Pittsburgh Police Commander says charges will be filed involving a volunteer for the McCain campaign who reported being robbed and attacked near a bank ATM in Bloomfield after confessing to making up the story. More details to follow.

More of the story from AP:
A McCain campaign volunteer who reported that a tall black man robbed her and then cut a "B" onto her cheek after seeing a McCain bumper sticker on her car has been given a polygraph test because of "inconsistencies" in her story, police said.

Among other things, police said photos and bank card information from an automated teller machine where the college student claimed she was robbed do not show her using the machine at the time, police said.

Pittsburgh police spokeswoman Diane Richard wouldn't release the polygraph results, but said, "we're still looking at some inconsistencies" in the woman's story.

Police said the student, Ashley Todd, of College Station, Texas, who is white, told them she was attacked by a 6-foot-4 black man Wednesday night.

Richard said police have not ruled out that the woman was attacked as she claimed, and said inconsistencies deal primarily with how she described the attack.

"We're just trying to judge the validity of some of the information we received from her," Richard said. "We understand when you are under duress that sometimes you can't recollect things. We're just looking at all the angles."

Among the differences in her accounts are whether she lost consciousness, whether she remembers handing over money and how the man assaulted her, police said.

Story continues below  

The report of the attack Thursday prompted the Republican presidential candidate and his running mate, Sarah Palin, to call Todd expressing their concern. Barack Obama's campaign also issued a statement wishing Todd well and hoping the attacker would be swiftly brought to justice.

The Associated Press could not immediately locate Todd or her family.

Ethan Eilon, executive director of the College Republican National Committee, told reporters that Todd worked in New York for several months before moving to Pennsylvania two weeks ago to continue working for the group.

Eilon declined to comment on the investigation Friday or to help The Associated Press contact Todd. In a follow-up e-mail, Eilon said, "We think this girl has endured enough and that this is going to be something for her and her family to work through."

Richard, the police spokeswoman, said police have pictures of the victim and her injuries, but are not releasing them. She said they are "more or less" consistent with a picture that has surfaced on the Internet that show a woman with a black eye and a red backward "B" that looks like a welt or scrape on her right cheek.

"It's not like her cheek was carved out," Richard said. "It's more like a scrape or a scratch."

In her initial account, Richard said, Todd attempted to use the ATM when the man approached her from behind, put a knife with a 4- to 5-inch blade to her throat and demanded money. She told police she handed the assailant $60 and walked away.

Todd told investigators that she suspected the man then noticed a John McCain sticker on her car, became angry and punched her in the back of the head, knocking her to the ground and telling her "you are going to be a Barack supporter," police said in a statement.

She said he continued to punch and kick her while threatening "to teach her a lesson for being a McCain supporter," police said. She said he then sat on her chest, pinned her hands down with his knees and scratched a backward letter "B" into her face using what she believed to be a dull knife.

The woman told police she didn't seek medical attention, but instead went to a friend's apartment nearby and called police about 45 minutes later.

Police have reinterviewed Todd at least once since her initial statement, Richard said.

In the subsequent discussions with investigators, according to the police statement, Todd said she was accosted as she approached the bank and fled her attacker, fell to the ground and the assailant began beating and fondling her.

Police Cmdr. Larry Ross, who is in charge of the police precinct where the attack was first reported, said Todd's story has continued to change.

"I guess she elaborated more when she went down to the bureau headquarters. She added other things to it that we didn't have at first, that she didn't tell the initial officer," Ross said.

So much for the, "Obama has Money problems," story again.  Senator Obama's Campaign has broken all political fundraising records, bringing in an estimated $66 Million Dollars for the month of August, positioning Senator Obama to be very competitive in the last two months of this race.

But make no mistake about it, the Senator will need all of our help with the GOTV (Get Out The Vote) Campaign, and will need millions more to continue to bring his message of change to the White House.

I know some of you have been all up in a frenzy about the polls but I suggest we stop complaining and get out humps on the street and start going door to door to convass for an Obama Victory in November, NOT for Obama, but for our future and for our children.

While the media is fascinated with lipstick and pitbulls, let not forget that global warming, education, healthcare, 2 Wars, and a broke economy is all at stake, all made worse under Republican rule.      

My jaw is still dropping with this one, I'm actually speechless right now...

I was really in shock that ABCNews would expose the GOP like this, but this is absolutely a must see for everyone, since the MSM is feeling sorry for the Republican Party and trying to help them look compassionate since their Convention is a dud thus far...This also speaks to a bigger narrative, that John McCain is a product, in the pocket, and at the mercy of Lobbyist, that are running our country into the gutter.

