I don't think it was ever about distraction. I think it was about blackmail. And I think it was about blackmail long before Monica ever thought about snapping her thong at Bubba. After all, it wasn't as if the Portly Pepperpot was the first skeleton in the Toons' capacious closet...
Nobody knew what they were doing in x-42's administration as far as running govt. They did however, bring with them to their lofty positions experience in lying, cheating and stealing. They stole millions of our tax dollars and cooked the books to well done. Dept. after Dept.