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Go Home The Gop's Odd Epidemic Of Impersonation

SEPTEMBER 25, 2008

The Gop's Odd Epidemic Of Impersonation

BY EVE FAIRBANKS

Evidently something went dreadfully wrong at this year's GOP Dirty Oppo-Research 101 for Campaign Staffers Training Camp. A few days ago, doomed senatorial candidate Jim Gilmore had to suspend his Communications Director for using a fake name to sneak onto Mark Warner's press list. Now, this story emerges from one of this year's more competitive congressional races, the fight over Wyoming's at-large seat:

The press secretary for Republican U.S. House candidate Cynthia Lummis appears to have used a fake name and identified herself as a supporter while calling in to a news conference held by Democratic candidate Gary Trauner. The press secretary, Rachael Seidenschnur acknowledges calling in to Tuesday's news conference and asking a question regarding U.S. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi. ... [A]n audio recording shows the only caller to the news conference who asked about Pelosi identified herself as a Trauner supporter named "Sierra.''

--Eve Fairbanks

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6 comments

Maybe Fox News has desensitized Republicans in general to the notion of political operatives posing as reporters.

- rhubarbs

September 25, 2008 at 12:56pm

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This on the heels of the Ghost Writing campaign...

Sad.

- GSpinks

September 25, 2008 at 1:01pm

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GOP folks seem to think there's no problem with them being immoral or illegal.  The means justify the end in their little minds.  But then, Dems thought the same way after years of running our Government.  Something about egos and power and all that stuff, I guess.

- WaltB

September 25, 2008 at 1:55pm

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Couldn't they just hire some Mystery Shoppers or something?  You can find 'em on Craig's List for crying out loud.

- adaglas

September 25, 2008 at 2:00pm

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One thing I don't get -- alright, one of many things -- is that press conferences are by their nature public, if I've understood the concept.  Maybe you don't get into the room if you don't have press pass or something but I would imagine that in the Gilmore case it's not exactly difficult to get on a candidate's press release list.  Admittedly, if it's a direct Q&A situation maybe the GOP operatives think that they might be cornered or asked a question back or something similar if they identified themselves, but it still seems to to making a lot of cover ops nonsense about an open process.

- ironyroad

September 25, 2008 at 5:18pm

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"Sierra"? This is almost kinky. Who is this woman, again? Does she have an online persona, or maybe several?

- teplukhin2you

September 25, 2008 at 6:57pm

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