On June 29 and July 2, 2012, the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee issued statements suggesting that billionaire casino magnate Sheldon Adelson donated to Republican causes using money earned from involvement in a Chinese prostitution ring. A lawyer acting on Adelson’s behalf wrote to the DCCC press secretary on July 17, threatening a lawsuit if the DCCC did not issue a retraction. You can read the letter in its entirety here.
Today, the DCCC officially retracted its earlier statements:
In press statements issued on June 29 and July 2, 2012, the DCCC made unsubstantiated allegations that attacked Sheldon Adelson, a supporter of the opposing party. This was wrong. The statements were untrue and unfair and we retract them. The DCCC extends its sincere apology to Mr. Adelson and his family for any injury we have caused.
Additionally, any references to Adelson and profits from prostitution have been scrubbed from the DCCC website. As far as Twitter goes, however, the DCCC has remained silent. This is its most recent tweet:
Please retweet – Get your FREE I Love Obamacare sticker here —> http://t.co/uuK9EJEn
— DCCC (@dccc) August 2, 2012
That was well over three hours ago.
The DCCC is taking major heat for its stunts, and rightfully so:
Adelson: 1; Dem Party: 0. @DCCC says its "unsubstantiated allegations" were "wrong. The statements were untrue & unfair & we retract them."
— Kenneth P. Vogel (@kenvogel) August 2, 2012
Dem mea culpa week. 1st Dan Pfeiffer apologizes to Charles Krauthammer. Now @DCCC "extends its sincere apology to Mr. Adelson."
— Kenneth P. Vogel (@kenvogel) August 2, 2012
@SMjaniczek she really thinks it's sufficient that the DCCC apologized for seriously slandering a prominent public figure. @EdiblyOrganic
— Sister Toldjah ツ (@sistertoldjah) August 2, 2012
So the @dccc retracted its slander of Sheldon Adelson.
When do they retract & apologize for all the other class warfare horse-shit?
— Remulak MoxArgon (@moxargon) August 2, 2012
The DCCC, DNC, @DavidAxelrod et al stoop to new lows each and every day. It would be funny if it weren't so damaging to public discourse.
— Sheryl (@sav01) August 2, 2012
@wbconservative Major mistake on the DCCC. Adelson is not a public figure, and obviously, it was a slander comments from them.
— Carmen G Pastor (@cgpb) August 2, 2012
Wow. When was the last time a committee issued a retraction like this one from the @dccc?
— Shira T. Center (@shiracenter) August 2, 2012
@shiratoeplitz Never. Because no committee's ever gone so far beyond bounds of professional & human decency as @dccc went w/ Sheldon Adelson
— NY for Mitt (@NY4Mitt) August 2, 2012
It took DCCC month+ to issue retraction, hope Sheldon Adelson files libel/slander lawsuit & takes them 2 the cleaners http://t.co/tsNk7uvt
— NY for Mitt (@NY4Mitt) August 2, 2012
Love means you never have to say you're sorry. Both White House & DCCC issue apologies this week to conservatives for some way uncool stuff
— SalenaZito (@SalenaZitoTrib) August 2, 2012
The DCCC just realized its source was Harry Reid MT @sistertoldjah Democrat liars admit they were liars: DCCC apologize to Sheldon Adelso
— David Jack Smith (@davidjacksmith) August 2, 2012
Heh.
So if the DCCC can retract its claims against Sheldon Adelson, does that mean Reid's retraction on Mitt is coming soon? #twelfthofnever
— Jon Ralston (@RalstonReports) August 2, 2012
We’re not holding our breath.
The Democrat Credo: Never let facts get in the way of a good character assassination.
