(Unconfirmed Vanity) Fox News Reports: Romney Campaign blamed for planting false story on Thompson D

Vanity Shepard Smith's Biography ^ | Jan 03,2008 | Fox News

[Maelstorm]

I was just watching FoxNews Shepard Smith. The Romney campaign is being fingered as the source for the phony story about the drop out.

One of the Romney jerks is on making snide remarks.

[montag813]

No surprise. What’s surprising is how much Shep looks like a young Leona Helmsly in that picture.

Perhaps he looks even more like her when he heads down to the Village in drag. Yes, Shep is a naughty boy. A longtime friend was his broker.

[Clara Lou]

Let me clarify: Any campaign is going to try to take the high ground by saying, “why, no, we don’t believe it was the XXXX campaign who committed campaign mischief.” The denial might or might not be true. The moral high ground is the objective.
The Romney campaign is, rightly or wrongly, accused. For all I know, it could be the Huckabee or the McCain campaign that is guilty. SOMEBODY did it, and it wasn’t the Thompson campaign.

[windcliff]

ping

[ejonesie22]

magic...

[doug from upland]

Romney is without principles?

[sageb1]

http://www.onthemedia.org/transcripts/2007/03/30/03

“Socializing between reporters and the people they cover is part of the D.C. landscape. But when they actually tie the knot, are journalists in an ethical bind? We asked Fortune’s Washington Bureau Chief Nina Easton, wife of John McCain’s media advisor.”

[Fudd Fan]

Last night Easton said her husband was a consultant to ROMNEY. I heard her say it and definitely remember because I was taken aback by it (I didn't even know or care whether she was married).

Did she mis-speak? She IS a ditz after all.

[Texas Federalist]

Another garbage accusation. Everything’s always Romney’s fault...he gets attacked by an underhanded campaign tactic—HE DID IT TO HIMSELF! Another candidate gets attacked by an underhanded campaign tactic—ROMNEY DID THAT TOO!!! Notice a trend??? *rolls eyes*

Yes. When dirty tricks are played and lies are being spread, the candidate who is the biggest liar and has the most personal ambition is assumed to have been responsible. Don't see anything wrong in that.

[Texas Federalist]

Don’t really buy it about Romney. This wouldn’t help Romney at all, no reason to think that Fred’s supporters would go to Mitt. The most likely gain would be in the form of McCain.

I agree. But I think McCain, for all his policy shortcomings, is too principled to spread lies about a good man and a friend. Mitt Romney is not above that.

[America_Right]

One panel member had to fully disclose that her husband was a consultant to Romney.

Nina Easton always says that before they start discussing the election. Some kind of broadcasting rule.

[sageb1]

Besides the fact that Shep is moron, Fred mentioned only that one of the other campaigns might have done it. The reason the Romney camp came up is because bloggers are talking about the guy from their camp who put up the phony Fred website. I am boycotting FOX, so I don’t know what was said on his show.

Frankly, I don’t know who did it. My guess is Politico is fully and single-handedly responsible for its attempt to take Fred down.

[Politicalmom]

I wonder where people could have gotten such an idea?

*****

Fred Thompson May Drop Out of the Race before NH!
From Reaganesque | 01/02/2008 9:51:57 PM PST new

Someone just posted an article from the Politico saying that sources close to Fred Thompson say that if he doesn’t come in with a respectable showing in IA, he will drop out, probably before the NH primary. The Frednecks are having a cow! Here’s the link:

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1947536/posts

The temptation to gloat will be tremendous but, this is still just a rumor. Best not to say anything until it happens. Just enjoy the karmic payback, for now. And even if it is true, it would be seriously tacky to gloat so, let’s fight the urge and let victory be its own reward. Until then, I hope my tongue can bear the constant biting it will be receiving in the next couple of days.

*****

[Fudd Fan]

Mitt’s spokesman said he didn’t know he was in the race. Hardly sounds threatened.

You're joking, right? That one-liner is actually complete desperation.

[Politicalmom]

Hi. :)

[afnamvet]

Shep’s down with the mascara. LOL

[donnab]

whew thank you...glad someone else heard it.

[Cicero]

Well, if it was one of the Republicans, Romney is by far the likeliest. It fits his campaigning style.

But my own theory is that this comes straight from the DNC on behalf of hillary & co. They don’t want to find themselves down the line running against Fred

Politico has always had a leftist bias. They clearly work for the Rats. This wasn’t a leak or a dirty trick, this was an order straight from the DNC to one of its pimps.

[Red_Devil 232]

See my post #124

[Miss Didi]

No, Fuddy...you heard right. She announces this every time she appears on the Panel.

[American Quilter]

This could get very bad for Romney. If this is even seemingly true, a last minute “dirty trick” is not what your campaign wants to be all over the news a couple of hours before the caucus starts.

That's for sure. If it was a Romney campaign staffer, and Romney didn't know about it, he should do worse than fire the staffer. I think legal action would make it clear that Romney himself was innocent.