Compassionate Conservative My A$$!

I'm calling on all progressives to skip the pundits and the BS on CNN, FOX and MSNBC and watch the Demoncratic National COnvention on CSPAN...

I'm calling on all progressives to skip the pundits and the BS on CNN, FOX and MSNBC and watch the Demoncratic National COnvention on CSPAN...

Is it me or does it seem that the pundits on MSNBC and CNN are on overload with the whole Obama/Clinton drama?  It seems as if these people have no other storyline, it's like hearing a broken record...well, I have a solution..TURN IT OFF!!! Go to CSPAN, and keep it there, boycott FOX, MSNBC, and CNN.  Let them know we don't wanna hear it no more, stop trying to divide us Democrats and for Christ sake get a new storyline.  

Remember these are the same people that gave Bush a free pass on Iraq, Katrina, the Economy, and every other thing that he's touched and turned to shit, these same so called political experts who think it's more interesting to have a story about divide and conquer politics, then the politics that should bring us together.

Let them know we're not gonna take it anymore, it's a new day and time, and we demand more from the media and if the media continues to turn its back on us, we will do the same in return.

CSPAN CSPAN CSPAN!!!!!!!!!!!!

By Nico Pitney and Sam Stein

One of Sen. Hillary Clinton's top financial supporters offered $1 million to the Young Democrats of America during a phone conversation in which he also pressed for the organization's two uncommitted superdelegates to endorse the New York Democrat, a high-ranking official with YDA told The Huffington Post.

Haim Saban, the billionaire entertainment magnate and longtime Clinton supporter, denied the allegation. But four independent sources said that just before the North Carolina and Indiana primaries, Saban called YDA President David Hardt and offered what was perceived as a lucrative proposal: $1 million would be made available for the group if Hardt and the organization's other uncommitted superdelegate backed Clinton.

Contacted about the report, Saban, initially very friendly, became curt. "Not true," he said, "it's simply not true." He declined to elaborate. Did he talk to the YDA superdelegate? "I talk to many, many superdelegates. Some I don't even remember their names." Did he propose any financial transaction? "I have never offered them or anybody any money" in exchange for support or a vote, he said. The Clinton campaign did not return a request for comment.

Hillary's "white Americans" comment causing a quick firestorm (Updated x3)
by davidkc

In another bad sign for Hillary Clinton's sinking campaign, the blogosphere is all over her racially divisive comments to USA Today about her white support, and the verdict is not good.  The broad consensus is that Hillary's comments are clearly deepening rifts in the Democratic party and hurting the party's chances in the fall.  Are you listening superdelegates?

Kate Phillips at the New York Times Caucus blog (under the headline "Hillary Touts White Support") notes that Hillary's latest race-baiting comments come on the heels of the tense exchange between Donna Brazile and Paul Begala on Tuesday night:  

As if the divisions between race and gender in the Democratic Party hadn't been further exposed through Tuesday night's exit polls -- and by a very heated exchange on CNN between high-profile Dems Donna Brazile and Paul Begala, Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton's interview with USA Today on Wednesday is further mining those tense depths.
Ben Smith at Politico is suspicious of the timing of Hillary's "white Americans" comment, and surprised by how upfront Hillary is becoming with her racially divisive ways:

Now, the press has talked about the race in these terms constantly, so I won't feign shock. But it's a bit strange to hear it so bluntly from the candidate's mouth, and probably not a great way to endear herself to African-American voters.

And it's also noteworthy that the blunt talk on appealing to whites surfaces the day after the last round of primaries in which there's a substantial number of black voters.
Translation: Hillary's comments were carefully orchestrated.

And Chuck Todd over at MSNBC First Read clearly understands the problem that Hillary is causing for the Democratic party, and shares some stern words for Hillary from Chris Dodd:

It's comments like that one that might drive more supers toward Obama pretty quickly. Why?  Because they know the math, but they don't want her to spend three weeks making a case that Obama can't win. It will only weaken him. Here's what Obama backer Chris Dodd said yesterday, per NBC's Ken Strickland. "You're going to be asking a bunch of people [in West Virginia] to vote against somebody who's likely to be your nominee a few weeks later? And turn around and ask the very same people a few weeks later to reverse themselves and now vote for [Obama] on election day?"
Right on Senator Dodd.

