Memo: Shield Steve Schmidt from John McCain blame (plans to destroy Palin to save Schmidt)

Politico ^ | 3/15/12

[roses of sharon]

Ten days before the 2008 presidential election, as blame was beginning to be laid out for John McCain’s “likely defeat,” a top communications adviser to the campaign wrote a detailed strategy memo focused on how to preserve the reputation of another key adviser, Steve Schmidt, POLITICO has learned.

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The protective maneuver sheds more light on the final days of the 2008 campaign, a period of low morale marked by tensions between the Palin and McCain camps and the expectation of defeat.

***

“Thankfully, and rightfully so, some members of the political punditry are already coming his defense (Rove, McKinnon, Scarborough), however a well organized and coordinated effort is needed to defend Steve’s good reputation,” Jones wrote in the memo, which was sent to two partners, Adam Mendelsohn and Kirill Goncharenko.

Jones wrote it, sources said, at the request of top Mercury brass, as the campaign wound down and Schmidt was returning to his MPA role. At the time, the Republican nominee was sinking in the polls and the anonymous finger-pointing was well underway in press accounts.

The memo was intended as an in-house Mercury document — but it was discovered by some McCain staffers who were trying to wrap up the campaign, and were troubled by any effort to start looking at damage control before the votes had been cast, a source familiar with it said.

With the subject line “Schmidt,” the memo went on that the three, along with another former Mercuryite Terry Nelson, would “engage in this project,” and seek out the help of other supportive Republicans and some “friendly Democrats.”

[okie01]

As time goes on, Sarah Palin stands untouched, while McCain, Schimidt, Wallace and others stink more and more.

A massive stench is beginning to accumulate around the GOP establishment -- of which Schmidt is an active member.

Schmidt was also among the cabal in the "Newt Takedown" -- a plan formulated in Lindsay Graham's office, as Goober himself has bragged.

Washington -- and their power -- have corrupted them beyond redemption.

[Timber Rattler]

I had forgotten that Romney was said to be concerned that she could win the nom in 2012.

Romney's flying monkeys started attacking Sarah the very same day that McCain announced her as his VP pick. Diogenesis has the links to the whole sordid series of stories from that period. And very soon after the election, Romney said that "Schmidt always had a place at his table."

[98ZJ USMC]

McLame’s POW cred is threadbare and torn. POW or not, you’re a POS.

FOAD McCain, Schmidt and the rest.....

Even given the dead drag of Sea Anchor McLame, any competent campaign was a winner with Sarah Palin on the ticket.

Scumbag, traitorous bastards.

[roses of sharon]

Yes, and there are many still who cannot face the fact that their own party is embarrassed by them, and dismisses what they stand for.

Most will come around eventually, it's tough to do, and a very sad realization.

[Timber Rattler]

Remember Red State's Leper List from November 5, 2008. Wallace and Schmidt were at the top of it, but Schmidt privately complained to Erickson who then took him off. Erickson should have left the POS right there where he belonged.

[Lancey Howard]

Has this scumbag Schmidt ever been associated with a conservative Republican? I know he managed a whole lot of losing campaigns, and he’s a homo-hugger with a lesbian sister, so why is the guy worth defending? The only positive thing I ever heard about him was that he helped Bush with the Alito and Roberts nominations.

[NonValueAdded]

If not for Sarah, McCain’s defeat would have made McGovern - Nixon look like a squeaker.

[Christie at the beach]

They are trying to stop the conservatives from having a voice.

if they stop Palin and Newt, who else it there?? For

Major reforms to our government.

[ak267]

Do the names “Pissant” and “Humblegunner” come to mind?

There were others who were pimping Kerry and Cain doing the same kind of stuff.

[PA Engineer]

I wonder if that included FR?

That would explain much.

[PA Engineer]

Ping

[saradippity]

Wow!!Went to your Politico link and looked at the interview with Michael Steele. It kind of explains why they "disappeared" him doesn't it?

I wasn't blown over by him but I certainly thought he was as good as anybody else I could think of,now I find out that he understood the contempt with which so many of our career Republican politicians were held and also knew the tea party was going to be a force for change. He was quite prescient I guess and so of course they didn't like him.

