Human Rights Campaign fires staffer over “Stop Sex Predators” site
posted at 2:56 pm on October 25, 2006 by Allahpundit
SSP, of course, is the mysterious blog that started over the summer, had virtually no posts for its three months, then somehow scooped the universe by publishing Mark Foley’s pervy e-mails to the pages just in time for election season. The guy at Stop October Surprises traced its author to HRC with some nifty Internet evidence and now, according to Vicarious Sunshine, the unnamed employee who’s responsible has been duly canned.
According to a comment left on SOS by someone claiming to be a spokesman for HRC:
“The email exchanges in question between former Congressman Mark Foley and a House page have been in the possession of bloggers and media outlets for some time now. Yesterday, it came to our attention that an HRC employee, hired just last month to work for us in Michigan, was responsible for initially posting these emails on his blog. We investigated the matter, determined that HRC resources had been inappropriately used, and let him go. No one at the Human Rights Campaign, other than this individual, had any knowledge of his activities,” said Brad Luna, Spokesman for the Human Rights Campaign.
No doubt. They draw the line at whispering about lists of closeted gay Republicans.
Exit question, which has been the question all along: which “bloggers and media outlets,” and how much time is “some time”?
Update: Actually, one more question. Was the SSP blogger fired because he didn’t come forward with the Foley information sooner, because he chose to publish it anonymously instead of bringing it to HRC, or, as is suggested by the SOS comment, simply because he went about his business on company time?
Blowback
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I vote that he was fired because he was stupid enough to allow the emails to be tracked back to HRC HQ. THe fact that he was doing it on company time would not be an issue I believe, if he were not caught.
bbz123 on October 25, 2006 at 3:07 PM
to work for us in Michigan, was responsible for initially posting these emails on his blog.
This seems odd. Are they saying that some guy off the street got ahold of these e-mails of Foley, sat on them, created a blog to embarrass the GOP, and THEN got hired by the HRC? Sounds dubious to me.
I would have figured that this guy was plugged into the political scene from day one, and that due to his connections in a group like HRC, he was able to get these e-mails.
So I find this HRC statement that he was hire only a month ago somewhat dubious.
However, in fairness to HRC, it is possible this guy was plugged into the political scene in some other capacity prior to getting hired by HRC. Using his pre-HRC connections, he got the e-mails, concocted his scheme, and then got hired by HRC.
I suppose it’s possible.
EFG on October 25, 2006 at 3:10 PM
Does this mean that Human Rights Campaign will now be investigated? I hope so.
DannoJyd on October 25, 2006 at 3:11 PM
Opps. Messed up my quote. Did I forget to mention that a preview button would be great? Please? Thank you.
EFG on October 25, 2006 at 3:11 PM
Thank you for the link Allah. It’s amazing what can be done over the phone.
Thanks again…http://vicarioussunshine.townhall.com/
sunny on October 25, 2006 at 3:22 PM
The headline for this post should read …
It’s more likely they’ve simply issued this statement hoping to ward off further responsibility.
Until we have a name … I don’t buy it.
Gregor on October 25, 2006 at 3:24 PM
I have officially decided that I really, really can’t devote one more minute of time trying to figure this out. I am ashamed to admit that I just don’t care…….
honora on October 25, 2006 at 3:54 PM
And besides, it may not turn out as you hope..
Scotsman on October 25, 2006 at 4:03 PM
For reasons I’ve pointed out elsewhere, I’m not buying HRC’s story. I mentioned all this on Ace‘s earlier:
How likely is it that this blogger came into possession of these emails at such a convenient time and just happened to be working for an organization who’s top dogs include people like Jeff Trandahl, the guy who supervised the House’s page program (and who has recently been talking to the FBI about the Foley scandal) and Mike Mings, the electoral affairs guy for HRC, and a former page for Kolbe?
While I wouldn’t say it is entirely impossible, it isn’t very likely. Especially so if this guy in Michigan they just fired turns out to have no ties to the page program himself.
tommy1 on October 25, 2006 at 5:41 PM
Dafydd at Big Lizard noted a few days that the Dems had cost themselves votes by springing their October Surprise early so people like Lil Kim had time to refocus voters’ minds before the election. So, did this dude get fired for divulging something that wasn’t supposed to come out till next week?
bdfaith on October 25, 2006 at 5:52 PM
Without a name, what evidence do we even have that the guy was fired? Nothing at this point. I would like to know if any likely HRC members can be identified. Who was hired in just the last month who is located in Michigan? Does that person have any ties to the page program?
tommy1 on October 25, 2006 at 5:57 PM
Who hired this employee? Was he a Public Interest Resarch Group hire? fyi: PIRG does work for HRC. What was the employee’s position? Canvas Director or Grunt? PIRG gets funding from Open Soceity Institute (aka George Soros) and since we another Soros group was involved in this matter, we need to know who the employee is.
hotdax on October 25, 2006 at 6:03 PM
LOL…. looks like the Feds came a knockin… and would shine the light of day onto their slimey little clique….
Its like that famous Russian painting of the Sley being followed by wolves, and them throwing one overboard to keep the wolves at bay….
Romeo13 on October 25, 2006 at 6:35 PM
He was fired for one reason: because the information was traced back to the organization.
Which, I guarantee, knew all about it. Anyone who actually believes that the SSP goofball wasn’t bragging to every moonbat in the building needs a brain transplant. C’mon.
It’s CYA time. Nothing more.
Professor Blather on October 25, 2006 at 7:21 PM
Where’s the Justice Department? D@mn, just when you need one, they’re never around! Hope they find out the 5 w’s and lock the place down by next week (fat chance).
tormod on October 25, 2006 at 9:29 PM