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McCain Supporter Jailed Over False Attack Report

By Jeralyn, Section Elections 2008
Posted on Fri Oct 24, 2008 at 08:14:54 PM EST
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Susan Smith redux. John McCain supporter Ashley Todd admits she made up the attack story.'

A McCain campaign volunteer made up a story of being robbed, pinned to the ground and having the letter "B" scratched on her face in what she had said was a politically inspired attack, police said Friday.

....Todd initially told investigators she was attempting to use a bank branch ATM on Wednesday night when a 6-foot-4 black man approached her from behind, put a knife blade to her throat and demanded money. She told police she handed the assailant $60 and walked away.

Todd has mental issues and will be housed in the mental health unit of the jail on the misdemeanor charge.

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    McCain Supporter Jailed Over False Attack Report | 77 comments (77 topical)

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    Poor Teresa. (5.00 / 1) (#1)
    by LarryInNYC on Fri Oct 24, 2008 at 08:19:44 PM EST
    Look at the sweatshirt Todd is wearing in the perp walk.

    Oh crap. She's from Texas and moved to (5.00 / 1) (#5)
    by Teresa on Fri Oct 24, 2008 at 08:28:35 PM EST
    PA and she's wearing my sweatshirt? That's a bad omen for my game tomorrow. Thanks for noticing Larry. :)

    Parent
    I wish (none / 0) (#62)
    by Amiss on Sat Oct 25, 2008 at 12:54:47 AM EST
    you well with your Vols tomorrow Teresa.But..........Go Gators against Kentucky :)

    Parent
    As a daddy of two girls (5.00 / 6) (#3)
    by rdandrea on Fri Oct 24, 2008 at 08:21:24 PM EST
    I feel very sorry for her.  She's just a kid, crying out for attention.  She needs help.  I hope she gets it.

    Any venom I have is not directed at her, it's directed at the McCain press people, Matt Drudge, and right-wing hate radio, all of whom tried to pump this story into something it wasn't.

    And some venom for CNN (5.00 / 2) (#6)
    by Cream City on Fri Oct 24, 2008 at 08:30:40 PM EST
    which did the right thing, in hindsight, by not going with the story yesterday and today -- when it was as "legit," based on filed police reports, etc., as many another story CNN has reported.  (As well as many stories -- of attacks on both sides -- that it has not reported.)  

    But then, late in the day, CNN went with the story of the "hoax."  I talked to a journalism teacher about that switch, and it just doesn't make sense.  

    CNN might have led the way in a return to the best journalism norms of the field in days of yore, when great caution was exercised in coverage of political stories for the two weeks before the election.  But going with today's story -- nope, not a return to the worthy norms.

    The poor woman.  I had a student who was a Dem volunteer in 2004 and got himself in a world of trouble for vandalizing GOP vans and other equipment.  He never finished college.

    Parent

    PS. (5.00 / 2) (#4)
    by LarryInNYC on Fri Oct 24, 2008 at 08:22:20 PM EST
    From the linked report it sounds like the woman involved is genuinely and seriously mentally ill.  Oddly enough, it doesn't seem to have stopped her from working for the College Republicans.

    QED (none / 0) (#11)
    by andgarden on Fri Oct 24, 2008 at 08:45:07 PM EST
    (I kid. . .sorta)

    Parent
    It says that she told them she (none / 0) (#18)
    by nycstray on Fri Oct 24, 2008 at 08:59:13 PM EST
    had mental issues in the past. I'm a bit confused because it also said this:

    Police reported Todd's claims Thursday, as a photo of her injuries made it onto numerous blogs and news sites. By Friday, police said they had found inconsistencies in Todd's story. They gave her a lie-detector test, but wouldn't release the polygraph results.

    I went looking around and it looks like she supplied the photo and wanted the story out. So now I wonder how much of what she says is true. I do think holding and evaluating is a good idea though.

    Parent

    How'd she get the black eye? (5.00 / 1) (#7)
    by abdiel on Fri Oct 24, 2008 at 08:32:57 PM EST
    Kind of a tangential question, but I thought something stank with the story with the "B" (what does that mean?).  However, the black eye she sported looked pretty real to me.  Did she punch herself in the eye or was it an unrelated injury that she used as part of the story?

