Sorry for taking so long to respond, but I just saw your post.
I don’t think that’s accurate about Al French. According to all accounts, it was French’s admission that he didn’t have firsthand knowledge of what he had sworn to in his affidavit that made news.
And it was a professional rival - another Republican - who turned him in to his boss, not for saying something in “error” about his marriage, but for lying about an affair with a coworker in violation of office rules.
http://wweek.com/story.php?story=5471
He wasn’t fired, but suspended during the investigation. Last I heard he still had his job.
"MADE news" is even more apropos than I think you know. "Manufactured" is probably more accurate. It was nonsense.
That Al French was somehow compelled to "admit" to not having firsthand knowledge is an absurd reporter's mis-characterization of Mr. French's comment and probably based upon either a deliberate or ignorant MIS-QUOTE of Mr. French's original affidavit (which stands unamended) disseminated by KGW-News and others on the net. Here is what KGW-News reported on Aug 23, 2004...(highlights mine)
Before recording the ad, French did indeed sign an affidavit that said: "I am able to swear, as I do hereby swear, that all facts and statements contained in this affidavit are true and correct and within my personal knowledge and belief."Here is the ACTUAL text of Mr. French's affidavit...
"I am able to swear, as I do hereby swear, that all facts and statements contained in this affidavit are true and correct and within my personal knowledge or belief."