Ashley Todd Story Pushed By McCain Campaign Aide, Say Reporters

TPM's Greg Sargent reports:

John McCain's Pennsylvania communications director told reporters in the state an incendiary version of the hoax story about the attack on a McCain volunteer well before the facts of the case were known or established -- and even told reporters outright that the "B" carved into the victim's cheek stood for "Barack," according to multiple sources familiar with the discussions.

John Verrilli, the news director for KDKA in Pittsburgh, told TPM Election Central that McCain's Pennsylvania campaign communications director gave one of his reporters a detailed version of the attack that included a claim that the alleged attacker said, "You're with the McCain campaign? I'm going to teach you a lesson."

Read the full story here. Read more about Ashley Todd.

NBC Nightly News anchor Brian Williams reported much the same:

MSNBC's Keith Olbermann has more, including video of Ashley Todd's perp walk out of the police station in handcuffs:

Comments

[chikkengrease]

03:00 AM on 10/30/2008

When I watched Keith Olbermann's Special Comment on this story, it was so refreshing. Being black, part of the frustration we have with have with being patriotic is that when it comes to racially sensitive issues, most white people don't get it. Keith Olbermann is obviously cut from a different cloth. He was spot on. To speak proverbially: KO's special comment was the cake, and as for Senator McCain here is the icing, "Silence is the voice of complicity." KO won't call McPalin a racist, but racists resemble the smell of a dead rat...of all the stinks in the world there is none more distinctive than that.

[Kindheart]

04:12 PM on 10/28/2008

When Johnny stands up and repudiates and apologizes for this woman, he might earn an ounce of respect.

[majorteddy]

09:58 AM on 10/28/2008

Well, this just proves what the Indians have been saying for 500 years---You can't trust white people!

[MarianneEvans11]

09:58 AM on 10/28/2008

McCain and Palin are setting America back to the 60's! PLEASE DROP OUT MCCAIN - There is no repsect left for you and PALIN - head home!

VOTE OBAMA-BIDEN on Nov. 4th

[beartrack]

12:06 PM on 10/28/2008

Please, the sixties were a time of enlightenment, of sorts. These people are more in the 50's with McCarthy and all that went with it. Hate, intolerance, bigotry, and the Republicans view of life. This time should be long gone. Make it so on the 4th.

[majorteddy]

09:53 AM on 10/28/2008

John McCain-Sarah Palin, down in the polls, looking for that Willie Horton moment. They are so terrible that not even this could have saved them,especially when it was such a bogus lie.

[DS3M]

11:22 AM on 10/28/2008

Why would anyone, especially a 6'4" 190 lb Black dude want to touch this gob'o'goo?

[cyndeewi]

07:14 AM on 10/26/2008

Was this woman on the McCain payroll?

[Horus45]

11:15 AM on 10/27/2008

I'm sure she must have been getting some kind of salary or stipend.

[huffyfan2]

05:23 PM on 10/27/2008

I'm sickened by the whole thing, but not at all surprized.

[Spesabsquemetu]

01:18 AM on 10/26/2008

"John Verrilli, the news director for KDKA in Pittsburgh, told TPM Election Central that McCain's Pennsylvania campaign communications director gave one of his reporters a detailed version of the attack that included a claim that the alleged attacker said, "You're with the McCain campaign? I'm going to teach you a lesson."

HOW did McCain's communications director KNOW the facts of a story, that had NOT yet been publicized, and even more astounding, be able to provide DETAILED INFORMATION that had not yet been REPORTED BY ANYONE?

Is John McCain's communications director psychic?

HMMMMMMMMMMMM,

[Oonagh]

05:39 PM on 10/27/2008

More of the same.... dirty tricks.... I cannot wait for this election to be over and these people slink back under that rock they came out from...

[Cinnamonape]

08:58 PM on 10/25/2008

Police Officer: "Ms. Todd, please stop crying...it appears that your black eyes are running."

Ashley Todd: "Oh my God, Officer. You don't think that the 6' 4" Obama supporter was actually wearing "blackface" that smeared on my face, do you?"

