GOP circulates phony memo (via Politico / Drudge) in order to try to bring down health care bill.

[jefferson_dem]

Dems: Memo On Medicare Changes Isn't Ours -- It's A GOP 'Hoax'
Christina Bellantoni | March 19, 2010, 2:39PM

Democrats today are accusing Republicans of circulating a fraudulent memo that claims to be sent to "Democratic health and communications staff" and which suggests the majority party leadership wants to make big changes to Medicare next year after health care passes.

A senior Democratic leadership aide told TPMDC in an interview the memo, printed by Politico and leading the Drudge Report this afternoon a few days ahead of the health care vote Sunday, is "a hoax."

"We have checked with every Democratic office, no one has ever seen it. It did not come out of a Democratic office," the aide said, adding that media outlets printing the memo have not checked with leadership offices if the memo is authentic. A second Democratic leadership aide confirmed the memo was not sent by the Democrats. A third Democratic aide also said the memo is fake, citing the "draft" stamp and saying no one uses such things.

"If this were a Democratic communications person who wrote this, they should be fired, because this looks like Republican talking points," the third Democratic aide told TPMDC.

<SNIP>

http://tpmdc.talkingpointsmemo.com/2010/03/health-care-wars-on-capitol-hill-as-dems-cry-doc-fix-memo-is-a-fake.php

UPDATE: Democrats challenge authenticity of ‘doc fix’ memo
An earlier post in this spot detailed what was purported by Republicans to be an internal Democratic memo regarding the upcoming health reform vote Sunday. Democratic leadership has challenged the authenticity of the memo. POLITICO has removed the memo and the details about it until we can absolutely verify the document’s origin.

http://www.politico.com/livepulse/0310/EXCLUSIVE__Democrats_plan_doc_fix_after_reform.html

[Jennicut]

1. They are desperate and it is hilarious.

[HughMoran]

2. No end to Republican assholery

Comforting knowing we have people at DU who would, no doubt, re-forward this right-wing crap in an attempt to kill reform and the Democratic Party.

[denimgirly]

3. Funny how the Republicans will be able to get away with this...MSM will not say they invented this

[quiet.american]

4. And just think that our tax dollars are no doubt financing the endless GOP scheming/scamming. nt

[zulchzulu]

5. Karl Rove gets free servicing for pulling this shit out of his ass

Oh Karl, is that all ya got...says Matt.

[DCBob]

6. Operation Chaos...

The rightwing will stoop to any depth to damage Obama and the Dems.

[KingFlorez]

7. The GOP lies will never stop

Winning fairly isn't an option, so they resort to fakery.

[Raine1967]

8. Cantor, Ryan, Camp To Hold Presser On CBO Scores

http://www.talkingpointsmemo.com/live/countdown-to-reform-wire/


8 MINUTES AGO
Republican Reps. Eric Cantor, Paul Ryan and Dave Camp have scheduled a press conference at 3:30 p.m. to discuss the health care bill's CBO scores. Republicans have been attacking the bill, deriding the cost estimates as "preliminary estimates" as opposed to final scores.

[BlueIdaho]

9. Typically Nixonian Misinformation.

By god - what despair, what dishonor, what contemptible behavior. Not only is America witnessing Democrats wrestling with the one of the top issues facing America - they are also witnessing the complete disconnect of the republican party.

[Spazito]

10. Well, gee, shouldn't Politico have 'verified the document's origin' BEFORE...

publishing it? Oh, gosh, I forgot, that is sooooo yesteryear, especially for organizations like Politico who pose as a news organization while fulfilling it's actual role as a propaganda vehicle for the right wing.

[blogslut]

11. The Koch/Politico/Drudge Syndicate

Consistently lying to America and getting away with it.

[NJmaverick]

12. K&R

[Clio the Leo]

13. For crying out loud! Cant a person take a nap around here without something happening! NT

[jefferson_dem]

14. Ruh Roh - Steele and Boehner Busted. GOP Leadership Pushed Memo Dems Say Is “Hoax”

GOP Leadership Pushed Memo Dems Say Is “Hoax”
A controversial health care memo allegedly circulated by Democrats that Dems say is a “hoax” was pushed to some reporters by the GOP leadership before its authenticity was verified or disproven, an email chain sent my way shows.

But it’s unclear as of yet what the source of the memo is or that it’s definitely a hoax.

The memo, first reported by Politico and Big Government and pushed hard by Drudge, allegedly shows the Dem leadership telling rank and file Dems to stay hush-hush about a scheme for a “doc fix” later this year that, in essence, would make the bill’s deficit-reduction meaningless.

After Dems alleged to TPM that the memo is fake, Politico pulled down the story.

The memo, however, was pushed to some reporters by the office of GOP leader John Boehner. A source forwards an email sent at 12:58 PM by Boehner spokesman Michael Steel to The Daily Caller’s Jon Ward and other reporters, with the original memo attached.

“Folks — Please read the attached draft memo addressed to `Democratic Health and Communications Staff,’ Steel wrote. “It makes it clear that Democrats want to avoid discussing issues related to the CBO score of their latest government takeover legislation because their claims don’t pass the straight face test.”

<SNIP>

http://theplumline.whorunsgov.com/health-care/gop-leadership-pushed-memo-dems-say-is-hoax/

[emulatorloo]

15. Fascinating. Would love to see some investigative reporting on this. n/t

[tanyev]

17. Don't hold your breath waiting for it.

:(

[bigdarryl]

16. this just might blowup in there faces waivering Dem's might say

enough is enough and vote yes

[DevonRex]

18. And half of DU will believe it and repeat it to anyone who will listen. nt

[Dappleganger]

19. Rove tactics FTW! nt