No graphics. No videos. Minimal snarks.
Finally breaking…um…silence after admitting that he attempted to smear the ODBA, political strategist, and Franklin County Democratic Chair speaks out today on Not Larry Sabato and Raising Kaine and at the link in question. Thankfully, James Young over at Skeptical Observer posts the entire screed: Let’s play the Joe Stanley Game. Special thanks to James for doing this, since we know it’s not safe to link to Ben or Joey.
First, let’s clear up the factual misrepresentations in Mr. Stanley’s post:
Mr. Stanley says:
The Old Dominion Blog Alliance is a loose collection of individuals who blog in order to promote a conservative political agenda.
Nothing really unfactual there. Well, except perhaps for the “loose collection.” And he did more to fix that than anyone has in the past 2 years.
Mr. Stanley says:
After these gutless invertebrate have spent weeks conspiring to destroy an individual for holding a belief or idea that was not pre-approved by the ODBA they then scurry and cry foul when responded to.
Um, excuse me? Let’s review the timeline.
On or around August 14, 2007
Several members of the Old Dominion Blog Alliance post embarassing videos of Senator Roscoe Reynolds. (Note: The videos weren’t edited. It was him.)
SWAC Girl has the round up: Time for a change to Jeff Evans in the 20th
Jerry at From On High: How Dare We Interfere In His Public Life!
Leslie Carbone: Bill Clinton Without the Charm
Jim Riley at Virginia Virtucon: Roscoe Reynolds Talk of the Town
Scott at Scott’s Morning Brew: Roscoe Reynolds on … anger management … dismissing questions and constituents … question deflection
Jason at J’s Notes: VA Senate 20 — See Roscoe Dodge
Carl at Spark It Up!!!: Sen. Roscoe Reynolds Is Causing a Stir!
Alton at I’m Not Emeril: Roscoe Reynolds Authored Senate Version of Civil Remedial Fees
Conservative V.O.I.C.E.: Campaign Lessons from Roscoe Reynolds
August 16, 2007
Ben Tribbett at NLS reveals that through some dubious method he has been reading the email of the ODBA list.
Ben expresses horror that bloggers would, like, talk to each other and coordinate posts (more on Ben’s hypocrisy in a moment).
What “offended” Ben were these posts:
Virginia Virtucon: Roscoe Reynolds — Smells of Desperation
Spark It Up!!!: Roscoe Reynolds Yellow Dog Strategy
Apparently Ben (and now we know Joe) didn’t like the association of Yellow Dog Strategy with the Miller flyer (which they produced) or the macaca video (which they distributed).
According to Internet records, somewhere around this same time (was this their plan from the beginning?), Joe Stanley purchases the domain name olddominionblogalliance [dot] com. Going there now leads you to Joe’s latest rant.
We post our own summary: Friday Whine and Cheese: Suppose Ben Gave a Hissy Fit and Nobody Came?
August 20, 2007
Ben posts the word “Yuck” with the following comment:
Daily Whackjob reports that someone has sent olddominionblogalliance.com to an inappropriate site.
I’m outraged, and this needs to stop right away.
Whackette posts the link.
We were angry.
You’re darn right we were.
The ODBA strikes back. We along with other members of the ODBA post the following: It’s not pedophilia in Thailand…or at NLS.
Now back to Ben’s hypocrisy, on August 21, Whackjob posts this: Silly, Silly Little ODBAs.
Conversation with nonsmokr79 at 8/20/2007 9:40:09 PM on GregBouchillon (aim)
(9:40:09 PM) NONsmokr79: Hey Greg
(9:40:12 PM) NONsmokr79: Got a story for you
(9:40:28 PM) Whackjob: e-mail Megan, she’s running the blog now
(9:40:28 PM) NONsmokr79 : I’m away!
(9:40:30 PM) NONsmokr79: Check out olddominionblogalliance.com
The significance? The person that tipped off Whackette to the link was none other than Ben from NLS.
So, since Ben has done a little story coordination of his own, not to mention being the actual vehicle Stanley used to promote his prank, he’s really just blowing smoke talking about a “private email list.”
It took a while for the truth to come out, Riley and Cat contacted GoDaddy.com with little response. Now, in fairness, Whackjob did do the research and expose Stanley. We’re greatly appreciative of that effort. After all Whackette was snookered by Joe and Ben as well. Whackjob, in an effort to take the pressure off of Whackette posts the following: Joe Stanley is the NAMBLA bandit.
