An internal investigation of FreedomWorks—the prominent conservative advocacy group and super-PAC—has focused on president Matt Kibbe's management of the organization, his use of its resources, and a controversial book deal he signed, according to former FreedomWorks officials who have met with the private lawyers conducting the probe. One potential topic for the inquiry is a promotional video produced last year under the supervision of Adam Brandon, executive vice president of the group and a Kibbe loyalist. The video included a scene in which a female intern wearing a panda suit simulates performing oral sex on Hillary Clinton.
In one segment of the film, according to a former official who saw it, Brandon is seen waking from a nap at his desk. In what appears to be a dream or a nightmare, he wanders down a hallway and spots a giant panda on its knees with its head in the lap of a seated Hillary Clinton and apparently performing oral sex on the then-secretary of state. Two female interns at FreedomWorks were recruited to play the panda and Clinton. One intern wore a Hillary Clinton mask. The other wore a giant panda suit that FreedomWorks had used at protests to denounce progressives as panderers. Placing the panda in the video, a former FreedomWorks staffer says, was "an inside joke."
Another FreedomWorks staffer who worked there at the time confirms that "Yes, this video was created."
Days before the FreePAC event, the video was screened for staff. "My mouth was wide open," a former official recalls. "'What the hell is this?'" Several FreedomWorks staffers were outraged and stunned that Brandon, the group's second-in-command after Kibbe, had overseen the video's production, appeared in it, and intended to show this film at the conference, which would be attended by many social-conservative activists. They raised objections to the film.
"How was that not some form of sexual harassment?" a former FreedomWorks official asks, noting that two female interns had been requested to act out a pretend sex scene. "And there were going to be thousands of Christian conservatives at this thing. This was a terrible lack of judgment." Brandon, a former FreedomWorks official says, defended the film, insisting it was creative and funny. But eventually a decision was made not to show the video at FreePAC.
Armey says he didn't became aware of the film until months later: "I heard they had made an obscene video mocking Hillary Clinton." He says he was told the video showed Clinton having sex with an intern. "I asked another [FreedomWorks] guy if he had seen it," Armey recalls. "He said, 'I heard about it. I was traveling at the time. It was shown around the office.'" Armey adds, "There was a concern that this kind of behavior could land you in court. I was shocked at the ugly and bad taste."
Dick Armey was "shocked?" Sure he was. You know that these assholes engage in this same kind misogynistic behavior all of the time behind closed doors, and in fact there were numerous reports of sexist attitudes toward female employees and "boorish behaviors."
Something like this tape does not happen in a vacuum and surely Dick Armey knew all about it.
The Mother Jones article goes on to quote a former staffer at FreedomWorks who predicts that the company will simply implode soon due to mismanagement. You know I feel pretty much the same fate awaits the actual republican party as well.
By the way, does ANYBODY want to predict how long it will take that champion of woman's rights, that self identified victim of constant "sexist" comments, Sarah Palin, to speak out about this?
Yeah I don't expect a peep out of her either.
The demonstrators pictured with the panda are obviously bussed in residents of an old folks home. Driver of the bus is on far right in shorts. All the rest are 70+. Armey and crew arent fooling anyone. This whole Teaparty thing has become a joke rather than a movement. Glad I'm a Democrat.
ReplyDeleteHey Gryphen! This is a really indepth, fascinating, worthwhile read that I encourage everyone to check out. It's lengthy, but a relatively fast read and at least worth bookmarking. If YOUNG republicans start to be listened to, things would change alot on that side of the aisle. But the old guys just won't. Here are some particularly interesting snippets...
ReplyDeleteCan the Republicans Be Saved From Obsolescence?
...One afternoon last month, I flew with Anderson to Columbus, Ohio, to watch her conduct two focus groups. The first consisted of 10 single, middle-class women in their 20s; the second, of 10 20-something men who were either jobless or employed but seeking better work. All of them voted for Obama but did not identify themselves as committed Democrats and were sufficiently ambivalent about the president’s performance that Anderson deemed them within reach of the Republicans.
