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In 2002 Romney's Spokesman Sounded A Lot Like Harry Reid
Andrew Kaczynski
In 2002 Romney's Spokesman Sounded A Lot Like Harry Reid
What is she hiding?
Mitt Romney's top advisor and longtime confidant Eric Fehnrstrom didn't take kindly to unsourced allegations by Harry Reid that the former Massachusetts Governor hadn't paid any taxes for 10 years saying: "Have you no decency sir?"
<...>
"This reminds me of the McCarthy hearings back in the 1950s," Fehnstrom said.
It may also remind people in Massachusetts about something more recent. In fact, Fehrnstrom himself didn't always think the burden of proof fell on the accuser. In 2002, Mitt Romney's gubernatorial run Fehnrstrom was Romney's attack dog, hitting his opponent Shannon O’Brien for not releasing her husband’s tax returns.
Fehrnstrom accused O’Brien, who released her tax returns every year since 1998, of being disingenuous by releasing her but not her husband's returns, a former lobbyist who had worked with Enron implying the returns would show wrongdoing.
"Her hands aren't clean. She can't claim to be disclosing anything until she discloses the returns of her husband, the Enron lobbyist,” Fehnrstrom said. “Under Shannon O'Brien, the state Pension Board lost millions by buying Enron stock when it was collapsing -- what is she hiding?"
- more -
http://www.buzzfeed.com/andrewkaczynski/in-2002-romneys-spokesman-sounded-a-lot-like-harr
In 2002 Romney's Spokesman Sounded A Lot Like Harry Reid
What is she hiding?
Mitt Romney's top advisor and longtime confidant Eric Fehnrstrom didn't take kindly to unsourced allegations by Harry Reid that the former Massachusetts Governor hadn't paid any taxes for 10 years saying: "Have you no decency sir?"
<...>
"This reminds me of the McCarthy hearings back in the 1950s," Fehnstrom said.
It may also remind people in Massachusetts about something more recent. In fact, Fehrnstrom himself didn't always think the burden of proof fell on the accuser. In 2002, Mitt Romney's gubernatorial run Fehnrstrom was Romney's attack dog, hitting his opponent Shannon O’Brien for not releasing her husband’s tax returns.
Fehrnstrom accused O’Brien, who released her tax returns every year since 1998, of being disingenuous by releasing her but not her husband's returns, a former lobbyist who had worked with Enron implying the returns would show wrongdoing.
"Her hands aren't clean. She can't claim to be disclosing anything until she discloses the returns of her husband, the Enron lobbyist,” Fehnrstrom said. “Under Shannon O'Brien, the state Pension Board lost millions by buying Enron stock when it was collapsing -- what is she hiding?"
- more -
http://www.buzzfeed.com/andrewkaczynski/in-2002-romneys-spokesman-sounded-a-lot-like-harr
‘Put Up or Shut Up’
By ANDREW ROSENTHAL
<...>
So for a couple of days Republicans got to beat up on Mr. Reid instead of trying to defend Mr. Romney, and the press got to make fun of Mr. Reid, instead of Mr. Romney. Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell set the tone by calling Mr. Reid’s charge “beneath the dignity of his office.” And Jon Stewart, hardly a Romney partisan, agreed, “You’re the Senate Majority Leader,” he said, “you can’t just run to the Sideboob Gazette with ridiculous speculations.”
But Mr. Romney, whose political acumen I’ve long doubted, has, I think, managed to respond in exactly the wrong fashion. On Sean Hannity’s radio show on Thursday, he told Mr. Reid to “put up or shut up:”
What a poor choice of words. He could have denied the accusation and moved on, but by going a step farther and demanding that Mr. Reid reveal his source, he’s reminded everyone of his own taste for secrecy. All Mr. Reid has to say now is that he’ll “put up or shut up” as soon as Mr. Romney “puts up” his returns.
http://takingnote.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/08/03/put-up-or-shut-up/
By ANDREW ROSENTHAL
<...>
So for a couple of days Republicans got to beat up on Mr. Reid instead of trying to defend Mr. Romney, and the press got to make fun of Mr. Reid, instead of Mr. Romney. Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell set the tone by calling Mr. Reid’s charge “beneath the dignity of his office.” And Jon Stewart, hardly a Romney partisan, agreed, “You’re the Senate Majority Leader,” he said, “you can’t just run to the Sideboob Gazette with ridiculous speculations.”
But Mr. Romney, whose political acumen I’ve long doubted, has, I think, managed to respond in exactly the wrong fashion. On Sean Hannity’s radio show on Thursday, he told Mr. Reid to “put up or shut up:”
Well, it’s time for Harry to put up or shut up. Harry’s going to have to describe who it is he spoke with because of course, that’s totally and completely wrong.
What a poor choice of words. He could have denied the accusation and moved on, but by going a step farther and demanding that Mr. Reid reveal his source, he’s reminded everyone of his own taste for secrecy. All Mr. Reid has to say now is that he’ll “put up or shut up” as soon as Mr. Romney “puts up” his returns.
http://takingnote.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/08/03/put-up-or-shut-up/
