The political strategy of blaming the Dems for the Foley leak

Reality-Based Educator brought up the Republican effort to paint the Foley leak as coming from the Dems. So far, this effort is really having no resonance anywhere but Limbaugh and such feeding the base, but I think this effort has a secondary goal of serving as a Dem trap.

The Republicans would benefit tremendously if the could lure the Dems into some sort of debate over the politics of Foley. If they could get just one Democrat on record arguing with them about any secondary issue (even if they lost,) suddenly this entire firestorm takes on a partisan element and begins to lose its steam.

As we learned during the Swiftboating, the argument is more important that the truth. The argument, as displayed on the talking head shows and editorial pages, creates the impression that there are two valid sides whether there are or not.

Thankfully, the Dems aren't playing. Besides Pelosi's very careful outrage about protecting the children, have you seen many House or Senate Dems on TV discussing this? No, thus far, they see the trap.

(Just for backing, this story is decidedly not a Dem leak. "The source ... says the documents came to him from a House GOP aide. That aide has been a registered Republican since becoming eligible to vote.")