October 20, 2006

Spin of the Week: Running From Denny and Tom

Dennishastert Let's say you're a Member of Congress or congressional candidate who is scheduled to have House Speaker Dennis Hastert or NRCC Chair Tom Reynolds stump for you.  Hastert and Reynolds are politically radioactive due to the Foley scandal, so you'd really prefer them not to come.  But you can't just come out and say that, mind you.

So, this week's Spin of the Week (awarded for ballsiest spin effort) is awarded to all those pols with creative public explanations for why Denny and Tom couldn't stump with them after all.  Courtesy of TPM Muckraker:

Rep. Don Sherwood (R-PA)
: A Hastert fundraiser was "cancelled mostly because Sherwood had another major event the next day." A Reynolds spokesman said that he'd dropped out of a Sherwood event because of "events in his own district."

Joy Padgett (R-OH): Hastert cited "schedule conflicts." And lest there be any confusion, a Padgett spokesperson added that "the switch had nothing to do with the Foley scandal."

Rep. Mike Sodrel (R-IN): Sodrel: "I suspect that he's busy with other issues right now."

Sen. John McCain (R-AZ): McCain, who cancelled an appearance at a fundraiser for Tom Reynolds, knew that there was a schedule conflict, but just didn't know what it was: "Asked where McCain plans to be instead of Reynolds' $250-a-plate dinner in the Statler Towers, Goldman said, "We haven't figured that out yet.'"

October 06, 2006

Spin of the Week: Denny Did It

John_boehner_gi6 Tomreynolds This week's Spin of the Week award, recognizing the ballsiest spin effort over the past week, is awarded jointly to NRCC Chair Rep. Tom Reynolds and House Majority Leader John Boehner for their efforts to pass the buck for the Foley affair to House Speaker Dennis Hastert:

"I did what most people would do in the workplace. I heard something and I took it to my supervisor."
- Reynolds

"I believe I talked to the Speaker and he told me it had been taken care of. And, and, and my position is it's in his corner, it's his responsibility. The Clerk of the House who runs the page program, the Page Board—all report to the Speaker."
- Boehner

Message conveyed loud and clear:  It wasn't our fault.  Go ask Denny.

September 29, 2006

Spin of the Week: We Get Pics of All Our Interns...

A Potomac Flacks reader suggested we start a "Spin of the Week" feature highlighting the ballsiest spin effort over the past week by a Washington spokesperson.  So, without further adieu this week's inaugural Spin of the Week:

Kello also said that it is not unusual for someone from Foley's office to seek photographs to keep on file in case people seek recommendations.

- Rep. Mark Foley (R-FL, left) spokesguy Jason Kello to Wash Post's Jeff Birnbaum, explaining why Foley e-mailed a 16-year old former House page asking him to "send me a pic of you as well."

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