I know that the term “Senate ethics” is often an oxymoron, but doesn’t accusing a political opponent from the Senate floor of a felony without offering a shred of proof violate some kind of ethics rule? “The word’s out” refers only to Harry Reid and Harry Reid alone. Not only is this despicable and grossly irresponsible, it should be actionable in court.
One problem with dullards like Harry Reid trying to manufacture a news cycle and gin up innuendo is that they’re so transparently hamfisted about doing so that nobody who is honest takes them seriously any longer.
That having been said, the bigger problem is that, because there are no longer repercussions for what is essentially an unfounded smear — and a demand that Romney prove his innocence to the satisfaction of Harry Reid and the left, in a ploy that is obviously purely political — there is simply no mechanism left in place to prevent the cynical and disingenuous (be they on the left or, in the case of John McCain and John Boehner, eg., on the not-quite-as-left) from throwing shit against the wall and hoping the media helps it to stick.
Romney should probably just go with it and challenge Reid to a duel. But what I suspect he’ll do is turn around and play a bit of hardball — and we’ll start hearing questions raised about all of Harry’s sweetheart land deals.
And when it happens, it couldn’t have happened to a nicer ghoul.
You lie!
He hasn’t paid taxes in 10 years … huh. Isn’t there some organization out there that oversees whether or not a person pays their taxes?
If not, there should be. Amiright?
What was that story Mario Puzo told again? Helluva story-teller, that Mario.
Was there a flight in an SR-71 to an offshore tax haven involved? Is this another of those seriousness of the charge deserving of answers things the Democrats are so fond of trotting out when they’re losing?
Harry Reid is a pederast! I read it on Twitter!
When did you stop beating your wife, Harry?
Honestly, I don’t think Reid is this stupid. More than likely, the Obama administration has something on Reid (didn’t SEIU do some heavy lifting in order for Reid to win reelection?) and the administration is leaning hard on Reid.
Wow, pederast! Who knew there are prepubescent mafiosi with whom to jump into bed?
This is why we used to permit dueling.
Blake:
But why Reid as the vector for this? Why not, say, Barney Frank? He’s got the Massachusetts-insider cover? Why choose Dingy Harry as your message carrier? He’s got little credibility with the American people. Why not pick someone who would add validity to the story?
If Romney’s accountants were competent, they’d have used all available shelters. This is what the Dems want to expose. “Look at how he hid behind the tax code to keep from paying his fair share!”™
Say, isn’t this about the time our little troll should show up to explain teh fairness of confiscatory taxation to us rubes?
IIRC, the state legislator played by Dick Smothers in “Casino” was based on Harry Reid. I recall they exposed him as a hypocrite/graft taker during an oversight hearing.
I do. Stage III Mad Cow. You read it here first.
The man’s saliva should be quarantined as a biohazard, lest he spread it all over the Senate…
Shit. Too late.
zamoose, Reid needs just enough credibility to give MSM the cover needed to run the story. It isn’t about credibility with the American public. It’s about giving the DNC mouthpiece known as MSM something to run with. MSM is a willing accomplice to the slander. MSM knows this story should never see the light of day, yet ran the story anyway.
I’ll try a bit of Occam’s razor to this story.
1. Reid is a complete moron which is why Reid doubled down on the “Romney tax cheat” line. (not sure how a complete moron would come up with the tax cheat idea, but, we’ll grant that)
2. Reid is being leaned on hard by an administration known for leaning on people.
Damn, Occam’s razor tells me it could go either way.
Debating with a liberal, their response was that Romney needed to release his tax returns.
So – it’s working with the low information voters.
Obviously most non-koolaid drinkers will see right through this idiotic ploy. But I think they’re having an issue with exciting their base. This. The chik-fil-a incident. They’re merely trying to rev up their base, since they ‘ve got nothing else to use.
Car in, ask your next leftist interlocutor how come the IRS doesn’t just hand the information to the Obama campaign, or whether they haven’t done already? After all, the IRS has possession of Romney’s tax returns.
See what happens.
Heck, ask them why, if the IRS has the information, they haven’t pursued charges.
“I’m sorry, but I think you have Romney confused with Obama’s Secretary of the Treasury. Simple mistake on your part, I’m sure.”
Yeah, I think suing Harry would be a worthwhile exercise just for the discovery. I mean, how could he object unless he’s hiding something?
Only thing Harry’s hiding is a basement full of little boys. Or so I’ve heard.
Here’s something to help with your razor.
Old people NEED their junk mail, it’s their only friend.
You can literally smell the people coming into the building.
Cowboy poetry festivals are vital to the economy.
Reid is like most in the Senate. Half dead and propped up by aids and warm oatmeal.
[…] 2012 | No CommentsEd Morrissey calls it “despicable and grossly irresponsible,” while Jeff Goldstein predicts that a harsh backlash against Reid’s tactics:The arrogance of power can be truly astonishing to watch. Harry Reid hasn’t passed a budget […]
What’s that William? Harry Reid has AIDS?
I almost wish Romney would go all Andrew Jackson on his ass…….
Meh. I like that Romney is ignoring all the “Oh look! Shiny!” nonsense and talking about the issues.
– The Left is sucking donkey wads. They’d say or do ANYTHING to change the focus away from the economy.
– Rasmussen still: Romney 46%, Obama 43%
– The upcoming CBO report is hanging like the sword of Damocles over Jug ears nappy head.
It sho’ is, BBH.
I’ve noticed that even the Che Guevera wing of the dems is giving it a rest with the “do nothing Congress” crap, blaming Dubya and the reps for our shitty economy. They’re flailing around with trying to switch tactics, but they always fall back on their strength, which is blaming the other guys.
It isn’t working anymore.
Haha! Quiet, Leigh. That’s the next shocking chapter of the ongoing pederast scandal.
“News so good, you can’t deny it!”
What is surprising is that it is so overblown – hamfisted, as Jeff put it. The drip, drip of insinuation is much more effective. Coming flat-out with an allegation and refusing to provide the barest basis of proof? That’s the way to get this story killed for good, the accuser lose all credibility on this.
And the funny thing is that losing credibility on one accusation (this one) causes a loss of credibility in other accusations. Reid may have just immunized Romney’s campaign from other accusations.
Remember, there is no evidence for this accusation. This means it must be taken seriously because of the coverup shown by the lack of evidence.
(Thanks for recalling the SR-71 story, Ernst.)
[…] world over are OUTRAGED at this baseless attack against a political figure without any evidence to back it up. I thought, in the spirit of comprehensively tackling the problem of unsubstantiated allegation […]