Superdelegates, I have a question for you.  If you are truly concerned about party unity, then are you comfortable with headlines like "Hillary Boasts of White Voter Support" and "Clinton's 'white Americans'" coming right after the party's presidential nominee has been decided?  If you aren't concerned, then God help the Democratic party.

UPDATE:

On a related note, I'd like to give a well-deserved shout-out to Rachel Maddow.  On MSNBC's post-election coverage on Tuesday night, all the male commentators were gushing, some with their eyes welling up, over Hillary's election night speech, calling it "whistful" and saying she was clearly going to end her campaign with "grace" and "dignity." But Maddow said she heard something completely different in Hillary's speech, and predicted that Clinton would continue her scorched-earth strategy. Maddow was roundly pooh-poohed by all the commentators, including KO, but it turns out, sadly, that she was spot on.  It is beyond too late for Hillary to end her campaign with grace and dignity.  "Sad" and "pathetic" is the best she can hope for now.

Here's a link to Rachel's prophetic comments, which are about 5 minutes into the clip. But it's worth hearing the other comments that precede hers.

UPDATE 2:

More reactions to Hillary's latest race-baiting comments:

From Jack and Jill Politics, a leading African American political blog:

Apparently not satisfied with her plummeting approval ratings among black voters, Hillary Clinton decided to remind us again that our votes don't actually count...

This kind of comment is less a description than an agitator, it's meant to give white voters the impression that they would be "disenfranchised" by an Obama win. It's a not so subtle effort to evoke racial resentment over Obama's success...

That's what the "elitist" charge has always been about, appealing to the sentiment that "this black guy thinks he's better than you." It will be the same against the Republicans. The difference is that they now have Democrat saying the same things to further legitimize this line of "argument".
And from Mike Barnicle over at Huffington Post:

Now, faced with a mathematical mountain climb that even Stephen Hawking could not ascend, the Clintons -- and it is indeed both of them -- are just about to paste a bumper sticker on the rear of the collapsing vehicle that carries her campaign. It reads: VOTE WHITE.

That's the underlying message propping up a failed candidate. Check it out, you superdelegates: the buttoned down black guy is having trouble with blue collar white guys so cast your vote with the white chick who has transformed herself into an arm-wrestling, shot and a beer, kitchen table advocate for the working class and now it's on to West Virginia and Kentucky where she'll prove it.

So, after all the years they have been with us, after all the triumph and tastelessness, the accomplishments and embarrassments, we're about to watch them act out an updated, mixed gender re-make of Thelma and Louise with Bill behind the wheel, the two of them sharing a knowing look, a wink, in the front seat as they take the Democrat (sic) party right off the cliff, the whole thing crashing and burning in a racial divide both he and she sought to heal all those years ago in Little Rock and then Washington.
Barnicle ends by noting that Hillary is "on the edge of writing a truly ugly chapter for all to see." Mike, she's not on the edge of writing that chapter. The chapter has been written and is at the publisher.

UPDATE 3:

Pam Spaulding over at Pam's House Blend points out how Hillary's message was very carefully crafted, honed and targeted, and that Hillary has clearly decided to throw all subtlety out the window in her latest attempts to use race and race-baiting as a political tool -- a sure sign of the desperate last throes of her campaign: "White dog whistles no more":

You see the problem and beauty of Senator Clinton's statement is that it boldly embraces the undiscussed fear in this Reagan Democrat demographic, the people who do consider race a major factor -- concern that white privilege is being threatened, that somehow Barack Obama as president would exact retribution against "hard working white Americans" for past or present institutionalized racism...

The frame is specific -- that's why Clinton referred to hard working white Americans. What happened to "blue collar Americans?" Oh wait, there are a lot of hard working black and brown blue collar/working class Americans, and many of them they voted for Obama, so she had to slice that demo down to the bottom line. Dog whistles no more.

Obama campaign office vandalized with racial slurs.
by Jack Dublin

This is absolutely disgusting.  

http://www.ireport.com

"Around 2:00 a.m. this monday morning, May 5, 2008, the Obama Vincennes campaign office, located on 329 Main Street, was vandalized. One large window was smashed and several other windows spray painted with racial comments. No one was hurt. Contact Vincennes City police for more information."

Barack Obama has overcome so much during this campaign and he has brought so many people of different backgrounds together for a single purpose.  While his candidacy has shown how far our country has come, it also shows just how far we have to go.

I remember seeing where Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., said that he had never seen more violent racism than in the northern states of the U. S.  I believe he said it during his march through Cicero, Illinois, in 1966.