Way to go, Ashley. Hope the attention was worth it, because it was a gift to Democrats. The media is going to hammer this story to the detriment of more important issues like who’s got the integrity, character, and better policies to lead the country.
This also gives the media the green light to completely ignore the numerous actual attacks and vandalism that Obama supporters have committed.
Eh. If it wasn’t sad, dimwitted Ashley, it would have been something else, like whether Palin buys her underwear at Victoria’s Secret or the discount polyesther rack Wal-Mart, as a prole like Palin rightfully should. My grandmother used to say a change is as good as a rest.
The Anchoress writes
I’d say the kid needs serious help and attention. Attention, she is about to get; much more than she ever wanted, and all of it negative, hurtful, sensational and divisive. I hope that she gets help, too.
I disagree. The media has no need to vet her the way they did Joe the Plumber. They will take her at face value and portray her as representative. Her face and name will certainly be displayed and repeated ad infinitum, but her personal details are probably pretty secure. And how cynical am I about the media and Senator “If you can win, I think you should,” even if that means stealing the nomination? I’m so cynical that when I first heard this story, my first thought was that it was a hoax, and my second was that we’d find out after the election that she was connected to the Democrats and possibly even the Obama campaign. Time will tell…
Jammie Wearing Fool says “Proseucte her to the full extent of the law, they have her evaluated for mental illness.”
That sounds like a good plan to me. Crystal Mangum, the Duke rape hoaxer, should be in jail right now. People who lie and fake crimes should absolutely be prosecuted. As a crime victim myself, I know how hard it is to make the decision to report a crime. You want justice, but you know damn well you’re going to be put through the wringer and you can’t help thinking maybe it’s just not worth it. Ashley Todd just put ammunition in the hands of some sexist, cynical cops who are prone to disbelieve victims and defense attorneys who cite statistics about fake accusations. So while I pity her, and will do my best to pray for her, I’m furious at her. Just because she invented her criminal instead of accusing real people the way Crystal Mangum did, doesn’t mean there aren’t real repercussions for her lie – and not just political ones, though those are serious enough. You hurt real crime victims with that lie, Ms. Todd.
Ed Morrissey notes that The College Republicans will have some explaining to do here.
Ace sums it up:
Assuming this is true — which I do — she really screwed us nicely. She put people like me in a difficult spot as I was forced to defend her on the small chance she was on the level.
Oh, and not to mention: She dragged McCain and Palin into this, who were of course obligated to make calls of sympathy.
Well played, Ashley. Very well played.
… But the main point is still: Only the left gets to fake hate crimes.
Since violent assailants don’t get more gentle toward the end of an attack, the whole thing seemed fishy once I saw the picture. That B was scratched on gently, while the girl was keeping still and cooperating. That wasn’t a wound that was inflicted on a struggling victim by an enraged attacker.
I suspect this girl had mental health issues. Which is in keeping with the attention-seeking theory. Since Sarah Palin was scheduled to be in Pittsburgh, it could be the girl thought that this would get her a chance to actually meet and talk to the VP candidate, instead of just being a face in the crowd.