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

[hey0there]

the Youn College Reuplicans guy quoted in the above story once resigned from a similar position amidst allegations of delegate tampering and intimidation

http://crncnews.blogspot.com/2007/06/eilon-out-ethan-eilon-resigns-tuesday.html

[RobinSeattle]

Figures. God, they're scum.

[11907281]

"But the organization's quick distancing suggests they are eager to put their association with Todd quickly behind them." - Gee, ya think? On the other hand, if it was not a hoax they would be shouting it from the mountain tops. Disgustingly sad lot.

[Balzac]

She probably scratched that letter B while looking in the mirror and didn't realize it was backwards. Not too bright, but that's a Republican for you...

[rini]

I cannot believe it. It's too funny to be true.

Funny and sad.

[NoMoFearNoMoHate]

McCain has clearly poisoned the well... I feel sorry for his supporters. McCain supporters - it's not too late.

Obama '08!

[Passenger57]

McCain may have poisoned the well - but his supporters have been guzzling it without prompting for a long time....

[roshni]

McCain supporeters only get my sympathy when they realize the error of their ways.

[Two Three Four]

Obama's Senate Coattails
http://voteforamerica.net/editorials/Comments.aspx?ArticleId=122&ArticleName=Obama%27s+Senate+Coattails

Debunking the Bradley Effect, Again
http://voteforamerica.net/editorials/Comments.aspx?ArticleId=118&ArticleName=Debunking+the+Bradley+Effect%2c+Again

Senate Projections: Democrats 59, Republicans 41
http://voteforamerica.net/senate.aspx

[Cybesq]

College Republicans is an oxymoron.

[gladys46]

Ya think !!?

[MissKaren]

Ted Bundy was a Young Republican

[dogman44]

Was W also one?

[DannyEastVillage]

not really. much the same things as Gay Republicans: Unbelievable but True. And equally or more obnoxious.

[iRob08]

They can run, but they can't hide.

[Womanvoter4Obama]

Yeah I was on Hotair last night reading. I don't post there and the things they were saying about Liberals and blacks..it was appalling. They really should take this time to examine their racist ways. Anyone who didn't agree that this girls' story was the gospel was a troll and wrong. I just read and read last night. And how they were talking about how black would take over if Obama was elected. How black people commit crimes, rape..murder. It was disgusting.

If the girl was Democrat or Republican if it really did happen my heart went out to her but there was just too much wrong with her story from comment one. But they ate it up. And over at Foxnews..they aren't even talking about it now. Nope the economy is story one..when this WAS...now that they proved she's lying they want to shrink away from it.

[JoeBlough]

Oh those college kids. What pranksters. Don't ya just luv'em.

[hey0there]

spraypaint them thar bears, boyz!!

[dogman44]

Yeah. The innocent exuberance of idealistic youth. Nother to see here.

[nellie]

Has Hugh Hewitt distanced himself from his own remarks yet?

[stevemcc 2000]

It should be noted that anytime you have a mutilation to someone's body and the letters or the symbol is backwards, then you can probably guess that it was self-inflicted with the aid of a mirror.

Just sayin'

[Passenger57]

Encyclopedia Brown would have solved this one in two minutes...

[Pancake]

......Perhaps a dyslexic mugger?

[roshni]

Gee, I hope it doesn't happen all that often!

[KQuarksSuperKollider]

College Rethuglicans are the biggest hypocrites of all.

Why aren't they serving in Iraq or Afghanistan instead of going to college since the support the Rethuglicans soooooo much?'

They are just a new generation of chicken hawks.

[Dynamohum]

Squakin' like foghorn leghorn (Fred Thompson). I say I say son.

[franklin opt]

Karl Rove led the College Republicans in 1973 and that's where he helped start "the conservative revolution" that gave us Reagan, Gingrich, Cheney and the Bush dynasty.

It's so satisfying to see this group run for cover.

[rockyb26]

yuck. gosh i wish they wouldn't have stopped that protestor from arresting him the other day!

[rich3324]

College Republicans, rather than fighting for their country, they are home fighting the culture wars.

[buffyjones]

YOU PEOPLE HAVE NO SENSE OF PROPORTION. Reportedly...this is a poor girl who is sick in the head - RESIST THE URGE TO MAKE THIS ABOUT A POLITICAL PARTY

[papapj]

Yes it is about a political party. They set the tone and led by example.

You can bet your bottom dollar she wouldn't have contemplated such a scurrilous scheme had she not been provided with implicit support by those who she follows and who lead by example. The fact that they hurriedly sought to provide comfort to her, without aforethought shows that they were ready and willing to make capital out of it.

Spare your pity for those who deserve it. She's obviously a clever college girl, who should and no doubt does know better.

[buffyjones]

"THEY" WHAT DO YOU MEAN "THEY"?. THIS SO FAR IS ABOUT ONE WOMAN, NOT A "THEY". ACCORDING TO THE ARTICLE, THERE IS NO EVIDENCE TO SUPPORT A C O N S P I R A C Y THEORY SO WHAT YOU SAY IS YOUR OWN PATHETIC OPINION.
IT IS NOT ABOUT A POLITICAL PARTY EXCEPT IN YOUR OWN D I S T U R B E D MIND

LET ME REMIND YOU : YOU ARE NOT THE JUDGE AND JURY

[gladys46]

A "poor" girl who has learned to yell "it was a Black man that did it" ... really!? So this poor college republican most probably a paid repug field representative was not making a political statement, albeit carved into her FACE !!??? Proportion you say!?? I'm resisting the urge to say prohibited utterances to you !

[buffyjones]

YOU ARE HYSTERICAL - according to the evidence so far - there is nothing to say she is nothing other than sick in the head - GET A GRIP AND GET A LIFE.

IF YOU ARE SALIVATING AT THE MOUTH TO C R U C I F Y HER AT LEAST WAIT UNTIL YOU HAVE SUFFICIENT EVIDENCE

AND GET YOUR PARANOIA UNDER CONTROL

[johnqsittinzen]

The sick-in-the-head girl made it about a political party via the details of her fabrication. John McCain, a member of the political party which stood to benefit by the national coverage of the sick-in-the-head girl's plight before it was revealed to be a loathsome and desperate stunt, chose to call the sick-in-the-head girl to offer his empathy and support. Why is the man running for President of the United States as a member of a politcal party calling this girl? Surely crimes are happening all over the country and surely he's not calling ALL the victims, is he? That phone call seems out of PROPORTION to me.

Who made it about a POLITCAL PARTY?

[franklin opt]

The College Republicans made this about their party -- and it backfired. That's why they're running for cover.

[gladys46]

There is another woman who was being brainwashed and it backfired on Mc's political campaign ... Sarah Palin ... seems many repugs are running !!

[MWB123]

Maybe I am too addicted to the blogosphere, but there seems to be a good deal of information out there (even though Todd's MySpace and Twitter accounts have been privatized - the coward), which would seem to suggest that this hoax was relatively well thought out, including creating a "timeline" with Twitter postings, and a friend's MySpace account which says she hopes Ashley gets caught in her "lie." And before it was pulled, her MySpace had some line about how lying was the most fun a girl could have with her clothes on. All this sounds like pre-planning to me, and a lot less that she is a poor sick girl boo hoo hoo. Stupidity and venality does not equate to a personality disorder.