    According to the linked article. . . (5.00 / 1) (#9)
    by LarryInNYC on Fri Oct 24, 2008 at 08:37:31 PM EST
    she told police she doesn't remember how she got  the injuries (although she was apparently quite forthcoming on other issues).  It sounds like she really has serious psychiatric troubles.

    Parent
    Clearly a paranoid schizophrenic (none / 0) (#16)
    by BrassTacks on Fri Oct 24, 2008 at 08:52:50 PM EST
    Who probably doesn't remember what happened to her.  Or she's covering for a bf/spouse.  When I saw the picture yesterday, my first thought, spousal abuse.  I haven't changed my mind.  

    Parent
    Having once received a similar. . . (5.00 / 0) (#19)
    by LarryInNYC on Fri Oct 24, 2008 at 09:02:17 PM EST
    online diagnosis myself (from David Sirota, no less) I'll leave the precise determination to psychiatrists.  But since she was apparently so forthcoming with other aspects of her confession, I think it's possible she really doesn't remember what happened.

    Parent
    To be honest, (5.00 / 2) (#21)
    by BrassTacks on Fri Oct 24, 2008 at 09:16:05 PM EST
    I  are a shrink, although not a psychiatrist.  I've worked with my share of ladies (and gents) like this lady.  Very, very, difficult to treat.  Of course, I could also be wrong about my diagnosis, but whatever her illness, it's bad.  I can't help but feel sorry for someone like her who is clearly suffering.  

    David Sirota is clearly not qualified to diagnose anyone since he was so very inaccurate about you!  

    Parent

    I think you could end your last (5.00 / 1) (#24)
    by LarryInNYC on Fri Oct 24, 2008 at 09:31:42 PM EST
    sentence after the word "anyone" and it would be perfectly accurate.

    In fact, I think you could end that sentence after the word "qualified".

    Which opinion may help explain Dr. Sirota's diagnosis of me.

    Parent

    would you feel more or less bad (5.00 / 1) (#37)
    by pissed on Fri Oct 24, 2008 at 09:59:25 PM EST
    for every balck guy that got looked over twice in the last 24 hrs because of this racist?

    Parent
    Or every attacked woman that wasn't (5.00 / 3) (#42)
    by nycstray on Fri Oct 24, 2008 at 10:38:58 PM EST
    believed because of this . . .

    Parent
    Because of this incident? (5.00 / 1) (#44)
    by lilburro on Fri Oct 24, 2008 at 10:48:52 PM EST
    How many hours has it been since this was reported?

    I think violence against women should be taken extremely seriously.  But this stands out more than anything else as an elaborate political sexual fantasy.  It is so weird that I don't think it will have much of an effect on the number of reports of sexual assaults, and the seriousness with which they are taken.  And now that we know her assault was faked, one wonders where she actually got the black eyes.  We take her more seriously than she seems to take herself.

    Parent

    True... (4.00 / 1) (#46)
    by pissed on Fri Oct 24, 2008 at 10:55:27 PM EST
    that said, no white women has ever had a cops unload a full clip on them, and the reload to shoot of another clip.

    Parent
    Not true. (none / 0) (#48)
    by lilburro on Fri Oct 24, 2008 at 11:03:58 PM EST
    From wiki:

    At approximately 9:00 a.m. on May 23, the posse, concealed in the bushes and almost ready to concede defeat, heard Clyde's stolen Ford V8 approaching. The posse's official report had Clyde stopping to speak with Henry Methvin's father, planted there with his truck that morning to distract Clyde and force him into the lane closest to the posse, the lawmen opened fire, killing Bonnie and Clyde while shooting a combined total of approximately 130 rounds. By 9:15, the couple were dead.


    Parent
    maybe I should of added (none / 0) (#50)
    by pissed on Fri Oct 24, 2008 at 11:05:57 PM EST
    innocent.

    Is your Bonmnie and Clyde post still funny?

    Parent

    I don't think it's funny per se (5.00 / 2) (#51)
    by lilburro on Fri Oct 24, 2008 at 11:07:58 PM EST
    but I think your overgeneralizations are not necessarily useful or truthful.

