Erick Erickson of the Redstate fame hinted this morning that he knew everything behind Will Folks' story.
endeavoring to write about himself in the third person, though omniscient or limited is still up for grabs, will now proceed to dish out the dough and let the chips fall where they may in the whole sordid affair in South Carolina.
...
So who pushed Folks out? Was there money paid? Sources tell Erick Erickson that yes, despite Folks’s denial, money was paid to procure the story and guarantee it hit at the most opportune time — right before the primary.
But no, he couldn't tell you who dunnit. Because,
you press people have had Will Folks string you along all week, reporting every salacious non-detail. So RedState.com’s fearless, intrepid Editor Erick Erickson is going to do exactly the same thing — at least for a couple more hours. You will have to tune in for the identity of the campaign trying to destroy Nikki Haley later today.
When the answer finally came out this afternoon, there was a riot at Redstate.
Update: martinjedlicka's analysis of Erickson's original defense of Nikki Haley.
Erickson's morning post was at 9am. He asked his followers to wait "a couple of more hours". Nearly five hours later, his post appeared. In it, he told us "the identity of the campaign trying to destroy Nikki Haley":
I have no clue if anyone is behind Will Folks doing this.
No, I didn't make this up. After all the suspense, Erickson said he had no clue who was behind this. But if you think this was the low point of his post, you are wrong. He then dragged Nikki Haley through the mud, providing supporting (albeit circumstantial) evidence for Will Folks' accusation:
The consultant who last year was telling people about Will Folks’ story worked or works for Andre Bauer. Bauer himself admitted this week he has known about the rumor for a year.
So this wasn't something that was just made up last week when Haley's poll number shot up after Palin's endorsement. The rumor had been around for a year. Hmmm. Erickson was trying to suggest that it was the Bauer campaign who paid Folks to make this story up. Or was he?
Sometime after 2006, Will Folks turned decidedly hostile toward Andre Bauer. He was very much part of the Sanford reform crowd that included Nikki Haley. Starting in June of 2009, around the time Bauer’s consultant is pushing out the Will Folks story, Folks starts to change his tune on Bauer.
So Folks was originally against Bauer, until Bauer learned about "the rumor". Then something happened to make Folks turn 180 degrees on Bauer. Is Erickson suggesting that Bauer campaign was blackmailing Folks?
About the same time last year, another blogger notes this: "Bauer seems to have cut some kind of deal with blogger Bill Folks."
Oh, and what about the picture? Here it is:
Then there is Jake Knotts who allegedly hired a private investigator to dig into Will Folks and who is rumored to be responsible for the rumored picture. Knotts also helped in the Bauer Palace Coup. Note that in the same blog post at the Palmetto Scoop about Knott’s involvement to help Bauer, Adam Fogle wrote the quote, "Bauer seems to have cut some kind of deal with blogger Bill Folks."
Where is the adamant defense of Haley? Oh, how about this:
Take it for what you will. Right now it is Will Folks’ dribble of evidence versus Nikki Haley’s categorical denial. Time will tell.
The reaction from the Redstaters are a riot:
So basically...
AngryMatt Friday, May 28th at 2:03PM EDT (link)
You’ve got nothing, Folks has got very little and Haley is not dealing with it until after the election. This reminds me of high school.
Really?!
tlynch Friday, May 28th at 2:08PM EDT (link)
I understand the logic of trying to scare people into ratting themselves out but this ending reflects poorly on you Erick.
Embarrassing
nepanyrush Friday, May 28th at 2:44PM EDT (link)
I cannot believe I wasted two days checking back with Red State just to have Erick say "I have no clue if anyone is behind Will Folks doing this."
I am sorry, but you said earlier, with the siren: "Breaking: We Know Who Did It" and "We know who paid Will Folks to push this story out there."
I got played like a sucker by Erick and I an not pleased. And from the other posters on the original post, there was a feeling that Nikki was going to be exonerated, that Erick had broke a major story that the MSM were not going to do. Is he saving this story for CNN? What till this story breaks!
I cannot believe you played us for suckers.
Not cool.
Mary Beth Friday, May 28th at 2:17PM EDT (link)
I thought there was a legitimate scoop behind the red siren yesterday.
Color me bummed.
????????
katnandu Friday, May 28th at 2:21PM EDT (link)
He was paid 6 figures? That was your allegation. It was a fake allegation? What
This stuff is why people hate politics
tankertodd Friday, May 28th at 2:22PM EDT (link)
Lame, Lame, Lame. Everyone concerned, and I mean EVERYONE, needs to get a real job and produce something of value with their lives for a little while. Politics does not qualify.
So .. where's the truth?
acat Friday, May 28th at 2:34PM EDT (link)
Is this the honest post? Was yesterday’s? What will tomorrow bring?
Mew
Very Poorly Played
surfjake Friday, May 28th at 2:42PM EDT (link)
Sorry Eric, but in this one, very poorly played. It began as amusing, then turned into something very ugly, and demeaning.
Let the Chips Fall Where they May! (after 2 days)
motorsteam Friday, May 28th at 3:18PM EDT (link)
Um, what chips? There are none. Completely bush league.
Sure is a lot of hatin' goin' on around here
RedBeard Friday, May 28th at 3:25PM EDT (link)
Is all this internecine feuding really necessary?
Enjoy.