The Smear That Backfired

Here's a story that needs to get out beyond just the blogosphere and the orbit of the political cognoscenti: Media Matters has the scoop on the Republican talking points memo discussing Terri Schiavo and how to best exploit her case to their benefit. After the memo was issued from an aide to Senator Mel Martinez (R-Election Debacle State 2000), the VRWC ganged up and began accusing Democrats of having written it and circulated it in an attempt to smear the Repubs. It's just the kind of circular dirty trick that operatives like Karl Rove and Tom DeLay are known for -- or would be, if only the media would report items like this one. Check out the timeline and the rabid quotes from such stellar lights of the right as Michelle Malkin, John Hinderaker and Rush Limbaugh.

Think any of them will bother with retractions or apologies, now that their story has been revealed to be false? If you do, I have a very nice bridge with a view and a full set of tollbooths and metering lights I can let you have, cheap.