What’s worse than spending a week rehashing an old scandal? Spending a week rehashing old scandals while dealing with a new one.
- NSA targets everybody. (New!) The President’s explanation that the concept of domestic is critical for national security makes the assumption that America looks at him the way they looked at his predecessor in 2003. Claiming that broad oversight powers are necessary doesn’t sound so good after the public has spent weeks of hearing about flouting First Amendment rights, picking on political opponents with the IRS, and inconsistent stories about the attack in Benghazi. Further, the wording of the President’s response – that there must be a choice between rights and safety – won’t help allay the public’s fears.
- IRS targets the Tea Party. (Last week: 4) The good news for the IRS? The expensive and idiotic videos, coupled with news about the opulent conferences, give credence to the Administration’s claim that the IRS is not malicious, just incompetent.
- DOJ targets the Press. (Last week: 1) Senator Joe Manchin suggested that Eric Holder ought to think about resigning. That someone in his own party would even bring this up demonstrates the bipartisan misgivings about seizing phone records from reporters.
- State Department targets the truth about Benghazi. (Last week: 3) Hillary Clinton’s approval ratings are sinking. What difference, at this point, does that make? It’s evidence that the American public is highly skeptical of the Administration.
- Obamacare targets American wallets. (Last week: 2) Congresswoman Nancy Pelosi said this week that the Obamacare-induced hikes in insurance rates actually represent reductions in cost. Yes, she did actually say that.
Wild Card: GOP targets Facebook. The hiring of new CTO Andy Barkett from Facebook means the RNC may actually have the tools to start organizing around some of these scandals.
Jim Eltringham 