    Parent
    are you stupid enough to really think (none / 0) (#56)
    by pissed on Fri Oct 24, 2008 at 11:25:30 PM EST
    that  a white  woman saying she was sexaully assaulted by a large black man, in PA, might not of gotten someone killed?

    Parent
    No (5.00 / 2) (#57)
    by lilburro on Fri Oct 24, 2008 at 11:38:59 PM EST
    I am not that stupid, though you may disagree.  

    If you read the rest of the thread, you will see that I agree with you.  This woman told an ugly racist story.  Aside from the angle of presidential politics, I agree that it could have had real life consequences based on racial politics.  I hope it did not.

    But, the tale she was telling already exists out there.  She happily latched onto the existing injustice.  She was playing with fire, as John Lewis accused the McCain campaign of doing.

    Hopefully, people realize how stupid every aspect of her hoax was, and perhaps we can learn a lesson from her blatant and obvious stereotypes and attempts at fear-mongering.  I doubt we will.


    Parent

    sorry if I misread your post (5.00 / 1) (#58)
    by pissed on Fri Oct 24, 2008 at 11:45:31 PM EST
    I am not thinking straight.

    I just couldn't believe how many wanted to stand up for this lady.

    Parent

    pissed - I know what you're saying. (5.00 / 2) (#59)
    by lilburro on Sat Oct 25, 2008 at 12:01:40 AM EST
    The story is still developing, so I think people are trying to get a sense of WTF is wrong with this girl.  I'm getting sucked into it too.  But the other side is that for 24+ hrs the police were led to believe a sadistic "big black man" was in Pittsburgh assaulting white women with McCain stickers.  And the right wing was gleefully telling that to its fans.

    And you are right, that is sh*tty and real people were negatively affected by that other than Todd.  I'm glad we found out it is a hoax today.

    Parent

    Naw, their husbands do it (none / 0) (#67)
    by Fabian on Sat Oct 25, 2008 at 05:44:54 AM EST
    Or their boyfriends
    Or ex-husbands
    Who may or may not be police officers.  

    And then everyone talks about how tragic it is and that's about it.

    No internal investigations.
    No federal investigations.
    No court orders or monitoring.
    No rallies in the streets.

    Women's potential attackers aren't just the police.  It's every man they know (most likely) and every man they don't know.  

    Parent

    no, you aren't. (5.00 / 0) (#65)
    by cpinva on Sat Oct 25, 2008 at 04:40:24 AM EST
    I  are a shrink, although not a psychiatrist.

    "shrink" is the slang term for psychiatrist. if you aren't one, then you're not a shrink.

    further, if you actually were a professional anything, you'd know better than to propose a diagnosis, having not even interviewed the patient. i believe that's called malpractice. kind of like me (a cpa) rendering an opinion on a company's financial statements, without conducting the minimally required tests of the books and records. very bad form.

    i have no idea what this girl's mental condition is. neither does anyone else on this, or any other blog, unless they're actually a trained, licensed psychiatrist (shrink), and have conducted the minimally required interviews and tests. all else only barely qualifies as speculative.

    what i do know as fact, is that she perpetrated a potentially dangerous hoax. the only sympathy i have right now is for all the large black men in that area, who got a lot of suspicious looks, after the story initially broke in the news.

    Parent

    The eye (5.00 / 1) (#63)
    by Amiss on Sat Oct 25, 2008 at 01:04:42 AM EST
    looked more like smeared mascara to me, no reddening of the "injured eye" which would have surely occured. Plus the mirrored B was a clear giveaway to me when I saw the picture.

    When Susan Smith killed her boys, we lived about 15 miles away.....it was horrible.

    Parent

    Well she (5.00 / 1) (#10)
    by lilburro on Fri Oct 24, 2008 at 08:43:47 PM EST
    certainly struck a nerve.

    Digby wrote about it earlier today.  Oh Republicans, you never tire of trying to find justifications for your racism!  Post here

    I don't know how bad I feel for Todd.  I certainly feel bad for AA men who have to deal with this bs.

