Echoes of McCarthy

Ron Fournier: “In a reminder of how the GOP overreached during the Clinton-era sex scandal, Issa doesn’t seem capable of letting damning facts speak for themselves. … Note what Issa is doing. He does it all the time–start an unsubstantiated allegation with an absolute declaration (‘when in fact’) and follow it with weasel words (‘the indication is’). This smear-and-caveat technique allows him to ruin reputations without being called a liar. Issa is a demagogue with plausible deniability.”

“Do you hear history’s echo? Sen. Joe McCarthy paved his way to infamy with 205 names… He might also want to realize that the president is swamped in self-inflicted controversies that raise questions of West
Wing competence, if not corruption. We will soon know whether the IRS’s targeting involved officials at the White House or President Obama’s reelection campaign. The flames don’t need Issa’s toxic fuel.”