Today's
Las Vegas Review Journal reports that Rep. Jim Gibbons, who in the last few weeks has repeatedly embarrassed himself by trying to appeal to the hard-right-wingers, was also apparently borrowing another page from the republican playbook -- paying reporters.
He gave $8K in "consulting fees" to a Nevada-based freelance tv and radio reporter and former director of the Nevada Press Association, for "election analysis". She did work last fall primarily for a radio station that features nationally syndicated right-wing shout radio programming.
Which of course is precisely the sort of speech that Jim Gibbons has specialized in lately.
Remember that Gibbons is the front-runner for the GOP nomination for Governor in NV in 2006 and is being advised by consultants with close ties to the Bush family.
Its becoming increasingly clear that Gibbons, never impressive in his own right, is being pushed to take hard-line right-wing positions and engage in the sort of misleading and dishonest politics that is characteristic of Tom Delay's republicans.