    A comparate to confront media re racializing (3.50 / 2) (#20)
    by Cream City on Fri Oct 24, 2008 at 09:03:00 PM EST
    this story would be another incident last week that didn't get media coverage, that I saw -- of a white woman volunteer attacked by a white male volunteer from the other campaign . . . and apparently a true one, with charges filed.  

    Now, why did that story not get coverage, but this story of Todd did get coverage?  That's an example of how to debate this with media, if anyone is in the mood for writing a letter to the editor/news director.

    (My journalism prof friend is finding other examples for class discussion, and I'm feeding him what I find.  Other examples welcome.)

    Parent

    I have no idea why one got picked up, but (5.00 / 1) (#29)
    by jerry on Fri Oct 24, 2008 at 09:40:59 PM EST
    I did read somewhere that her College Republican friends were twittering this and presumably using their other social networking tools.

    I suspect her story got picked up because of the racial angle, but it could also just be one story was flogged very hard and one not.

    Parent

    Just maybe... (5.00 / 1) (#39)
    by MileHi Hawkeye on Fri Oct 24, 2008 at 10:02:06 PM EST
    ...it didn't get picked up because its being reported on Pajamasfrackingmedia.  Not exactly what I would call a reliable or reputable media source.  And perhaps it didn't get picked up by MSM because there is nothing to it.  

    Why is there no follow-up on their website?  Why aren't the wingnuts screaming bloody murder over this?

    "apparently a true one" is highly unlikely given the source. Fail is likely more accurate.

    Parent

    Now, let's think this through (1.50 / 2) (#40)
    by Cream City on Fri Oct 24, 2008 at 10:13:22 PM EST
    if a story isn't picked up in the media, you won't find it in the media, now, will you?  

    The link provides a document that easily can be checked with the NYC DA, if media were interested in, oh, reporting.  Basic Journalism 101.  How would that be different from the police reports on the Todd story, the checking on it, etc.?

    But you just keep on cutting the media slack, because we all know what a great job they do.

    Parent

    By not using Pajamas Media (5.00 / 2) (#45)
    by andgarden on Fri Oct 24, 2008 at 10:52:01 PM EST
    as their assignment sheet, they start out ahead in my book.

    But for you, another day, another right wing source.

    Parent

    Logic escapes andgarden, too (1.50 / 2) (#64)
    by Cream City on Sat Oct 25, 2008 at 02:57:03 AM EST
    but then, that's not news, either.

    Parent
    More unsolicited advice: take the (none / 0) (#81)
    by oculus on Sat Oct 25, 2008 at 02:21:37 PM EST
    high road.  This ain't it.

    Parent
    Now, Sher -- you think media racial bias (1.00 / 0) (#22)
    by Cream City on Fri Oct 24, 2008 at 09:19:03 PM EST
    is a good thing?  Do emerge and explain.

    Parent
    Good point (none / 0) (#30)
    by lilburro on Fri Oct 24, 2008 at 09:48:02 PM EST
    and good comparison.  Although the writer's comments make me wonder...."As the media fumes over nonexistent hate at Palin speeches, it ignores leftists who go berserk on city streets."  Um ok.

    Of course, the story Todd concocted plays into stereotypes, and includes some sadism to boot.

    As far as the media goes, sometimes they need a little whisper in the ear as a kick in the butt.  Sounds like they got that whisper.

    Parent

    You beat me to that link lilburro. That (5.00 / 0) (#33)
    by CaptainAmerica08 on Fri Oct 24, 2008 at 09:52:38 PM EST
    primarily explains why the story got out.  

    Parent
    It was covered but (none / 0) (#71)
    by andrys on Sat Oct 25, 2008 at 06:58:18 AM EST
    there was no racist angle.  There was the discomforting angle that a man who was an avid Obama supporter could be so enraged that he'd take whatever she was holding, crack it in half and hit her face with it.  

      She had guts -- followed him down to the subway and made sure a policeman there saw both the guy still holding the weapon while you could see where she was bleeding.

      The guy said he didn't know what overcame him.
    Emotions are high this election certainly.  I worry about it a lot, and then the crazy girl's plot to blame a black was ugly.  But again, I also worry about the several instances of people burning McCain signs that people have in front of their houses.  That is sick too.

