RSS Feed MenuWhen I hear Republican spinners call our NewMajority story on Governor Palin’s clothes “inaccurate,” I am reminded of John Edwards’ denials in October 2007 of his then rumored extra-marital affair: “The story is false.”
It’s an old press secretary’s device.
The reporter says that clothes are stashed in garbage bags. You say the story is false because some of the clothes are stashed in cardboard boxes. The reporter says that the clothes are in the basement. You say the story is false because you have just that day moved them to a storeroom on the 2nd floor. Etc.
Saturday Night Live mocked this kind of talk in a sketch 30 years ago.
Reporter #1: Is it true that the president is 100 feet tall?
Press secretary: Nooooo! Absolutely not!
Reporter #2: Is the president 90 feet tall?
Press secretary: No comment.
We all want to be accurate, and we here at NewMajority will be delighted to correct ourselves if our story proves incorrect in any way. I don’t expect it will, and not just because our sourcing is good.
Here’s the basic logic of the situation. We have confirmed that Gov. Palin has returned the clothes to the RNC. And of course we all know that the RNC has not given the clothes away. So whether they are all in trash bags – or partly in bags and partly in boxes – they remain in the RNC’s possession. Where else could they be?
And the surest proof of the accuracy of our story is the RNC’s less attractive methods of denial: badmouthing the reporter behind her back – questioning motives – and (worst of all) shrugging off the importance of honoring promises.
Here is an example of that last and most troubling technique as practiced by a blogger at Redstate.com with close RNC connections:
Palin, Republican John McCain’s Vice Presidential pick, resigned from the limelight and returned to Alaska over two months ago after losing to then-Senator Barack Obama in November’s hotly-contested Presidential election. Why now, when Palin is no longer seeking national office, is this a salient issue – or, for that matter, even true?
That’s a clever move when you think about. You promise during the campaign to return clothes afterward – and then afterward you repudiate the promise as nonbinding because the campaign is now over.
Does this technique work with phone bills and credit card bills too, or only with your commitments to your donors?
So here is why the issue is salient. Palin has not retired to private life. She is, it was reported today, negotiating a large book deal. She is reportedly contemplating a run for the Senate in 2010. Many polls show her the leading contender for the Republican nomination in 2012.
And the Republican National Committee is not exactly shutting up shop either. In fact, a week from now the RNC will decide whether to keep the current incumbent on the job. The story of the clothes-in-the-bags is very relevant to assessing that incumbent’s performance in the past and predicting his performance in the future.
Above all:
Today’s Republican Party is an unhealthy and unhappy organization. Only today I had a long phone conversation with a former stalwart of the Maryland party who is contemplating giving up his party identification altogether and working to launch a third party.
Parties do not rebuild by shutting out their members – or engaging in tough-guy talk when asked basic and obvious questions about past promises. They rebuild with transparency, responsiveness and competence. Let’s have some, please.
Amorak // Jan 24, 2009 at 2:39 pm
Your 2 cents is worth far less than that, My2Cents. Your “non-issue” comment and your attempt to ridicule Mr. Frum illustrate the moral bankruptcy of the Republican Party and far too many conservatives. The RNC is looking very bad on this because they are behaving very badly. The party is out on its ear because of this type of behavior that is so repugnant to so many people. What is the RNC hiding, that’s a big question. The biggest questions, however, are why didn’t the RNC do what it said it would do and why is it engaging in this kind of behavior? Those aren’t little “non-issue” questions!
Kaz // Jan 24, 2009 at 2:43 pm
The RNC spent $200k on Palin’s clothes and the Dems are poised to ramrod an $850B stimulus package down our throats.
The homepage of this site has 4 posts about Palin’s clothes and zero about the stimulus plan. Telling of how effective the Republicans will be in establishing a “New Majority”.
NJ8 // Jan 24, 2009 at 2:57 pm
What gives with all the Palin clothes rehashing? Like that is important? Sarah’s clothes are certainly more important than the 170+ million Obama wasted on his inauguration. It’s certainly more important than the 850 billion non-stimulus package he is crafting. It’s certainly more important than Obama closing Gitmo without a clue or a plan. Are we ging to be talking about Palin’s clothes as terrorists swarm the country and kill us all. In our last dying breath, will we ask “Where..are.. the… ..cloth…es?