...About an hour into the session, Anderson walked up to a whiteboard and took out a magic marker. “I’m going to write down a word, and you guys free-associate with whatever comes to mind,” she said. The first word she wrote was “Democrat.”
“Young people,” one woman called out.
“Liberal,” another said. Followed by: “Diverse.” “Bill Clinton.”“Change.”“Open-minded.”“Spending.”“Handouts.”“Green.”“More science-based.”
...When Anderson then wrote “Republican,” the outburst was immediate and vehement: “Corporate greed.”“Old.”“Middle-aged white men.” “Rich.” “Religious.” “Conservative.” “Hypocritical.” “Military retirees.” “Narrow-minded.” “Rigid.” “Not progressive.” “Polarizing.” “Stuck in their ways.” “Farmers.”
...The session with the young men was equally jarring. None of them expressed great enthusiasm for Obama. But their depiction of Republicans was even more lacerating than the women’s had been. “Racist,” “out of touch” and “hateful” made the list — “and put ‘1950s’ on there too!” one called out.
Showing a reverence for understatement, Anderson said: “A lot of those words you used to describe Republicans are negative. What could they say or do to make you feel more positive about the Republican Party?”
“Be more pro-science,” said a 22-year-old moderate named Jack. “Embrace technology and change.”
“Stick to your strong suit,” advised Nick, a 23-year-old African-American. “Clearly social issues aren’t your strong suit. Stop trying to fight the battle that’s already been fought and trying to bring back a movement. Get over it — you lost.”
...The findings were virtually unanimous. No one could understand the G.O.P.’s hot-blooded opposition to gay marriage or its perceived affinity for invading foreign countries. Every group believed that the first place to cut spending was the defense budget. During the whiteboard drill, every focus group described Democrats as “open-minded” and Republicans as “rigid.”
“There is a brand,” the 28-year-old pollster concluded of her party with clinical finality. “And it’s that we’re not in the 21st century.”
http://www.nytimes.com/2013/02/17/magazine/can-the-republicans-be-saved-from-obsolescence.html?pagewanted=4&_r=0
Heading over to read the article. It gives me hope for the future!
DeleteGood grief! The inauguration was less than a month ago and the viciousness has already begun against a woman who has served her country remarkably well for a very long time. Republicans are the absolute dregs of society!
ReplyDeleteBeaglemom
This reminded me that the Supreme Court's Citizens United decision came about as a result of Hillary supporters filing suit against a negative movie about Hillary. Be careful what you ask for!
ReplyDeleteAnd the birther movement was started by another Hillary supporter.
You're an idiot. The movie about Sarah was full of lies and distortions. It was good that people brought the case before the courts. Im sorry you're too stupid to see that. Sometime I forget how lucky I an to have the gift of critical thinking. These are skills that are so lacking today, especially from Supreme Court justices.
DeleteRe the birther issue -- a Hillary supporter started it but pretty quickly disavowed it. But if you think birtherism hurt Obama politically you are really really stupid.
The movie about Sarah? Did you mean to say about Hillary? Hmmmm, you may want to tone down the name calling a bit and stay focused on your writing instead, eh?
DeleteYou're mistaken, Anonymous 1:58. The Citizen's United issue was not that it was a negative movie but that it was to be aired in violation of the McCain-Feingold law. Citizens United had lost their plea to silence Michael Moore in 2004, so they deliberately created a provocative documentary to do the same thing. And the suit was brought by Citizens United against the FEC - Hillary supporters were not involved in the suit.
DeleteIn short - you're an idiot.
FreedomWorks is Koch Bro. Nuff said.
ReplyDeleteThose Koch Brothers are sure into forming anonymous organizations: ALEC, Americans for Prosperity, FreedomWorks, Donors Trust (or something like that). They are such cowards. If they are so interested in government why haven't they run for political office so the people can choose them or reject them.
DeleteBeaglemom
A little semantics: you could have skipped the "fake" part of the headline. Pretty sure that part is implied.
ReplyDeleteHA HA.
That's so something you've posted before, thematically. That kind of immaturity mostly comes from liberal blogs.
ReplyDeleteHey Barstool, is that you?