    Parent

    She told police (none / 0) (#17)
    by Jeralyn on Fri Oct 24, 2008 at 08:54:04 PM EST
    News article:

    Minutes later, she told detectives, she was driving around and "came up with a plan" to manufacture a story about being attacked at a Bloomfield ATM by a black man who was enranged by her John McCain bumper sticker.

    As for the injuries:

    "She said she doesn't remember doing it but knows it must have been her who did it," Bryant said.



    Parent
    This sure has unravelled fast. (5.00 / 0) (#27)
    by lilburro on Fri Oct 24, 2008 at 09:35:58 PM EST
    In any case, this woman's willingness to demonize a large AA man is really, really interesting to me.  Sad too of course.

    Parent
    Here is a nice summary (5.00 / 0) (#15)
    by lilburro on Fri Oct 24, 2008 at 08:51:27 PM EST
    of what the Republicans were saying.

    Sure, but I hope most of her punishment (5.00 / 1) (#52)
    by samtaylor2 on Fri Oct 24, 2008 at 11:13:19 PM EST
    Is getting some education so she understands what she did was wrong.  If done well, and she is succeptible to the education, this experience could help her become a better person.  Why punish, when you can heal?

    Extend that to the media please. (none / 0) (#68)
    by Fabian on Sat Oct 25, 2008 at 05:55:26 AM EST
    The problem with this incident isn't that someone did something foolish and hurtful.  People do worse every day but they don't get caught by the police.

    The problem is that the media front paged this story as if it was monumentally significant, which it isn't.  I thought the black man who was killed by his two white friends (Paris TX) was way more significant.  But that black man wasn't running for president...

    Parent

    She didn't get caught (5.00 / 0) (#76)
    by jar137 on Sat Oct 25, 2008 at 09:48:42 AM EST
    She brought this to the police.  I would also not characterize this as foolish.  It was an act intended to smear the Democratic candidate, black men generally, and to introduce the threat of racial violence into the campaign.  I think her act was not foolish, but immoral.  And I will not buy the "she's mentally ill" excuse (the last refuge of every Republican caught in a nefarious act) until I see some professional support for this view.  The I don't remember response is a favorite of a guilty person; it absolves them of having to actually explain what happened.  Imagine her shame if she had to explain how she blacked her eye, scratched her face, etc.  Also, she may be covering for co-conspirators.

    Parent
    This was an attention seeker. (none / 0) (#83)
    by Fabian on Sun Oct 26, 2008 at 06:35:18 AM EST
    She's no different than someone who claims she's pregnant with X's love child.  Her primary motive isn't to slander anyone, but to make herself the center of attention. Me, me, me.

    It's new of the weird fodder.

    Now if it becomes some kind of strange fad, I'll believe it's more than tabloid trash.  I think you'll find the average reaction to be "What kind of freak carves up her face?".

    Parent

    Further reading - (5.00 / 0) (#60)
    by lilburro on Sat Oct 25, 2008 at 12:16:52 AM EST
    On the McCain campaign pushing the story:  HuffPost.  

    On the right-wingers peddling the story:  HuffPost.

    I don't think Obama will touch this.  But McCain's PA Communications Director pushing this story...well, that's a significant position, and I wouldn't be surprised if he/she was fired.  

    Having trouble finding sympathy.... (5.00 / 1) (#79)
    by kdog on Sat Oct 25, 2008 at 11:10:44 AM EST
    As others have pointed out, she could have gotten a lot of innocent people harassed by police or worse.  False accusations of violent crime is nothing to sneeze at..I'll save my bleeding heart for the innocent victims, potential or real, of her dispicable actions.

    From the moment the story broke the authorities were skeptical...nearly as dispicable is the way the McCain campaign publicized and ran with the story, while knowing it was likely a hoax.  Not the kind of low character people I want in charge.