CoalMan // Jan 24, 2009 at 3:01 pm
Frum, This is a non-starter. You’ve managed to make Palin and the RNC the focus of this issue when the real issue is you’re not happy with the RNC because, in your opinion, they weren’t honest with you/us on some clothes the RNC or donors gave her and their disposition. Hasn’t the fifth column American press already had a field day with this one, accusing the RNC of masterminding some nefarious plot to make our candidate look like she might be Vice-Presidential? Do they now require your help? I’m sure the RNC has enough to do just fending off the entire media nation ( because the RNC has no guts or leadership) without your sniping. They probably forgot to address the clothes because they were hiding under their desks!!
CoalMan // Jan 24, 2009 at 3:03 pm
good one NJ8 LMAO
gary4205 // Jan 24, 2009 at 3:21 pm
Frum why do you join the democrat party and take your RINO brothers and sisters with you.
There will be new Republican leadership soon enough. It will be conservative, or it will die. It’s that simple.
As far as continually trashing Governor Palin, get over it son, she is going to be the next President of the United States. She is the only real leader in the Republican party.
senorlechero // Jan 24, 2009 at 3:48 pm
I guess I crossed the line by calling Frum a name and had a post deleted. Many here have pointed out the obvious, that Frum is unnecessarily causing problems in the GOP. It seemed obvious to me that certain names fit that type of behavior. We who like Sarah Palin as a candidate are perfectly happy to talk issues, but that seems impossible with those of you who don’t. Funny that the only way to talk to the latter group is to agree with them.. Wait, that’s the definition of the Democratic party isn’t it. Once again, good job Frum, in creating controversy and encouraging discord.
NJ8 // Jan 24, 2009 at 5:33 pm
Now I know why the clothes are an issue. So this site is one week old,and looking to draw people in. The founder knows that featuring an article on Palin will bring instant attention. Just another person trying to cash in on Palin’s popularity. That’s ok, just keep her name in the news, as this ensures unlimited free media attention will be hers in 2012. The Palin X factor is undeniable
senorlechero // Jan 24, 2009 at 6:01 pm
NJ8…I like your positive thinking. Way to go.
seeker888 // Jan 24, 2009 at 9:14 pm
Come on guys, palin is the future of GOP…..
She is so articulate, does well on TV and doesn’t just “Pal around with domestic terrorists”, she’s married to one!
So, quit picking on this national treasure. We all know palin will be running for president in 2012. She is a cynch against “do nothing” Obama.
KYJurisDoctor // Jan 24, 2009 at 9:28 pm
SILLY Sarah Palin is the future of another IGNOMINIOUS GOP defeat at the polls.
Bulldoglover100 // Jan 24, 2009 at 10:08 pm
Sarah Palin is a living, breathing reason why we lost the election. If she is allowed to run again, and I don’t see that occuring, we will lose again. The woman cannot speak, she cannot tell the truth and she has done a job that I, as a Republican, am ashamed of in Alaska. If we want to lose even more Republicans and Indep. to the Dems? Run that poor excuse again. She lost. Want to see it happen again?
I think ALL Republican sites should run articles on her weekly so that no one forgets that she cost us the
senorlechero // Jan 24, 2009 at 10:53 pm
Every hour Frum leaves these stupid posts about Palin’s clothes on his site more Democrat trolls like Bulldog’s lover and KYambulancechaser show up posting their divisive BDS inspired garbage
No Sale // Jan 25, 2009 at 1:38 am
With regard to George Bush, David Frum has been the king of the “yesmanship” he now decries. Frum said nothing as Bush wrecked the economy, as he failed to organize for Iraq and Afghanistan, as he allowed New Orleans to drown, and more.
Besides wrecking the economy, Bush has also wrecked the conservative movement and the Republican party. If Frum wants to be taken seriously, he needs to acknowledge his collaboration with Bush and the wrecking of the economy.
sharona // Jan 25, 2009 at 2:09 am
Someone needs to tell the RNC to sell the clothes on Ebay. They’d fetch a heck of a lot of money that could then be given to charity.
JCY // Jan 25, 2009 at 2:34 am
Wherever you go, that’s where you are.
