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Wed.: Politicos behaving badly
posted at 2008-07-23 23:12 | Last modified 2008-07-24 13:25
Chapter 1: Novak mows down senior citizen, blames NPR
Conservative columnist Bob Novak ran down a pedestrian today in DC. The 77-year-old Novak, who likes to brag about his aggressive driving style, hit a 66-year-old in the crosswalk as he tried to turn right on red. Politico broke the story; the local ABC affiliate has bonus video.
Interesting facts:
- Novak allegedly left the scene of the accident. According to Politico's account, Novak only stopped when a lawyer on a bicycle who witnessed the accident chased him down and physically prevented him from leaving the area.
- Novak says he didn’t notice he’d hit anyone. But the bicyclist-lawyer who witnessed the accident says it would have been hard for Novak not to notice the pedestrian “splayed across his windshield” and rolling off his hood.
- Novak received only a ticket for failing to yield at a crosswalk, perhaps proving again that it pays to have friends in high places.
Update: Novak blames NPR. No, really. (Insert neo-con joke here.)
Chapter 2: “Tabloid trash”
Former US Senator and Dem VP hopeful John Edwards whiffed an opportunity today to quash a report that he fathered a child with alleged paramour Rielle Hunter.
Drudge is reporting that Edwards is responding to the allegations by decrying “tabloid trash” as being “full of lies.” True or not, and implicit blanket denial notwithstanding, it might be worth Edwards’ while to reiterate – just one more time -- that he’s not involved with Hunter, and that the child isn’t his. Assuming that’s the case.
Meantime, the verdict of today’s Fried Squash Caucus (the weekly lunch meeting of the NC Capitol Press Corps) is that if Edwards isn’t fooling around, then he’s guilty of political boneheadedness. Let’s say you’re a candidate who’s hoping to be picked as VP despite months of rumors you're fooling around with someone. Even if the rumors aren't true, why would you tempt fate by meeting that person privately in a hotel room? It ain't exactly rocket science.
Slate's Josh Jack Shafer was equally blunt:
Chapter 3: Point one SEVEN?
Moore Co. State Rep. Joe Boylan pleaded guilty today to DUI in connection with his April accident. Police say Boylan blew a .17 – more than twice the legal limit – after wrapping his car around a tree in Cameron. As someone who’s experimented with a breathalyzer (strictly for research, under expert guidance, and not before driving), I can vouch you’d have to be seriously wasted – as in barely ambulatory -- to hit .17.
You might recall that Boylan admitted his problem on the House floor last week. Looks like his candor may have done him some good. His sentence was 12 months unsupervised probation, no jail time, 3 days' community service, and about 420 bucks in fines and fees. Oh, and he has to install an ignition interlock system.
Moving on...
Two noteworthy staff shifts of late:
- Paul Cox has left the office of Congressman David Price to become an Obaminion. Cox will serve as deputy press secretary for Obama’s NC operations. He’ll be working with Susan Lagana, who used to work for Erskine Bowles and Mike Easley. The move was announced today. When I spoke to Cox this afternoon, he said he’d made the decision “this morning.” But hey, no rush. The release is here.
- And Julie White, communications chief for former Dem gov hopeful Richard Moore, is going to work for the Metropolitan Coalition, a group representing NC’s largest cities, where she can continue castigating reporters in relative perpetuity. Congrats, Julie!
Quick hits:
- The Republican Governor's Association is raising 527 money to help Pat McCrory win NC. Color me shocked.
- DSCC chair Chuck Schumer says Kay Hagan is “en fuego.” Not much surprise there, either, especially if you believe allegations that he handpicked her. Dome has more here.
- Marketplace/APM’s “PAC-men” series catches some attention, including G’boro’s Mark Binker’s. Note: Don't miss Tuesday’s story on a fundraiser at a Vegas strip club. Our NC folks really are amateurs, and that’s not a bad thing, either.
- Tim Russert gets a road. Maybe NC developers could take a cue. (The latter wins best headline of the month, BTW.)
Comments? Drop me a line.
