Pirate's Cove

The Alabama GOP has written cBS’ Mike Pelley telling them they need to either put up or shut up in story hit piece they did Karl Rove and disgraced, and convicted, former Alabama governor Don Siegleman (Democrat) (via Gateway Pundit thru Blogs For Victory) Full letter below the jump

Dear Mr. Pelley,

Last Sunday, you aired a piece on 60 Minutes that I consider a broad, frontal and unfair attack on our Republican president, his one-time top advisor, Alabama’s Republican Governor and our party, in general. The report included an interview with a small town attorney, Dana Jill Simpson, who outrageously claimed that Karl Rove asked her to take explicit photos of Don Siegelman having improper extra-marital relations with “an aide” in 2001. Her interview with 60 Minutes was the first time her newest charge appeared, despite her having testified for several hours before a committee of the U.S. Congress, and was the first time she claimed having met with Mr. Rove.

Most importantly, neither Dana Jill Simpson, nor your story or your network provided one shred of evidence that her charges had any merit or kernel of truth.

In contrast, the Wednesday, February 27, edition of the Birmingham News printed an interview with Mr. Rove in which he vehemently denies Simpson’s charges and expresses deep frustration in 60 Minutes’ failure to obtain evidence of any relationship between them before airing such an explosive story. He further denies knowing Simpson, meeting or speaking with her or even having knowledge of the Siegelman prosecution beyond what he learned from traditional media coverage…

Given the serious nature of the charges, and the fact that 60 Minutes’ reputation as a reliable news source is once again at stake, I am asking that you publicly produce any evidence that was provided to you which substantiates Simpson’s claims…

If you are unable to publicly produce hard and convincing evidence that backs the outrageous charges you aired to millions of viewers across the nation, I ask that you publicly retract the story on your next broadcast. The most basic journalistic ethics would demand as much.

I find it difficult to believe that Karl Rove, in his first year of White House service in 2001 and dealing with the aftereffects of September 11, could find time to concentrate his attention on an Alabama governor’s race more than one year away. Even more difficult to believe is that Rove knew Simpson, would meet with her or send her on the absurd assignments that she claims. Only the most committed anti-Rove/Bush activist could swallow such a tale.

60 Minutes’ disdain for the Republican Party brought you embarrassment when you ran a bogus and fraudulent story in the fall of 2004 about President Bush and his National Guard record, and your organization ultimately admitted to not having followed “basic journalistic principles”. I fear that unless you are able to provide the hard evidence requested, it is apparent that 60 Minutes did not learn anything from that embarrassing event in your history.

I eagerly await your reply.

Sincerely,

Rep. Mike Hubbard
Chairman, Alabama Republican Party

I have seen support for Siegleman floating around the Democratic Underground recently (sorry, not going to go through the archives), and the 60 Minutes smear helped them form the opinion that it was A-OK for Siegleman to do what he did. Funny little creatures, aren’t they?

On another note, it’s nice to see someone in the GOP grow some ‘nads and fight back for a change.