Giving up your party identification and working to launch a third party with your same values isn’t the solution.
You need to stop running and take responsibility for flawed, bad policies that have led this country to ruin.
You need to stop blaming everybody but yourselves.
For the last 8 years, Democrats gave you and Bush everything that he wanted. There isn’t one bill, one policy, that Bush wanted that he didn’t get, aside from social security privatization. Imagine how many more Republicans would have been tossed out of office had they been successful at privatizing social security.
Bush believes he will be vindicated, and though conservatives despair over his spending now, I think in time you will come to love him again. Why? Because Bush’s spending these last 8 years has achieved what conservatives like Grover Norquist have wanted: Destroying government and social programs like social security and Medicare by bankrupting the nation.
I saw that that was what Bush was up to in 2000. How come you didn’t see it, Frum?
We’re on the verge of a Great Depression which will make the last one seem like a dress rehearsal. If we manage to survive it, I plan to make sure that nobody ever forgets it was Republicans who did it to us.
It’s time for conservatives to stop with launching websites to try to spin their reputations, and have a long hard look at themselves. And then they need to go away.
nealjking // Jan 25, 2009 at 2:47 am
I agree with sharona: The RNC could easily make this whole issue go away by detailing a secretary plus a teenage volunteer to put this stuff out on Ebay. Problem solved in one afternoon. So why are they wasting time shooting the messenger? Like it or not, the Palin wardrobe was a black eye for the McCain-Palin campaign: It was a LOT of money for clothing, and the story looks even less forgivable in retrospect.
Anonymous // Jan 25, 2009 at 6:18 am
This is great! The RNC screws up by buying a load of expensive clothes for a “Clothes Horse” candidate who cant string a sentence together.
Then they screw up disposing of the evidence!
Then the wingnuts go crazy stupid at the RNC/Frum.
Reminds me of the joke that is going on electing a new RNC leader. Keep this up and only Oklahoma will be red in 2012.
To all those who say that Palin has an 80% approval rating. That represents the 20% dead enders who thought Booooosh did a great job! best of luck getting her elected with that as a base.
The GOP is now a party of old, white, fundamentalist men. Just take a look at the footage of the GOP convention, old white guys self congratulating themselves. Keep it up go further right, the further the better. Keep supporting the baby Jesus wing of the GOP. I love it!!!!
coleman // Jan 25, 2009 at 7:14 am
The RNC didn’t screw up, it’s an organization that deals with policy. An employee of the RNC screwed up, it was a mishap, a bit of poor judgment. And Gov. Palin had nothing to do with it. I appreciate the reporting, I disagree with the spin, blaming the RNC for one person’s ineptness.
Too bad about Ted Haggard. Again, he’s an individual, not the face of the GOP. The conservative movement is vast, and religion is one small part of it. Ministers, athletes, business leaders, etc., can all be Republicans who “mess up” (like the rest of the human race), but they’re not the face of the GOP.
Every time an evangelical disappoints their congregation it gets covered as if a Republican governor has been arrested for murder. Ridiculous. We need to separate chuch and state, and church and conservatism.
Let’s focus more on fiscal policy and other serious policy issues, less on personal foibles.
BrickawithanA // Jan 25, 2009 at 8:49 am
Thank you for this opportunity. I grew up Republican, voted for Reagan. I supported and believed my president when he said Saddam had WMD. I started asking questions when at the Correspondents Dinner in 2003, my president mocked and joked about the lack of WMD. “Are they here?” under the podium. I was crushed because young men and women were DYING….I realized that he (President Bush) lied to me. So, Yesmanship….Mr. Frum you are right up these in the chain of Yesmen. You were one of the chief cocooners of the former president. You, Mr. Perle, etc are running and parsing and not admitting your culpability in the horrific fiasco we are facing as a result of your guidance.
The clothing in the bag is the perfect ending and metaphor for the trash that needs to be taken out.
I am saddened by the turn that has taken place for the Republican party. What has happened is well deserved.
Anonymous // Jan 25, 2009 at 9:00 am
Coleman you are still in an Egyptian river.
larryo // Jan 25, 2009 at 12:15 pm
thompson, I think you can look at the election returns, if you are inclined to do that sort of thing, and you will immediately be able to tell who cares.