While we’re at it, let me offer a full disclosure: For reasons of my own, I was not on the ODBA list or Yahoo group when the first of the Roscoe Reynolds videos were posted. That’s only relevant to point out that Stanley’s attack hit me (as well as other ODBA members) and I’d never commented regarding Reynolds.
In fact, up until I saw the link at NLS and then The Daily Whackjob, I really had no idea about who Joe Stanley was. I’m sure I’d read his name before, but it didn’t register.
I had no idea that he was the producer of the anti-Semitic Harris Miller flyer. And let’s be clear that it wasn’t the ODBA making those charges.
And I had no idea that he was the distributor of the “macaca” video, even though in his confessional email to Riley at Virginia Virtucon he now says:
I do not believe George Allen is racist because he used the word “macaca.” I do not believe that owning a Confederate flag makes you a racist, nor does an appearance in Gods and Generals.
Well, at least he got that part right.
In the same email. Stanley admits that he bought the domain and redirected the link. Interestingly he said:
If you will recall, I told you then that you should make note of the date and time you said that to me. I am more than prepared for any fight the ODBA wants to have.
Okie doke. I think you got it.
But, back to our anger.
There is NO EXCUSE for what Stanley did with the domain name. By pulling this little stunt, he attempted to link every member of the ODBA to a criminal activity. A disgusting criminal activity.
Some of our members have pictures of their children on their websites. And now, thanks to Stanley, there’s a permanent, if indirect, connection to the monsters at that site.
There’s a good Democrat for ya. Always thinking of the children.
Stanley says that his business and livelihood were “targeted.” Only to the extent that he works for elected representatives who need to explain their association. If you’ll note, I think each of us has been very careful not to list Stanley’s corporate clients. It’s not that they shouldn’t know he’s pulling these stunts, they probably should. Still, they can read about that in the newspapers.
But the public officials for whom Stanley has served as a consultant need to answer the question: Do you condone this type of behavior?
We’ve asked, but received no response.
And, does the leadership of the Democratic Party of Virginia condone this type of behavior from one of their officials?
We’ve asked, but received no response.
Stanley says the ODBA needs to be stopped. Obviously he feels that the message is getting through.
If the ODBA was as irrelevant as some leftist bloggers like to complain, then they’d ignore us. It’s just that simple.
Instead what Stanley’s actions have done, and what the leftist responses (or lack thereof) have done is to solidify us into a formidable political movement.
Stanley says his reason for linking to N****A was that the ODBA “deserves” it.
Deserves it?
Excuse me?
No one deserves that kind of smear. Nothing that the ODBA has done, collectively or indiviudally merits that type of underhanded, vile response.
Stanley says:
They have fabricated my right to political free-speech into a scandal on their blogs.
No Joe, you did that all by your lonesome. Well, with a little help from Ben.
Quite frankly, after all this broke, if Stanley had the courage and the honor to do the right thing and say “It was a prank, and I used bad judgment” I’d pack up my rage and go home.
He didn’t do that. Instead he says the opposite:
This was not a joke, a prank, or any other kind of political horseplay. I meant the comparison.
Joe thinks our News Release is “laughable” We’ll see.
His epistle today speaks volumes as to who he really is and to the fact that to many on the left, it’s never the method that matters. It’s always the outcome.
Well, unfortunately for Stanley, the outcome of this is not what he anticipated.
He sought to destroy us. Instead he managed to create the issue to bring us together as never before.
For that, I guess we should thank him.
But why bother?
He wouldn’t understand that either.
What my fellow ODBA members are saying:
CatHouse Chat: Ooooo! “Tactics of Terror”!
Good Sense: Mr. Stanley…
Scott’s Morning Brew: Joey Stanley speaks on pedophilia, and the silence of cowards and Joe, Joe, Joe… you are a funny man…
Skeptical Observer: Let’s Play The Joe Stanley Game
SWAC Girl: Franklin County Dem Chairman behind dirty tricks
The Red Stater: Response to Joe Stanley
Don’t worry. That’s not all.
UPDATE: edited for date correction
UPDATE #2: link to article regarding Miller flyer added