Exclusive: Inside the GOP plan to discredit Comey

[DonViejo]

Source: CNN




By Jeff Zeleny, Senior White House Correspondent

Updated 7:21 AM ET, Thu April 12, 2018

Washington (CNN)President Donald Trump's allies are preparing an extensive campaign to fight back against James Comey's publicity tour, trying to undermine the credibility of the former FBI director by reviving the blistering Democratic criticism of him before he was fired nearly a year ago.

The battle plan against Comey, obtained by CNN, calls for branding the nation's former top law enforcement official as "Lyin' Comey" through a website, digital advertising and talking points to be sent to Republicans across the country before his memoir is released next week. The White House signed off on the plan, which is being overseen by the Republican National Committee.

"Comey is a liar and a leaker and his misconduct led both Republicans and Democrats to call for his firing," Republican chairwoman Ronna McDaniel said in a statement to CNN. "If Comey wants the spotlight back on him, we'll make sure the American people understand why he has no one but himself to blame for his complete lack of credibility."

While it's an open question how successful Republicans will be in making their case against Comey, given that Trump unceremoniously dismissed him last May 9, there is no doubt that many Democrats remain furious at how the former FBI director treated Hillary Clinton during the 2016 presidential campaign. Republicans hope to remind Democrats why they disliked Comey by assailing his credibility, shining a new light on his conduct and pointing out his contradictions -- or the three Cs.



Read more: https://www.cnn.com/2018/04/12/politics/trump-comey-publicity-tour/index.html

[CatMor]

1. It's amazing how the republicans will try to destroy....

someone like Comey to help someone like trump who is a corrupt con man at best. The republicans are as bad as trump.

[YessirAtsaFact]

2. Repugnant goons are so intellectually bankrupt and morally wrong

All they can do is attack the messenger.

Good luck making Comey appear less credible than the orange swamp thing.

[Iliyah]

3. WOW, I'm surprised!

NOT. . . . . .

[Achilleaze]

4. Formal republican lies

as opposed to the casual republican lies we get each day.

[notdarkyet]

5. His book is already on the best seller list. His truth will be out Monday.

[laserhaas]

12. It is rumored Coney calls Trump a "mob boss"

A bunch of Tweets are gonna fly after ABC's show

[procon]

6. Will Republicans cross the line into obstruction of justice territory? nt

[The_jackalope]

7. It looks like they plan to use Democrats as tools in that effort.

It puts those who are still angry with Comey in a tough spot. Does one keep the anger and become a tool of the Republicans, or drop it and tacitly accept the results of his actions - thereby becoming a slightly different tool of the Republicans?

It's a clever tactic, trying to put angry Democrats between a rock and a hard place. Whether it will work isn't at all clear.

Personally, I've always thought that there was far more to the Comey story than the simplistic reading of it by those who cling to their anger. Maybe soon we'll know how much validity there is in that position.

[UpInArms]

9. Being wrong about one thing does not mean you are wrong about everything

I did not like the pre-election statement about Clinton, I thought it interfered with the perception of voters, but I believe that Comey thought he was correct in his actions. I don’t happen to agree with him in that instance.

[dhill926]

8. too bad these assholes don't put their energy into....

actually trying to do their jobs and govern the country....or maybe not....

[BadGimp]

10. The word Backfire comes to mind to me.

eom

[truthisfreedom]

11. Someone needs to uncover exactly why Comey

Did everything he did. I want to have his motivations fully revealed.