Thanks for your post and link!

[cpdiii]

I have NO RESPECT WHATSOEVER for John McCain. He let his own people destroy the person that kept him with 10 pts of Obama. Without her, McCain would have lost by 30.

I am humbled and in awe of what Captain McCain did in his service for his country. He acquitted himself with honor and courage during his 5 years of captivity in North Vietnam. I wish I were half the man of Pilot Captain McCain.

I hold Senator McCain in total contempt.

[WaterWeWaitinFor]

Am I right in that Wallace and Schmidt ARE runnning Mitten’s campaign now? I knew this at the time of the Katie Couric interview - was totally P’O’d about the way she was treated.

Romney is surrounded with these scum. And we want him in the White House why? Says it all when Dennis Hastert backs Romney in Illinois, too. good old boys my fanny.

[Sarah Barracuda]

That is the rumor I have heard, that Wallace’s husband is running the Romney campaign..not sure about Schmidt or Wallace but I wouldn’t be surprised if they both are running the campaign. They have been running Mitt Romney’s campaign for years now, that is why they had to sabotage the McCain campaign, so that Romney would be the frontrunner in 2012

[Timber Rattler]

Romney is surrounded with these scum.

And keep in mind that this very same scum will be populating the White House and federal agencies in the event of a Romney presidency, which in my mind would not be much better than Obama's criminal administration.

[Timber Rattler]

Whatever Steele’s problems and weaknesses as RNC Chairman-—he was firmly in Sarah Palin’s corner when all this went down and stayed there, and for that, he will always have my respect.

[Timber Rattler]

Here's another question that needs to be answered: How long has Politico been sitting on this particular memo, since they admitted not too long ago that they had held a lot of damning stuff back because they did not consider it "news worthy?"

[Diogenesis]

FLASHBACK:

The McCain/Palin ticket was up ++4 to 10 pts
in some polls, days prior to Election 2008.
So rather than helping the GOP, Romney and
TeamROMNEY and the RNME (Republican National Media Establishment)
decided …to attack Gov. Palin to throw Election2008.

Romney, and the Van der Sloot RNME RINOs for Obama in 2008

Late in October, The American Spectator's The Prowler revealed:
"Former Mitt Romney presidential campaign staffers…
have been involved in spreading anti-Palin spin to reporters, seeking to diminish her standing after the election.
'Sarah Palin is a lightweight, she won't be the first, not even the third, person people will think of when it comes to 2012,'
says one former Romney aide…
'The only serious candidate ready to challenge to lead the Republican Party is Mitt Romney.
"Some former Romney aides were behind the recent leaks to media, including CNN, that Governor Sarah Palin was a 'diva' and was going off message intentionally."

---

The Palmetto Scoop reported: "One of the first stories to hit the national airwaves was
the claim of a major internal strife between close McCain aides and the folks handling his running mate Sarah Palin."
"I’m told by very good sources that this was indeed the case and that a rift had developed, but it was between Palin’s people and the staffers brought on from the failed presidential campaign of former Gov. Mitt Romney, not McCain aides."
"The sources said nearly 80 percent of Romney’s former staff was absorbed by McCain and these individuals were responsible for what amounts to a premeditated, last-minute sabotage of Palin."
… aides loyal to Romney inside the McCain campaign, said The Scoop, reportedly saw
that Palin would be a serious contender for the Republican nomination in 2012 or 2016, which made her a threat to another presidential quest by Romney.

---

"These staffers are now out trying to finish her off ….hoping it would ingratiate themselves with Mitt Romney."

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"Who's the Palin Leaker from the McCain Campaign?
National Review Online The publication of a Vanity Fair profile of Sarah Palin
appears to have opened old wounds in the McCain campaign.
... the source of the “Diva” leak was Nicolle Wallace’s husband."

---

"Peeking Out From the McCain Wreckage: Mitt Romney"

"Someone's got to say it: IS MITT ROMNEY RESPONSIBLE FOR OBAMA'S VICTORY?"

"Vanity: Team Romney Sabotaged Palin and Continuing to Do So?"

"Romney Supporters Trashing Palin"

"Romney advisors sniping at Palin?"

---

[Diogenesis]