    The Republicans are doing really well!! (5.00 / 0) (#80)
    by caramel on Sat Oct 25, 2008 at 12:19:59 PM EST
    between that and John McCain's brother's call to 911 to complain of heavy traffic, America can look forward to a wonderful future!

    well (4.00 / 1) (#43)
    by connecticut yankee on Fri Oct 24, 2008 at 10:40:42 PM EST
    I think she is covering for friends. Thus the "I can't remember anything" angle.

    There is no more evidence for mental issues than there was for the initial attack.  Atm I'd just say she is a liar who tried to pull a dirty trick and was caught.

    I agree (none / 0) (#77)
    by jar137 on Sat Oct 25, 2008 at 09:49:40 AM EST
    I'm not buying that line as there is no evidence (as far as I am aware) to support it.

    Parent
    disappointed (none / 0) (#2)
    by sef on Fri Oct 24, 2008 at 08:20:49 PM EST
    I'm a little disappointed in your coverage of this clearly pathetic woman's story.  We've both stood next to this type of person in court one too many times -- a little scared, a little nervous and much deranged.  She isn't the story here, the attempted exploitation of her by the McCain campaign, and others, is.  

    We both started doing criminal law years ago to fight these types of a--h---- & I'm a little disappointed to see you pile on this poor pathetic creature.  She -- like Susan Smith -- is to be pitied, not exploited, as she is clearly ill.  

    I gave no opinion (5.00 / 1) (#8)
    by Jeralyn on Fri Oct 24, 2008 at 08:35:22 PM EST
    I reported the news and the similarity to Susan Smith's story. Save your disappointment for where it's accurate please.

    Parent
    I am surprised that you have no opinion (none / 0) (#12)
    by BrassTacks on Fri Oct 24, 2008 at 08:46:36 PM EST
    about such a sad story.  Just another schizophrenic, so who cares?  

    How can someone be inaccurate about their own disappointment?  

    The poor woman is going to jail, surely you care about mentally ill being incarcerated, even if they do support McCain.  

    Parent

    She may be disturbed to do what she did (5.00 / 0) (#69)
    by andrys on Sat Oct 25, 2008 at 06:44:03 AM EST
    ...but she had, as real intent, to blame a black person, and since she was working for McCain, she also apparently wanted to turn people against Obama supporters and then Obama.  I thought it was disgusting.  That was not a 'knife' mark of course.  It was questionable from the start.

      Obviously she seems deranged, but the part of her that calculates was trying to do something pretty lousy.

      And I don't blame the McCain campaign for her sickness or her actions as some in the news have been trying to do.

    Parent

    try again (none / 0) (#14)
    by Jeralyn on Fri Oct 24, 2008 at 08:50:51 PM EST
    the stated disappointment in the comment was " I'm a little disappointed to see you pile on this poor pathetic creature."

    There was zero piling on. It was straight reporting with no opinion. Now please move on back to the topic.

    Parent

    Jeralyn were you trying (none / 0) (#74)
    by smott on Sat Oct 25, 2008 at 09:29:47 AM EST
    ...to say she had been jailed on the charge? i.e. jailed on a misdemeanor?

    That is not what I read today in the local papers. They were described as being sensitive to her mental state, and were delaying her release until she could have a mental health eveluation, for her own safety.

    She faces a misedemeanor charge of fileing a false rpt, but it seems 50K bond was issued after District Ct Judge John N. Bova requested that she undergo an eval by the court's behavior clinic.

    So though it's not entirely clear - it appears that the Judge ordered her held for mental health reasons, not the charge per se...?

    Parent

    Todd was also (none / 0) (#75)
    by smott on Sat Oct 25, 2008 at 09:33:03 AM EST
    ...booted from the Ron Paul campaign in March for using underhanded tactics.

    She also called the Paul campaign and claimed her tires had been slashed because she supported Paul.

    So it seems this pattern has emerged before...full link here from Pgh Post Gazette

    http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/08299/922849-53.stm


    Parent

    I don't think this is schizophrenia (none / 0) (#47)
    by samtaylor2 on Fri Oct 24, 2008 at 10:58:41 PM EST
    I don't see how this could be schizophrenia or bipolar disorder (that is not to say she doesn't have some mental illness).  But those actions don't seem to positive (hallucinations- to which she wouldn't admit she made them up) or negative actions (anti-social) of schizophrenia.  This could be some bizarre manic episode, but that doesn't seem to make sense either.

