GOP Enron Plan: Shift the Blame

Roll Call ^ | 01.14.02 | John Bresnahan

[xzins]

Blame it on Bill Clinton and the Democrats. And if that doesn't work, point out that Democrats, both individually and through their national party committees, were just as willing as Republicans to accept hundreds of thousands of dollars in political donations fromEnron over the past decade. And say that Democrats became self-righteous on the issue only after it became clear that the company's demise presented them with an opportunity to slam President Bush and the GOP.

Let's see.
1. The Dem's WERE in charge while this was happening; during the Clinton Market Bubble and then the Bubble Collapse.

2. The Dem's DID ACCEPT hundreds of thousands of Enron donations.

3. The Dem's (with media attack dogs) are using it as a tool to slam the pubbies.

4. Apparently, a portion of the calls to the White House on behalf of Enron were made by one of Clinton's former lawyers who NOW works for Enron.

5. Finally, isn't the White House saying they denied the requests for direct intervention? Is there any proof that that isn't so?

[dokmad]

"Even if no more damaging information comes out, this is a major problem for this administration," Palmieri told the New York Times. "It is going to damage the president's credibility and it's going to hurt their ability to get their message out."

Pure leftist political hogwash. What is the worst thing done here? That the Bush cabinet declined to help Enron. These slimey bottom feeders are trying to make something from absolutely Nothing!!

[Wrigley]

One thing that I find interesting. The 80's were called the decade of greed. According to Clinton, the 90's was the greatest economic period. What do we call the 90's?

[Extremely Extreme Extremist]

The problem with the Pubbie's plan is that it makes them seem evasive and Clintonesque.

Why don't they just fricking grow some balls and come out swinging at a news conference or something?

[xzins]

What is wrong with leading off with condemning Ken Lay, Skilling, et al. as criminals who recklessly toyed with the savings of their investors, many of whom were employees? If it were me directing it, I'd be vigorously shouting encouragement to the prosecutors to get the people who thought they could buy my favors.

Your ideas have merit.

Basically, you're saying, "go on the offense." Beats the heck out of standing around defending the virtually unprovable, that something didn't happen. On the defense, you just sit there waiting for the enemy to lob the next explosive round.

[Dog Gone]

The Republicans have nothing to hide. And there's no point in getting all excited about this and pointing fingers at Lay, et al, because it only reinforces the notion that this is a political scandal. It is not.

The Democrats are trying to make it into one, and the press is certainly helping, but if the Republicans are open and honest about this, there will be no lasting political damage.

Bush has announced a Justice Department criminal inquiry. He's got folks looking at the 401K issues. He has the SEC investigating, and the Republicans in Congress are not trying to obstruct Congressional investigations, even though they know that they are designed to blame Republicans instead of blaming Enron.

As soon as the public figures out that the Republicans aren't involved in this scandal, they will lose interest. Most of them never heard of Enron before this and the story doesn't really affect them. It doesn't have any sex appeal.

Meanwhile, the Democrats are already laying the ground for a shift in strategy. Unable to find any evidence so far that the White House was active in granting favors to Enron executives, they are getting ready to argue that the White House should have granted favors to Enron executives.

It's almost funny to watch.

[NittanyLion]

Yep - you've got it. The current perception is that the GOP is in bed with Enron, and no amount of denials will change that perception. Republicans will only sound evasive, or "Clintonesque" if you prefer. What the GOP needs is to change the perception, and do so rapidly. The media is burying them right now.

[xzins]

At least the pub's are rid of the Virginia governor, whasisname. He was AWFUL almost every time he was interviewed. I can't imagine him being that different in the back rooms plotting strategy.

Now the Pub head is -- Roccio? (Roscoe?)-- anyway, the Montana guy he was so big in the publicity war during the recount in Florida. He came out smokin' at that time. Maybe he'll show up here shortly, and we'll see what he's made of.

[DeaconRed]

"The 80's were called the decade of greed. What do we call the 90's?

My vote is: "THE DECADE OF SLEAZE"

V537

[jwalsh07]

We don't need spin, we need truth, which will set us all free. Never hide what doesn't need to be hidden. Let the investigation go forward and let the chips fall where they may. Thats the kind of government I'm interested in.

[callisto]

THE DECADE OF SLEAZE

It sounds like a winner to me. Best description of the 92-2000 years yet.

[Bloody Sam Roberts]

"What do we call the 90's? "

The dead past.

[pcpa]

The period of the greatest Presidential & Democratic Party Corruption known to man.

[varon]

"The Democrats' hands are just as dirty as ours on Enron," a top Republican strategist noted.

Well, well, well, finally someone at "the top" admits that both parties are crooks. Elected crooks but crooks nonetheless.

[mwl1]

Lawrence O'Donnell of MSNBC, certainly no moderate or conservative, went public over the weekend on McLaughlin and other shows and blasted the RATS on Enron...mentioned that LA Times is coming out with major Senate RATS in $$$ bed with Enron for years... story developing... the whole thing will backfire on the RATS and they are playing with fire.