DeleteYou like to use that 'immature' and 'liberal' languaging all the time.
Thing is this disgusting, vile, sophmoric wet dream came from the little boys of FREEDOMWORKS, which we ALL know is an extreme, conservative, RIGHT WING organization, so your comment is rubbish.
Oh yeah, that's right, you are known as the WHITE TRASH family, now aren't ya?
It must really hurt to know that the "immature liberals" are the only ones capable of having actual conversations, dearie. We don't interrupt people to scream "LIAR!"
DeleteAs someone who grew up rigid conservative, let me just say that as soon as you learn to stop letting others do the thinking for you that your opinions change real fast. And if you never stop letting other people tell you what to do... well, I'm pretty sure THAT makes a person incredibly immature.
Not Barstool, 3:31 PM. "Thematically" is too big a word.
Deletesorry Gryph, sarah's too busy pooping her pants about field and stream declaring her an incompetent sharpshooter to give a flying fuck what anyone says about Hillary...
ReplyDeleteahhh yesss..simple sarah the gift that just keeps on giving.
DeleteOT Note to Gryphen: You really do have to check out Chuck Heath Jr.'s Facebook. It's always good for a laugh. Today, he published a letter that he sent yesterday to Field and Stream, protesting their criticism of Sarah's shooting skills in "Sarah Palin's Alaska." Let's see, that was 2010, and now Chuck is angry enough to ask his readers to give Field and Stream a piece of their minds. What took so long? Oh, maybe it was the spoof from Feb.3 about Sarah joining Aljazerra. Here's the thing. If you want to be in the public eye, jokes and criticism goes with it. When Rubio took a gulp of water, the late night comics had a field day. So did the regular reporters. He had to joke about it. If he screamed at everyone a la Palin, he'd be an even bigger joke. Sarah just has to learn to let things go, and Chuck as to stop trying to be famous by standing in her spotlight.
ReplyDeleteI saw that over there and went to Field and Stream and read the article. Of course, now skank had to post a picture of Bristol and Toad in hunting gear today and a picture of her holding Trig with Toad. You can tell that the article really got to her. The article was spot on about her. Palins are so easy to get all riled up that it is hysterical.
DeleteFebruary 13, 2013
DeleteSarah Palin's Shooting
In my previous post, I was surprised that no one defended John McCain against my accusation that he’s at least partly nuts, which probably means that he is at least partially nuts. Some of you, however, took umbrage at my interpretation of Sarah Palin botching the shooting of a caribou. I felt so poorly about this that I went back and re-viewed the tape (You can see it below. It runs about 3 ½ minutes) and it made me even more depressed than I was before.
Ms. Palin is an extremely inexperienced shooter.
First, she allows her dad and the guide, who are both apparently nitwits, to jabber at her continually throughout the performance, make suggestions, swap rifles when it turns out that the first one has a bum scope (!), and allow her to blaze away at a moving animal.
An experienced shooter knows that when he (she) picks up a gun, he (she) is responsible for it, and the way it works. If you have doubts about its safety, you don’t use it. Before you shoot at something living, you check to see if it’s sighted in. Period. No excuses.
If nitwits are yammering at you, you tell them to shut the f**ck up because you can’t concentrate. No experienced shooter would put up with their nonsense.
An experienced shooter would not ask if a rifle kicks before using it in the heat of battle. That would not be uppermost in their mind; getting the animal down would be.
Why, before the fatal shot was fired, did the editor of the film superimpose a bogus crosshair on the poor dopey caribou? Why do we not see Ms. Palin firing the rifle? Is it because she did not do the shooting?
Finally, look at the way she carries the rifle as the party walks up to the late lamented ungulate. No experienced shooter carries a rifle like this.
I have nothing in particular against Sarah Palin. But I do believe in watching politicians with a critical eye, especially if they try to palm themselves off as something they’re not. She undoubtedly hunts, and is undoubtedly is OK with guns, but to say that as a shooter she’s anything but a rank beginner is wishful thinking.
http://www.fieldandstream.com/blogs/gun-nuts/2013/02/sarahs-shooting
(Be sure to read the comments. They are spot on.)
upchuckie is on the payroll.
