Creepy Mitch McConnell's weird recorder incident.

[Fuzz]

I guess you file this under the heading of Deep, Late Election Comic Relief. And not surprisingly it comes from a Senate Republican who should have been coasting but now finds himself with a real chance losing his seat.

Last week, Sen. Mitch McConnell (R) squared off in a debate with Democratic challenger Bruce Lunsford. But on Lunsford's podium a GOP operative had placed a small voice recorder, presumably to pick up some off-mic comments Lunsford might make -- apparently a violation of the debate rules.

(The recorder itself -- sans recording -- was eventually returned.)

Now, from here the accounts differ. According to the Lunsford campaign, Lunsford actually didn't see the recorder. But since it was nestled in among his papers it was included when he handed his papers off to his staffers after the debate -- staffers who say they later erased the recording since it violated debate rules to have a planted recorder on the opponents podium.

According to the McConnell staffers, however, Lunsford did see the recorder during the debate and essentially confiscated it. Richard St. Onge, II (who, in a separate story, may have absconded with his name from some neo-gothic southern novel) is the GOP operative who planted the recorder. And according to St. Onge, when he went up to Lunsford after the debate to demand his recorder back, Lunsford said, "No you won't get it back."

And now St. Onge and the chairman of McConnell's campaign have filed a criminal complaint against Lunsford for petty larceny and destruction of property -- because of the erasure.

Now, we're digging into this to get a clearer sense of what happened. But I must say that even if you accept McConnell's version of events, is there really an affirmative responsibility to return your opponent's campaign bug after you discover it? Campaign 'trackers' with handcams have become a normal and I think generally benign part of modern campaigns. But this seems a bit different. Thoughts?

--Josh Marshall

http://www.talkingpointsmemo.com/archives/240193.php

[Imagine My Surprise]

1. Why the HELL is this on a page linked to donating to McConnell?!!!! N/T

[Ian David]

3. Google ad server is funny! n/t

[Ian David]

2. Mitch McChinless is completely fucking batshit-crazy nutso! n/t

[Fuzz]

5. His aides aren't helping him much either, eh?

[Imagine My Surprise]

4. I'm sure that tired old closet case...

will do SOMETHING to get re-elected. I live in Louisville, KY, though he's not doing well here in Jefferson County, I don't think.

[gratuitous]

6. I seem to recall one of Newt Gingrich's cell phone calls was intercepted and recorded

Gingrich and his stooges were caught in this phone call plotting some pretty nefarious stuff, borderline if not outright illegal. Instead, however, they raised such a big stink about the wrongful taping of his cell call that they eventually succeeded in having the person who caught them charged with some wrong-doing or other.

Lunsford should make a big show of returning Mr. St. Onge’s recorder to him, complete with Lunsford’s apology for catching Mr. St. Onge in being such a creepy, underhanded scoundrel, and how Lunsford sympathizes with Mr. St. Onge’s embarrassment at being publicly exposed for the dirty little scumbag that he is. Then hold a press conference in which he says he hopes Mr. McConnell, now that he’s aware of the low character of his campaign operative, will do the honorable thing and fire his ass.

[Fuzz]

7. Ah yes, I remember that Newt incident. I need to look it up to get the details.

I do remember Rush and Sean asking for the recorder to be prosecuted though, but Linda Tripp was a hero.

[dorkulon]

8. This could hurt McConnell badly if it is picked up in the MSM.

Shades of Watergate. And the chutzpah of filing a criminal complaint? Let's promote this one. McConnell needs to go.