This is what “ratfucking” looks like in Virginia. Happening right now in real time. First, let me give a quick definition.
From Wikipedia
Ratfucking is an American slang term for political sabotage or dirty tricks.
The movie, All The Presidents Men, is where most folks learned the term. Clips and more here.
But I think the greatest contribution to political discourse is it introduction of the term “ratfucker”. Bernstein tracks down Donald Segretti, played by Robert Walden, who was the head of dirty tricks for the Committee to Re-Elect the President (CREEP). Over coffee and cigs, Segretti admits that any underhanded tactic was in play against the hated Democrats, but defends himself by saying that he and his colleagues only did things with “a little wit”.
Chris McCoy Memphis Flyer
Back to Virginia. This is on Blue Virginia today. An inflammatory video and tweet are causing a stir between the Democratic candidates for Governor in Virginia. The source is “KanderforAmerica”. A guy who says he is a GW college student is taking credit for this. Maybe. Maybe not.
It’s easy to think this is Jason Kander, a rising star in the Democratic party, the MO Secretary of State who ran for US Senate in 2016. An Iraq war vet who is much beloved by Daily Kos users.
Neither the video or the twitter account come from the real Jason Kander; his representative verified that today. The issues being discussed, off shore oil drilling, progressivism, etc. are important issues in Democratic campaigns throughout Virginia in this election year.
Throwing these issues into the mix of the Gubernatorial campaign, in the name of a highly regarded progressive is false, and an example of nasty “ratfucking”. Done in such a rabidly partisan and inflammatory way, it is designed to set the stage for the candidates to engage in a very hot and unnecessary political thermo nuclear exchange.
Engaging in this hot war at the top of the ticket, burns not only these two candidates but the whole Democratic Party in VA. Whose interest does that serve??