DeleteBe very afraid. Elizabeth will take you OUT!
ReplyDeleteElizabeth Warren Embarrasses Hapless Bank Regulators At First Hearing (VIDEO)
Bank regulators got a sense Thursday of how their lives will be slightly different now that Elizabeth Warren sits on a Senate committee overseeing their agencies.
At her first Banking, Housing and Urban Affairs Committee hearing, Warren questioned top regulators from the alphabet soup that is the nation's financial regulatory structure: the FDIC, SEC, OCC, CFPB, CFTC, Fed and Treasury.
The Democratic senator from Massachusetts had a straightforward question for them: When was the last time you took a Wall Street bank to trial? It was a harder question than it seemed.
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/02/14/elizabeth-warren-bank-regulators_n_2688998.html
As of 2 minutes ago that dumb ass letter from chuckles jr. has been posted 5 times in the F & S comments. Now regulars are asking the palin trolls to fuck off...
ReplyDeleteObama's Complete 2013 Google+ Hangout
ReplyDeletehttp://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=-gU09bWifFo
Is that Sarah in the Panda costume trying to stay relevant? Or is this Bristol's latest gig since her DWTS gorilla dance??
ReplyDeleteWell, it looks like FREEDOMWORKS is at it again...this time promoting Adolph Hitler for Valentine's day. Who the fuck are these guys???
ReplyDeleteArizona Tea Party Leader Scraps ‘Be Mein’ Hitler Valentines
Stephen Viramontes, the interim state director of the tea party group FreedomWorks in Arizona, canceled plans to distribute Valentine's Day cards to lawmakers featuring various dictators who opposed anti-union legislation -- but not before tweeting about the cards, the Arizona Capitol Times reports.
Viramontes deleted those tweets, but not before the Times published them.
(Image found on original article link)
Viramontes explained who would be getting the cards in a second tweet, which was also deleted. "All those needing some help in supporting and passing #PaycheckProtection," he wrote.
According to the Capitol Times, other cards featured Fidel Castro, Joseph Stalin and Mao Zedong as well as Karl Marx and Leon Trotsky. Viramontes told the Times that FreedomWorks is planning a big push for legislation that will limit the ability of public sector unions to collect money from their members for use in political efforts.
This ill-fated Valentine's Day stint comes on the same day that Mother Jones reported that FreedomWorks executives in Washington, D.C. made a video -- which they almost showed at a tea party conference -- in which a fake panda performs oral sex on a woman impersonating then-Secretary of State Hillary Clinton.
http://livewire.talkingpointsmemo.com/entry/arizona-tea-party-leader-scraps-be-mein-hitler
Oh, right! Dick was travelling at the time and had no access to a tablet, smart phone or laptop, because you know DAMN WELL that piece of "Creativity" made the rounds Bullshit!
DeleteHere's Politicusa's "Take" on if a "Liberal PAC" did something similar to a pseudo conservative ex politician, fame whore menopausal freak show. You Know, Baldy, of Wasilla.
http://www.politicususa.com/liberal-pac-video-panda-performing-oral-sex-sarah-palin-outrage-deafening.html
Freefomworks is one of the biggest TeaPublican groups. These "Family Values" Tea-baggers keep revealing their true nature, time and time again.
ReplyDeleteI am going to be tacky here.....old men simply enjoy any form of sexual excitement. That said, now imagine a bunch of suits learning/hearing about the details of Bill Clinton and Monica Lewinsky...sitting around a table smoking their cigars and playing with their ..... But now time has passed....and women are getting uppety so let's go play a little with them cause we know what they like.......er what old dudes like to visually see.
ReplyDelete"My mouth was wide open..." I bet it was!
ReplyDeleteThis does nothing more than make the ugly Republican party look horrible as usual.
ReplyDeleteI think it will enhance people to vote for Hillary Clinton!!! I'll be at the front of the line. Who in the hell wants a Republican running our country? Shit, they'd have us in war again and in worse financial shape (just like Bush did to us!).