Monday, August 20, 2012

Hypocrite Group Attacking Obama Includes Local Scoot Taylor

While I typically find it difficult to support any GOP candidate nowadays sense they all seem to drink from the same laced Kool-Aid.  But my impression of Scott Taylor (pictured at right), who lost the GOP 2nd Congressional District nomination in 2010 to extreme Christianist Scott Rigell (Rigell was endorsed by Lou Sheldon, head of the hate group, Traditional Values Coalition), was that perhaps Taylor was different.  Apparently, I was wrong.  Very wrong.  Several news outlets have reported that Taylor has joined with others - while claiming to be non-partisan, of course - who are out to slime Barack Obama and accuse him of leaking classified information.   There's one problem with the gambit based on a story in the Los Angeles Times: the group involves those who are leakers themselves.  In my opinion, Taylor is shamelessly seeking to endear himself with the most reality untethered elements of the Virginia GOP for his next run for office.  Don't hold your breath for the Virginian Pilot to report on this.  Here are highlights from the LA Times:

They are members of a new nonprofit group called Special Operations OPSEC Education Fund. Known as OPSEC, military shorthand for operational security, the group says it has raised about $1 million for TV ads and a short film called “Dishonorable Disclosures,” which criticizes the Obama administration for alleged national security leaks.  The organizers say they don’t intend to release a list of their donors or their members. Neither is required by law.

“It’s time for President Obama and other administration officials to stop jeopardizing national security operations for political gain,” said Fred Rustmann, an OPSEC member, who worked at the CIA for 24 years before he retired in 1990.

Rustmann and two other key members of the group, all self-described Republicans, have a history of talking openly to the media about national security, a review of articles and transcripts shows.
Rustmann appeared on Fox News’ “Hannity and Colmes” in 2005 to discuss Valerie Plame Wilson, a covert CIA operations officer who was outed in July 2003 by members of the George W. Bush administration.  A federal jury convicted I. Lewis “Scooter” Libby, who was chief of staff for Vice President Dick Cheney, of four felony counts for his role in the crime.

Scott Taylor, chairman of OPSEC, is a former Navy SEAL. An unsuccessful Republican candidate for Congress in Virginia in 2010, he sat down with NBC News last summer for a documentary titled “Secrets of Seal Team Six.” The film said the military had urged former SEALs not to talk.

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