Throw Mehlman an Anchor: Action Item

Mehlman recently gave a 'non-denial denial' about his entanglement with Abramoff in the matter of Allen Stayman. He claimed he didn't fire Stayman, but the real question is: did he block Stayman from keeping the job? Did he do so because Abramoff's clients were afraid Stayman would end the oppressive-yet-profitable sweatshop working conditions?

That's not the only question for Mehlman, though. Here are four more, courtesy of Henry Waxman and House Democrats:

1. Did Republican National Committee Chairman Mehlman accept gifts from criminal superlobbyist Jack Abramoff when he was Bush's Director of Political Affairs? Did he disclose them?

2. Was RNC Chairman Mehlman in any way involved in directing $16 million to one of Abramoff's clients, over the objections of the Justice Department?

3. Did RNC Chairman Mehlman accept campaign contributions from criminal superlobbyist Abramoff or his staffer Tony Rudy, in the White House, when he was Bush's Director of Political Affairs?  On November 13, 2001, Tony Rudy wrote to Abramoff recommending a $15,000 contribution from a client to the RNC, specifically advising:  "Lets give the check to Ken Mehlman at White House."  Did that happen?

4. Did RNC Chairman Mehlman secure political endorsements sought by criminal superlobbyist Abramoff for Guam candidates? On October 9, 2002,  Abramoff e-mailed Mehlman to seek an endorsement from President Bush for Republican candidates running in Guam.  Within two weeks, Susan Ralston e-mailed Mr. Abramoff:  "Ken asked me to let you know that he has the quote to be approved for your Guam candidates."

And Bonus Question Number Five, not from the House Democrat link, above:

5. Did RNC Chairman Ken Mehlman use the White House Political Affairs office, and taxpayer funds, to organize partisan Republican events designed to mobilize religious voters in twenty targeted races? In his newly-released book, "Tempting Faith," David Kuo, special assistant to President Bush from 2001-2003, claims "Ken loved the idea and gave us our marching orders." Among those marching orders, Kuo says, was Mehlman's mandate to conceal the true nature of the events.

TAKE ACTION:

You want to win? Throw the Republicans an anchor.

Use this tool to write brief letters to the editor asking one and only one of the questions above, in your own words. (Click the House Democrats link for more details and sources.) Remember to hit the 'Show more newspapers near you' link at the bottom of the newspaper list: don't ignore the little local papers!

And here's another tool, courtesy of the Ohio Republican Party. That one doesn't allow you to email directly from the site, but has a far better list of local papers. In my locale, anyway. Try 'em both.

Send one email today, covering one of these questions in your own words. Then another tomorrow, and another the next day. As someone once said, 'Pound 'em, boys.'

•  And, Finally?

  Why did Mehlman lie to the press and say that he did not really know Jack Abramoff, when they have been friends for at least a decade and have probably known each other longer, as he now admits?

  by bink on Mon Oct 16, 2006 at 04:53:39 AM PDT

•  I have a rainbow colored ANVIL w/ Melhman's name

  I added some pink and purple ribbons for pizzazz, I think he'll give it two cirle snaps

  by gaspare on Mon Oct 16, 2006 at 05:10:42 AM PDT

•  Snark Alert-Standard Operating Procedure is an

  to throw somebody Anvil,not a boat anchor, I've been told.

  Otherwise :Good Job

  by JML9999 on Mon Oct 16, 2006 at 05:12:13 AM PDT

  •  TO SINK HIM is my goal

    ... and plain ol' concrete blocks would work too
    it's his time for waterboarding pleasure, no?

    by sundancekid11 on Mon Oct 16, 2006 at 05:24:22 AM PDT

  •  An anvil? Eh.

    Throwing a drowning man an anchor, though? That's got pizzazz, baby!

    by GussieFN on Mon Oct 16, 2006 at 05:37:10 AM PDT

•  Followup question

  When Mehlman said that he did not have the authority to fire Mr. Stayman, he was technically telling the truth. A good followup line of questions would be whether or not he used his position to influence the decision to fire Stayman.

  And who could possibly not remember whether or not he went to a U2 concert in 2001? That's just not credible.

  by SteveWest on Mon Oct 16, 2006 at 05:56:20 AM PDT

  •  maybe it was the drugs

    (whisper, whisper)

    by kamarvt on Mon Oct 16, 2006 at 06:18:24 AM PDT