd: College Republicans Quickly Distance From Hoax Attack

The national committee of the College Republicans went into damage control mode Friday afternoon after a college-aged McCain volunteer confessed to fabricating her claim that a black assailant had carved a "B" into her face after mugging her.

"When Ms. Todd initially contacted us claiming to have been attacked, our first reaction was obviously to be concerned for her safety," said College Republicans communications director Ashley Barbera. "We are as upset as anyone to learn of her deceit. Ashley must take full responsibility for her actions."

On Thursday, the conservative website Hot Air described discussions with both Charlie Smith and Ethan Eilon, the National Chair and Executive Director of the group, in which both attested to the validity of the widely distributed photo of an injured Todd, and affirmed that the image came from her.

Eilon had also told the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette on Thursday that Todd "was one of our better recruiters this year."

Of course, there was no way for the College Republicans to know that the photo -- which was of Todd and apparently did come from her -- was at root a fraud. But the organization's quick distancing suggests they are eager to put their association with Todd quickly behind them.

Comments

[delirium42]

So, people were looking for an October surprise for McCain, eh?
Well...
SURPRISE!

Isn't it great? Hoisted by your own foul, hate-spewing, crowd-inciting petard.

Oh, and check out Todd TWO DAYS LATER being taken away by police:
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/27350530/
Must be one of those rare 24-hour black eyes, eh??

She needs an L, now: Loser for Life!

[water57]

Who is going to tell Sean and Rush about this horrible news and news they can not use.

[1PALady]

Was this supposed to be the October surprise? It makes you wonder if this was going to be the thing that derailed Senator O's campaign.

[1PALady]

I'm glad the police put her where she ought to be for the time being, and that's in jail!

[perfecttom]

Do you Republicans understand Todd is socialist liberal plant?

[ContraEgoiste]

Really? hmmm I guess the fact that she is long been a member of these young republicans flew over your head, huh?

And how about the fact that republicans have a history of doing this.

http://www.michigandaily.com/content/alleged-political-hate-crime-not-what-it-seemed

Ann Arbor police said Justin Zatkoff, the executive director of the Michigan Federation of College Republicans, was not attacked by "liberal thugs," as posted on the conservative blog truthcaucus.com. "
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

http://www.dailyprincetonian.com/archives/2007/12/14/news/19743.shtml

Francisco Nava '09 admitted yesterday to fabricating an alleged assault on him that he said occurred Friday evening and to sending threatening emails to himself, other members of the Anscombe Society and prominent conservative politics professor Robert George. He admitted the falsification while being questioned by Princeton Township Police.

[Changeissogood]

HAHAHAHA. When was the last time you saw a Thug in Ann Arbor? I've only seen hippies eating Zingerman sandwiches.

[ellawensmom]

Let me explain something to you. If the liberals had put her up to this, the shlt would have been done right. Your remark is so typical. The girl is so stupid she can't even mutilate herself correctly, and then you dumb right-wingers, instead of taking responsibility ('cause we all know that's not one of your strong points...) try to blame it on liberals. Shame on you. She's your problem. OWN IT!!!

[Romeo1]

Supportes of B.O. realize that this hoax is only one of untold thousands of very ugly attacks upon the Next World Leader serving his nation for at least four years. His rabid opponents are right wing, Rovian, evangelical, anal-retentive fecal matter.

[Gatormouth]

I can only say that I feel a real sense of pride toward the police officers involved in this investigation. It is true heroism to "do your job" in the face of intense local emotion. That is the reason so many hit movie plots in the past have pivoted around this type of situation. What a storey this one could make!

[dawlishgal]

I live in Pittsburgh and I am very proud of our police department for their behavior in this situation and the way they didn't allow themselves to be gamed by the thugs in the Republican party. They were patient and thorough and they got to the truth.

I am also fully aware that the College Republicans, the Drudge Report and the McCain staffers were perfectly cool with making Pittsburgh and its residents look like the perps in this case. I hope that people here get good and angry at the way McCain was willing to sacrifice this city's reputation in the eyes of the world for a few votes from a pack of racist voters. Not only that, but they were willing to meddle in the relations between blacks whites in a major American city in the most divisive and destructive manner possible for scumbags to engage in..

They really have no shame. None at all.

[Tom Gerdy - Huffpost Blogger]

Didn't the backwards "B" obviously written while looking in a mirror raise a flag to anyone before they started playing the race card.

[leatherneck1971]

This girl is sitting in jail under a $50,000 bail, one can bet she is plotting, planning or if not her attorney is investigating the possibility of someone put her up to this hoax, anyone whom associated with her, friends, fellow college republicans might be her scapegoat out of the noose around her neck, onto theirs, even if no real conspiracy exists, one cannot rule out she will create one, and it will not take much to make someone believe she had co-conspirators since this is a young prosecutors dream case, since it will get national attention and many a innocent person has been falsely accused by a "criminal" to lesson their punishment, I have no sympathy for the college republicans whom associated with this lady, karma is a funny thing they have all been playing the racism card and it might be what bites them in the tail!

[CyrusBeaucephus]

OK young GOPers--we will try to downplay the signigficance of the fact that you all jumped on this obviously made-up inflammitory racist story because your campaign is failing desperately--(wow have you guys don ANYTHING RIGHT LATELY?) Perhaps when you grow up, leave home, work, and become exposed to the real world a little you will be less likely to believe in 6'4" black boogeymen

I see McCain's Us vs Them rhetoric is leading to self-inflicted violence among the sheeple.Really guys we still think you are credible. Tell us again how Sarah Palin is a viable President again--just for laughs

[davesideas]

scurry likes rats...

[SPQR1052]

More Ashley productions...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GqsBlXhnFng

http://www.youtube.com/user/crncny

[SPQR1052]

Perhaps this is the mirror and tools ASHELY used:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gGxhshrCssc

(Ashely Todd - YouTube Campaign video)

[MPeter]

Just like Palin, she was never vetted. She was willing to frame some innocent American so she could steal the Presidency for the Zombie old McCain. Now she has earned free room and board, with a pink suit and infamy. How sad.

[Changeissogood]

LOL. "Razor Edge Ruler!" This poor kid.

And does anyone really need instructions on how to make a poster?!?!?!?

[HC4BO]

"B" for Brandetta ...

The funny thing I noticed about her branding was how similar it resembled one half of the Rush Limbo "double R" insignia ...

Maybe she was just carving a permanent fissure of a man she idolizes onto her face ...

Who can blame her, the nitwits are ALL being brainwashed by the Rushes, O'reallys and Hannitys of the Airwaves ...

[Mock38]

Why are so many posters suggesting we "move on" regarding this hoax?

This was a serious attempt to affect the outcome of the election.

Anyone who backs Obama/Biden should keep reminding the world that this fraud is in the same league as Palin, Joe the Plumber, robo-calling smears, etc.

Serious warning to all fellow Obama backers: As Yogi Berra has said, this election "Ain't over till it's over "

[Suzique]

I agree completely. If you noticed, the first story was blasted far and wide in print and on air. The fact that it was a Hoax is getting buried on page 10 (for example) and if mentioned on air, just flashes past with little or no comment. We can't let this go until it has the same play as the original.

[ellawensmom]

Totally agree! I had to search for news that it was a hoax, when the original story just popped up. This is a really foul, foul thing, and I'm seeing alot of jokes about it all over the internet, but no outrage. that really bothers me. this girl falsely accused a black man of doing this to her. It is race-baiting that was championed by all the far-right, and now, some clown above is even trying to say she's a liberal plant! I'm disgusted. Just plain disgusted.