    Parent
    as she is clearly ill. (5.00 / 2) (#23)
    by jerry on Fri Oct 24, 2008 at 09:19:29 PM EST
    I've heard it reported she has mental health issues.  Apart from that, I haven't seen anything showing she is clearly ill.  There's mentally ill, and then there's being able to determine the difference between right and wrong.  I don't know where she in on that scale.

    Having been a victim of a false accusation, I don't have a whole lot of sympathy with her unless her illness is severe enough she can't tell right from wrong.

    Even then, I think it is good for the public to be aware of false accusations when they occur.

    Parent

    well (5.00 / 0) (#73)
    by connecticut yankee on Sat Oct 25, 2008 at 08:36:22 AM EST
    She told the police she has mental issues as part of her cover. Thus the "I cant remember".  SO an established liar tells us something and we should immediately believe it?

    The only evidence at the moment is that she is a liar.

    Parent

    Pity (5.00 / 1) (#26)
    by pissed on Fri Oct 24, 2008 at 09:35:02 PM EST
    She said a black man robbed her, sexually assaulted her, and then carved her face.

    Do you know how freakin lucky some white PA cop didn't  shoot some innocent 200 lb 6' 4" black guy for reaching for his wallet while waiting in line at a ATM because of this self righteous, lying woman.

    People like her get good people killed.

    Parent

    To the best of my knowledge. . . (none / 0) (#28)
    by LarryInNYC on Fri Oct 24, 2008 at 09:39:15 PM EST
    Ms. Todd's hoax did not include any allegations of sexual assault.

    Parent
    One of her accounts did (5.00 / 1) (#31)
    by lilburro on Fri Oct 24, 2008 at 09:50:36 PM EST
    from Jeralyn's link above:

    She initially changed her account of what happened to say she lost consciousness during the attack near Liberty Avenue on Wednesday night and was groped by her attacker. She had not revealed those details originally.

    I mean, this is straight out of a racist playbook.

    Parent

    I stand corrected. n/t (5.00 / 1) (#34)
    by LarryInNYC on Fri Oct 24, 2008 at 09:52:42 PM EST


    Parent
    Thanks (5.00 / 1) (#36)
    by pissed on Fri Oct 24, 2008 at 09:57:17 PM EST
    I cant believe the pity fest for this racist here.

    Parent
    As in the case of other similar. .. (5.00 / 2) (#41)
    by LarryInNYC on Fri Oct 24, 2008 at 10:19:33 PM EST
    hoaxes, it's possible for someone to be both a perpetrator and of diminished responsibility.

    Parent
    "racist"? (2.00 / 0) (#66)
    by Fabian on Sat Oct 25, 2008 at 05:35:23 AM EST
    Did she use racial slurs?  Did she profess negative views of any racial group?

    I suppose people would be calling her a "race traitor" if she had said it was a big white man instead?  What if she had accused a big Arab?  Or a big Hispanic?  Or a big Asian?  Or a big Jew?

    I'm suddenly reminded of the primaries and how Racist and Racism was used at the drop of a hat.

    Parent

    The point though is that (5.00 / 1) (#70)
    by andrys on Sat Oct 25, 2008 at 06:49:44 AM EST
    she did blame and specify a black man and is aware, no doubt (to me), of some of the fears that exist with some of the electorate about blacks -- and since Obama is at least partly black, this is just a lousy action.  To imply that Obama supporters can be suddenly violent like this was a plan of hers.  I can feel sorry for her that she's this demented to have done this but what drives her seems to be a hatred of 'the other'...

      (I'm also distressed by burning of McCain signs in at
       least 3 places I've read about though.)

    Parent

    heh (5.00 / 0) (#72)
    by connecticut yankee on Sat Oct 25, 2008 at 08:32:10 AM EST
    Are you kidding?  This plays into one of the oldest racial canards.  Black men threatening white women and so justifying racism toward them.

    Why do you think they have Cindy McCain get up and say, "I'm chilled down to my bones..."?

