You know, I’ve been a trash talker on the Scott Jennings front for a number of years. But all day today I have been unable to find anywhere in the official report (Warning: External PDF Link) from the Office of the Special Counsel about the Bush White House that says Jennings is a criminal or that he acted criminally – contrary to what the Kentucky Democratic Party is saying behind the scenes to reporters like Roger Alford of the Associated Press.

Today the KDP pushed a press release all over the place (thank goodness angerbear Matt Erwin no longer includes me on the KDP press list) about the report.

One of the resources the KDP pushed to the press was this “independent” summary:

LINK TO INDEPENDENT SUMMARY OF SCOTT JENNING’S INVOLEMENT IN OCS REPORT – http://64.120.135.99/jennings_osc_summary.pdf

Unfortunately, that summary takes extreme poetic license with the facts contained within the report. And as far as being “independent”? It’s hosted on the KDP’s own web server:

And was created by the KDP itself:

Totally “independent,” right? Right. I’m sure the mainstream media will buy it, though.

But what’s most interesting to me is on page 15 of the report:

OSC analyzes whether the OPA Director, Deputy Director, Associate Directors, Surrogate Scheduler, White House liaisons, and other political appointees – the administration employees who took part in the briefings – violated any of the Hatch Act’s prohibitions by coordinating, presenting, or attending the briefings. OSC concludes that pursuant to § 7324(b), both the OPA Director and Deputy Director were exempt from the Act’s proscription against engaging in political activity while on duty or in a federal workplace.

See that? Exempt from the Hatch Act.

What’s also interesting is this bit from pages nine and ten of the report that KDP conveniently ignores:

Although OPA’s influence varied depending on the administration, its functions appear to have been nearly identical since the Carter administration.

What was that, again, about this being some Republican scheme? I’ve wanted nothing more than to tie this around Scott’s neck and have been quite public about it. But if the KDP has to resort to attacking staffers instead of David Williams, the actual candidate? Then Williams has already won the race.

This would maybe be a big deal if Scott Jennings were running for elected office instead of managing a political campaign. Daniel Logsdon is going to need to come up with something better than Jennings’ Bush White House stupidity if he wants to make an impact. And it would probably pay for him to make sure his organization isn’t putting out press releases that are so easily torn apart.

Oh, and just in case you needed proof that the Kentucky Democratic Party isn’t the Steve Beshear Party? This is proof.

UPDATE @ 4:54 P.M. Eastern — Scott Jennings just released an official statement.

On the OSC Report, here’s what he had to say:

I am extremely disappointed by the findings of the report. I executed my job duties according to the instructions given and in accordance with the rules proscribed by the White House Counsel’s Office, which offered plain, written advice that my position exempted me from the requirements of the Hatch Act. This advice is backed up by the report itself, which clearly states the position I held exempted me from the Hatch Act. The function of providing briefings to administration appointees was an approved exercise and a routine duty. I am proud of my service on the White House staff where I conducted myself in an honest and ethical manner.

I fully cooperated with this investigation and submitted to questioning three years ago. I told the absolute truth and make no apologies for doing the job I was given and for following the guidelines provided. We should bear in mind that the person who began this partisan witch hunt recently pled guilty to contempt of Congress and may be facing jail time. This entire matter was politically motivated from the outset, which is confirmed by the timing of the report, and it is fundamentally unfair to single out the activities of the Bush Administration, which acted no differently than any of its predecessors or its successor. The report clearly states that the Bush political office performed functions that were “nearly identical” to that of every White House political office dating to its creation during the Carter Administration.

The unfortunate outcome of this process is that when people use the levers of government to persecute their political opponents it has a tremendous chilling effect and discourages honest, capable individuals from pursuing public service.

And on the Kentucky Democratic Party:

Give me a break. Your Governor has no agenda. He has no ideas. He has no plan. He has offered no hope to the people of Kentucky who are desperate for jobs and opportunity. I will debate your feckless, spineless, and otherwise useless Chairman at any time and in any place about the accomplishments and agenda of Steve Beshear. This debate will take approximately 10 seconds, as Mr. Hogsdon will have nothing to offer. The race this November is about one thing: electing a Governor who isn’t afraid to tackle tough problems like tax reform or fixing our pension system. Governor Beshear has failed and the people of Kentucky will replace him in November with someone who is prepared to lead. That candidate is David Williams.

It’s a cold day in hell when I am agreeing with a BUSH OFFICIAL. But. Uh. Tough to disagree with him when it comes to the governor and the KDP.