ThinkProgress Uncovers McConnell Smearmail

ThinkProgress has dug up the email Mitch McConnell staffer Don Stewart sent out as part of the Graeme Frost smear campaign. It is reprinted after the break. While ThinkProgress aims it's guns directly at Stewart and McConnell, it is interesting to note that CNN picked up on one of the emails talking points apparently without doing its own fact checking. In the email Stewart asks "Could the Dems really have done that bad of a job vetting this family?" According to ThinkProgress

CNN’s John Roberts reported: “Some of the accusations [against the Frosts] may be exaggerated or false. But did the Democrats make a tactical error in holding up Graeme as their poster child?” A CNN political analyst then placed the blame squarely on the Democrats’ shoulders:

I think in this instance what happened was the Democrats didn’t do as much of a vetting as they could have done on this young man, his situation, his family. […]

Talk about blaming the victim. So far everything about Graeme and his family has checked out. The only person who hasn't done much fact checking is John Roberts or maybe the alleged CNN political analyst. What the hell, John got his talking point and he is sticking to it.



The McConnell smearmail

Seen the latest blogswarm? Apparently, there’s more to the story on the kid (Graeme Frost) that did the Dems’ radio response on SCHIP. Bloggers have done a little digging and turned up that the Dad owns his own business (and the building it’s in), seems to have some commercial rental income and Graeme and a sister go to a private school that, according to its website, costs about $20k a year ‹for each kid‹ despite the news profiles reporting a family income of only $45k for the Frosts. Could the Dems really have done that bad of a job vetting this family?

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Right Wing Wackos Try To Swiftboat Graeme Frost--Michelle Maklin Caught Stalking

Yesterday I posted about 12 year old Graeme Frost's electric response to President Bush's veto of SCHIP. What do right wing scumbags do when they are on the losing side of an issue? Why, of course, they attack the messenger. In this case the bottom feeder of all bottom feeders Michelle Maklin has been caught stalking the Frost family trying to "prove" that they are really rich people who don't qualify for SCHIP. ThinkProgress has the rundown and some bullet point facts to use today when your favorite winger tries to dazzle you with bullshit.

1) Graeme has a scholarship to a private school. The school costs $15K a year, but the family only pays $500 a year.

2) His sister Gemma attends another private school to help her with the brain injuries that occurred due to her accident. The school costs $23,000 a year, but the state pays the entire cost.

3) They bought their “lavish house” sixteen years ago for $55,000 at a time when the neighborhood was less than safe.

4) Last year, the Frost’s made $45,000 combined. Over the past few years they have made no more than $50,000 combined.

5) The state of Maryland has found them eligible to participate in the CHIP program.

Michelle, trying to change the subject isn't going to work this time. SCHIP is too damned important.

On a side note Christy Hardin Smith over at Firedoglake refers to Michelle as today's "Wingnut Wurlitizer." Damn, I guess the trademark application didn't get filed fast enough. You would think that the least she could do is give us attribution or maybe an occasional link. Christy, you can bet Michelle is in the running for the real Wurlitzer prize this week. She has a real shot unless Wolf or Howie or Mr. Russert pick up this non-story. Then the first "mainstream media" winger who reports this non-story is going to jump to the head of the class.

Christy, we won't sic bmaz on you over the trademark thing, if you don't mind us using your picture of Michelle. It's perfect.

UPDATE: If you want to really smile this morning, read this Editorial From Hell's Leading Newspaper. It's great.

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