    Both Palin and Cindy have expressed their fear toward Obama, this incident reinforces the button they have been trying to push.  It's subliminal but I think theyve been doing it on purpose.  It all ties into the muslim and terrorist angle. Another way to generate fear of him.

    Parent

    Exactly how I felt when I heard about the (none / 0) (#53)
    by BrassTacks on Fri Oct 24, 2008 at 11:15:50 PM EST
    Tawny Brawnley being a fake.  Al Sharpton perpetuated that one.  I lost all respect for him at that point.  

    Parent
    It's okay. (none / 0) (#38)
    by lilburro on Fri Oct 24, 2008 at 09:59:50 PM EST
    I first heard about this this morning, and I was thinking WTF?  Then I heard that it was all an elaborate fake.  There is a lot of catching up to be done.


    Parent
    Pity (none / 0) (#25)
    by pissed on Fri Oct 24, 2008 at 09:34:34 PM EST
    She said a black man robbed her, sexually assaulted her, and then carved her face.

    Do you know how freakin lucky some white PA cop didn't  shoot some innocent 200 lb 6' 4" black guy for reaching for his wallet while waiting in line at a ATM because of this self righteous, lying woman.

    People like her get good people killed.

    Parent

    Why do you say she is "clearly ill"? (none / 0) (#78)
    by jar137 on Sat Oct 25, 2008 at 09:55:04 AM EST
    On what do you base your opinion?  I haven't seen anything in the reports to substantiate this claim.  Her admissions of mental illness have to be taken with a grain of salt, considering her credibility is completely shot.  Why isn't it just as likely that she (and perhaps some friends) decided to do their part for their candidate?  Or perhaps she is susceptible to pressure (but not mentally ill) and was put up to it.  I just don't understand, on the basis of what we know, why you would conclude she is mentally ill.  This is a sincere question because I agree that if she is ill she should be given help and not pilloried in the press.

    Parent
    To commenter pissed (none / 0) (#61)
    by Jeralyn on Sat Oct 25, 2008 at 12:30:34 AM EST
    New users are limited to 10 comments a day. Please stay within the limit. Thanks.

    Remember South Carolina 2000 (none / 0) (#82)
    by An American Liberal on Sat Oct 25, 2008 at 06:38:29 PM EST
    I dunno folks.  
    First of all, let me state by saying that I am not a racist in the least, but I grew up in Florida absolutely surrounded by it.

    So, while you folks are kindly giving this woman a pass for being mental, I have some serious doubts.

    Let me break it down a bit so you don't think the tin foil is wrapped too tight:

    1.  Rumor has it that Karl Rove/Bush in the South Carolina primaries suggested that John McCain had an illegitimate child of color, and that he was forcing Cindy McCain to raise his "love child" (Or something to that effect).  The manner and timing for this "rumor" was said to stoke the racial divide in that area, and cost McCain the election.

    2.  PA becomes a hotly contested battle ground.

    3.  Murtha warns about the possible race haters in part of the state.  Western Part of PA

    4.  Very intelligent McCain volunteer with a deep rooted Republican background from Texas (um, you put the Kennedy quote here if you like) fakes an attack.  An attack that could be described as: "black man sexually assaults a young white woman and then carves a B in her cheek for Barack Obama."  The "B" marries the racially charged attack/claim to the political process in my opinion.

    Maybe my conspiracy bells are working a bit over time, but wow, I for my part have no doubts that this was a diliberate attempt by the McCain campaign to pick up a few points worth of votes in PA.

    Disgusting, vile, contemptable, and many other adjectives I can only guess at.  But honestly people, this kind of thing doesnt go away even if you claim its a hoax.  Those nutjobs absolutely believe that MSM and liberals are "in bed together", and that they silenced this poor little white girl.

    This is a big deal people, and those with boots on the ground need to be working extra hard in PA and surrounding states.

    I know most Americans don't understand or feel this way.  The "race card" is something that is tantamount to a political strategy, and on a national level (thank God) this is mostly true.  But there are pockets of hate dwellers, and people in the thick of it, need to be vigilant.

    My apologies for my first post being so long.

    -An American Liberal

    McCain Supporter Jailed Over False Attack Report | 77 comments (77 topical)

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