[afgail]

03:50 AM on 10/26/2008

If you've ever seen a shiner early they are deep wine purple, NOT black. I'm sure the police know what real shiners look like. Hers was fake. You can't buy purple eye shadow so she had to make due with black eye shadow.

[Aranxa]

02:12 PM on 10/27/2008

What drugstore don't you live near? Of course you can buy purple eye shadow!

[zordonos]

07:51 PM on 10/25/2008

I have not found any references in the blog world, internet news, and Huffington Post about the bruise of one of Ashley Todd's eye. She has admitted to the complete lie of being mugged, assulated, robbed and branded but .....anyone out there notice nothing is said about the bruised eye?....I would rather not speculate here.....the cause may be more then I can handle as a somewhat normal person

[Cinnamonape]

08:38 PM on 10/25/2008

Well if she actually WENT to the hospital, as her friend Young Republican friend Dan Garcia also from College Station, claimed...wouldn't they have noticed it was just mascara?

When she came out of the police station in cuffs she had no "black eyes". So I guess she's a "quick healer".

Strange that Garcia took close up shots and even helped clean her up...took her to the hospital...but didn't notice any smudging and get suspicious. HE delivered the photos to the police (wouldn't they take their own?) and to the College Republicans...who gave them to Drudge and other conservative websites.

Palin called before the credentialed media were informed.

And McCain's PA Press Officer says "The attacker said "You're with the McCain campaign"

...the attacker must have been a psychic, or a regular Sherlock Holmes, since all he saw was a bumper sticker. Unless of course the McCain Press hack was suggesting that someone was "stalking" her because of her campaign affiliation.

[DrDemon]

12:50 PM on 10/29/2008

Bruised eye = eye shadow ! :D'

[BUTCHER111]

07:36 PM on 10/25/2008

The McCain-Palin pushed this story and lied about it, big shock! Lying is all they do at McCain-Palin HQ.

[Routemaster]

07:11 PM on 10/25/2008

Bruupo
"If you write a capital 'B' on a page and then show it to a mirror, the mirror image shows it backward, it seems you are disputing that."

Not disputing it at all. If you write out a 'B' on a piece of paper then hold it to a mirror you will see it the other way around.
But I can't see how by using a mirror when scratching it on her cheek she some how got it the wrong way around. Even without a mirror a right handed person ( if she is) would not have a problem writing it the right way around on their right cheek. In fact all a mirror would do is let you see yourself doing it.
A mirror or no mirror doesn't explain the 'B' being round the wrong way

[gadjitfreek]

07:07 PM on 10/25/2008

You know these idiots are just bursting at the seams to scream "But he's a ni**er!!! You're gonna just vote for a ni**er????" They are dancing around it in every possible way, and the outright lies that have been told about him just reinforce this in the small minds of American bigots. If nothing else, the McCain campaign has once again proven that the Republicans are the masters of divisive politics.

[PS4OBAMA]

06:14 PM on 10/25/2008

As it has been for the past two years of campaigning, the MSM has, again, given McCain and Palin... A PASS.

I watched the all the usual channels today to see if someone would mention Mccain meeting with the Chilean Terrorist with NO PRECONDITIONS...... I didn't hear one word about it. Yet again....another pass...

[ArchAngel]

05:24 PM on 10/25/2008

Where's the Justice Department?

This is criminal in so many ways.

[KoolBreez]

04:38 PM on 10/28/2008

There hasn't been a Justice Department since Alberto Gonzales

[DrDemon]

04:01 PM on 10/25/2008

Just typical of the McCain Campaign!

[MarianneEvans11]

09:47 AM on 10/28/2008

McCain and Palin are enabling so many people following their campaign. They are bringing out rage and anger, hostilities that are going to get out of control one day and McCain and Palin may themselves be the receivers of some of this turmoil they are causing. There are a lot of "sick" people in this world looking for excuses to let out their frustration and anger and McCain gives them good reason. Get these two off the stage! Before some is really hurt!

Just look at the respectful campaign OBAMA is running! Now who couldn't vote for this guy! There is an air of calm and tranquility wheneve he speaks!

OBAMA-BIDEN on Nov. 4th!