From the National Journal’s Reid Wilson:
A top aide to House Majority Whip Kevin McCarthy on Thursday suggested Republicans who have problems with the continuing resolution hitting the floor Thursday are committing a sin akin to Jane Fonda heading to Vietnam.
In an email to chiefs of staff sent Thursday morning, Pete Meachum, McCarthy’s director of member services, forwarded a link to a Weekly Standard post praising the continuing resolution. Those who are using opposition to the resolution to better position themselves are hurting the fight, he implied.
”For the handwringers out there, buck up,” Meachum wrote. “For those seeking other office please campaign at home, not on the backs of your colleagues.”
Meachum linked the last four words to this website featuring photos of “Jane Fonda A.K.A. Hanoi Jane.”
In a follow-up email sent an hour later, Meachum acknowledged he had crossed the line….”I sincerely apologize, my email was not approved by anyone in our office or Mr. McCarthy. Please speak to me personally if you’d like to discuss further,” he wrote. . . .
[CORRECTION BY ACM: I originally attributed the paragraph below to the National Journal's Reid Wilson. In fact, It comes from David Freddoso at the San Francisco Examiner. David did a separate post which largely excerpted Reid Wilson's post. The Freddoso post included the paragraph below, which begins with the word "UPDATE." It looked to me like it was just a continuation of David's excerpt from the Wilson blog. I am told, however, that it is David's own reporting -- i.e., where it says Congressman McCarthy's office "emailed me," the "me" in question is Freddoso (and the Examiner), not Reid (and the National Journal).]
UPDATE: McCarthy’s office is clearly sensitive to this, as they emailed me within moments of this post going up: “This was a regrettable decision made by one of our staff members, who sent an email acting independently and without the approval of the office or Congressman McCarthy. He realized it was a mistake and immediately apologized.”
Andy, thanks for this post. If Kevin McCarthy had any integrity, he'd fire this fool staffer. At least we're beginning to learn who the enemies in our own camp are. This so-called budget deal was a complete joke, demonstrating once again you can't trust a guy who spends time in the tanning salon. Nor can you trust the other career Republicans in the House.
Reply to this commentLinkReport AbuseI've lost all faith in this GOP House Leadership.
Epic Fail.
Reply to this commentLinkReport AbuseThe GOP can go to heck. Obama will be re-elected and country will suffer the consequences. Sad days ahead.
Reply to this commentLinkReport AbuseHow long will it be before Boehner's boys take a page out of Pelosi's book and start calling Tea Partier's Nazis?
Reply to this commentLinkReport AbuseWish I could speak to him personally to discuss further.
Reply to this commentLinkReport AbuseThe new captcha: "bela lugosi is dead," but vampire government is very much alive.
It is not clear the republicans have the stomach to engage. The word is they also want to take a pass on using the debt limit increase for the obvious purpose. It would be very damaging to invite people to deduce that we have a war council comprised of a bunch of General McClellans.
Reply to this commentLinkReport AbuseWindy City : He said on Laura Ingraham that some people just want a "Big Fight". Obviously referring to the Tea Party. Good luck Boehner, you crying wimp.
Reply to this commentLinkReport Abuse"I've lost all faith in this GOP House Leadership.
Epic Fail."
Amen, John Galt.
It's astonishing how many enemies we have to contend with that are supposed to be on our side...they're everywhere.
Reply to this commentLinkReport Abusewow, when someone stomps back its a proud day ... when you foot stomp its just standing up for your conservative priciples ...
Go ahead keep shooting at the ONLY PEOPLE ON YOUR SIDE in a position to do anything about the budget ... go ahead and stand by these "principles" and undermine the current GOP leadership, I'm sure Obama appreciates it now and will again in 2012 ...
How about this, run for office yourself next time ...
Reply to this commentLinkReport AbuseI think it may be time to admit that if you consider yourself a constitutional conservative, one party hates you, the other condescends to you.
Reply to this commentLinkReport Abuse"Go ahead keep shooting at the ONLY PEOPLE ON YOUR SIDE in a position to do anything about the budget ... go ahead and stand by these "principles" and undermine the current GOP leadership, I'm sure Obama appreciates it now and will again in 2012 ..."
Dorsai Guy, why don't you just come out and tell us which GOP House Member you work for? The GOP House may be the only ones in a position to do something, but they are not doing it. Remember who elects them; it's we the people, and if they don't do what we elect them to do, we'll elect someone else.
The current GOP leadership is undermining themselves. First they hire stupid staffers who make comments to the press like this guy did, then they lie about what kind of budget deal they got. We're the boss, they can't elect themselves.
Reply to this commentLinkReport AbuseMcCarthy needs to go, but Meachum REALLY needs to go. Cantor and Boehner suckered me but good. From now on I will trust no politician (other than Jeff Flake) not specifically put in place BY the Tea Party. All other Republicans are revealing themselves to be RINOs by voting for this faux-reduction CR. I could not be more disappointed.
Reply to this commentLinkReport AbuseGlad to know We the People elect representatives to the GOP and not representatives to the People. That's right Republicans, you represent the party, not your constituents. The party leadership knows what is best for your constituents, not you, and certainly not We the People. How is that any different from the Democrats?
Just remember, McCarthy's "rogue" staffer only gets to cast one vote in McCarthy's district. He can't get you re-elected if you ignore the will of your constituents.
Reply to this commentLinkReport AbuseYes, what an awful thing for the staffer to say - especially in light of the measured criticism of the deal. Heh.
Please have a lace kerchief to dab away your tears before returning to the circular firing squad.
NRO has an identity problem. Who exactly do you want to pander to? You gave us Ezra Klein and Matt Yglesias as "intelligent liberals with whom we can have an honest debate," but we found they were manipulating the news with Journ-O-List and are in reality leftist hack propagandists.
Now you want to succor the Paulbots and Howard Phillips love children.
Perhaps it is for the best Mr. Buckley isn't around to see this.
Reply to this commentLinkReport AbuseYou know, I didn't like Andy McCarthy's tone at all. But he's a pundit so posturing is part of the deal.
Of course, the House GOP and staff want to pose themselves; they're the mature "inside baseball" leaders. If so, this whining is BS. They better strap on their cups, pull up their sanitary socks, and sharpen their cleats...now.
And there's no crying in baseball Mr. Speaker.
Reply to this commentLinkReport AbuseThe only mistake made here was that the staffer let slip how McCarthy really feels. These statements don't just come out of nowhere. Imagine what they are saying about conservatives and the Tea Party in Boehner's and Cantor's offices.
Reply to this commentLinkReport AbuseAs a liberal lurker around here, I'd suggest you guys watch out for the circular firing squad effect. I know it's hard in a movement based on the reawakening of the true believers.
Reply to this commentLinkReport AbuseSo what was learned is that Rep McCarthy either can't control his own staff or he's a liar and this was his position. Either way, not good props for a Whip.
Reply to this commentLinkReport AbuseMcCarthy needs to get creative and send this 'aide' on an extended fact finding tour of his home district. Preferably by foot.
Reply to this commentLinkReport AbuseSo far they shown us they didn't follow though on a promise because they were more concerned about other fights down the road. We'll have to see what promises they are are actually willing to keep at some point.
I don't even understand the comparison to Hanoi Jane. I guess he just meant to be gratuitously insulting to the people who put them back in the majority.
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