yeah maybe this will happen:

she will get a lawyer. she wont take the polygraph, instead she'll check herself in to one of those private mental hospitals.

in this way she wont have to do anything at all, her current story just stands unresolved until after the election where as you said, it'll be tied up quietly.

It will only be tied up quietly if WE allow it to be QUIET. We need to press for the truth and get it out because there are so many people who cannot distinguish between opinion and fact/news, and will only remember the beginning of the story, not the unraveling.

It is VERY important that this hoax receives as much or more publicity than the initial story (which went out to the world via AP/CNN, reported as fact...sloppy rush journalism, but oh, well). It has to be emphatically shown up.

It will only be tied up quietly if WE allow it to be QUIET. We need to press for the truth and get it out because there are so many people who cannot distinguish between opinion and fact/news, and will only remember the beginning of the story, not the unraveling.

It is VERY important that this hoax receives as much or more publicity than the initial story (which went out to the world via AP/CNN, reported as fact...sloppy rush journalism, but oh, well). It has to be emphatically shown up.

!XAOH

If you go over to Fark.com in the Politics section there's a thread about this with some interesting thoughts about why this is probably a hoax.

For instance her posts to Twitter are recorded as happening at about the same time as the attack. The area where the attack purportedly took place was a busy with people at the time. She claims a 5" blade was looks like a light cut with an exacto blade at best. Why would someone carve an upside down "B" for Barack, rather than an "O" for Obama? Would someone who wanted to send a message about McCain carve a "J" for John?

If you hold someone in a headlock with your right arm, and you use your left to carve a "B" on their right cheek, it will look correct to you, but will look backwards to the victim.

Something to consider.

Aha -- the backwards B really is backwards and not upside down, unless the graphic has been flipped:

http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/08298/922489-53.stm

"Ms. Todd told police during at least five hours of questioning last night that her attacker said to her, "You are going to be a Barack supporter." She told police the man then sat on her chest, pinning both her hands down with his knees and used what she believed was a dull knife with a roughly 5-inch blade to carve the B."

Emphasis added by me.

The article also mentions she checked herself into an "unknown hospital". Part of me says if she checked herself into a hospital it lends credence to her story. But then...why not name the hospital?

Aha -- the backwards B really is backwards and not upside down, unless the graphic has been flipped:

http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/08298/922489-53.stm

"Ms. Todd told police during at least five hours of questioning last night that her attacker said to her, "You are going to be a Barack supporter." She told police the man then sat on her chest, pinning both her hands down with his knees and used what she believed was a dull knife with a roughly 5-inch blade to carve the B."

Emphasis added by me.

The article also mentions she checked herself into an "unknown hospital". Part of me says if she checked herself into a hospital it lends credence to her story. But then...why not name the hospital?

If someone carved the B into their own skin using a mirror wouldn't it come out backwards? I'm just sayin'

As I heard it, her friends have commented that she volunteered to take a polygraph and you didn't quite report it correctly. She told police she wasn't sure of the location because she wasn't sure where she was. She only knew there was a green sign above the ATM. She led police back to the location she believed to be the scene of the crime.

AM I THE ONLY ONE WHO CAN CLEARLY SEE THIS DUMB CHILD LOOKED IN THE MIRROR AND DID THIS TO HERSELF. THE F*#king "B" IS CARVED BACKWARDS. ROTFLMAO... SOME PEOPLE ARE DUMB. NO WONDER MCCAIN CANT WIN WHEN HIS FOLLOWERS AND STAFFERS ARE SO DAMN STUPID. HOW DONT YOU KNOW WHAT ATM YOU WERE HEADED TO, WHEN YOU LEFT WHERE YOU WERE COMING FROM? THAT MAY HAVE GOTTEN A LITTLE COMPLICATED FOR THE SLOW. LOL

I'm a co-founder of AntiPolygraph.org, a non-profit, public interest website dedicated to exposing and ending waste, fraud, and abuse associated with the use of lie detectors.

While I share your skepticism regarding Ashley Todd's claims, it is important to bear in mind that polygraph results are evidence of nothing. Polygraphy has no scientific basis, and is inherently biased against the truthful. At the same time, the procedure is easily manipulated through the use of simple countermeasures.

Whether or not Todd is telling the truth, but perhaps especially if she is, she would be wise to refuse the polygraph. It's clear that police doubt her story, and her "failing" may be foreordained, with the polygraph serving much as the legendary colander attached to a photocopier:

https://antipolygraph.org/cgi-bin/forums/YaBB.pl?num=1224835923

Whether Todd passes, fails, or wisely refuses the polygraph, it's simply not a sound basis for forming opinions regarding her credibility.

Of course she's lying.

The fact that she states on her profile:

"Lying is the most fun a girl can have" say's a whole lot about her.

It really does (no getting around it)

...

Just another stupid college student who 'whored' herself as supposed intellect in a trendy election cycle.

She really just took it to a whole new level though.

This is just the a taste of things to come under an Obama administration. We Libertarians have experienced this thuggery from the Left for years now, and now the Republicans are getting a taste of it, as well.

Democrat blockers stalked us, and surrounded us in our efforts to petition for property rights, and to end affirmative action in States like Missouri, Montana, and most recently Arizona.

Even more recently Ralph Nader/ACORN thugs, blocked our petitioners for Libertarian Party ballot access in Ohio, New Hampshire and Connecticut.

Our Republican friends didn't lift a finger to help us out. Maybe as a result of this incident, and other violent incidents nationwide in recent weeks against Republican McCain supporters, they'll finally wake up: The Democrats and Leftists will use any means at their disposal, including brutal violence, to stop the supporters of Liberty.

I can't say I'm happy about this attack on this young Republican. But there is a silver lining: Finally it may wake the Republicans up, so they'll stop viewing Democrats as just "friendly advesaries."

The funny thing is that it looks like the picture that everyone is using she took by taking a picture of herself in the mirror and was heavily made-up (as in had on too much cosmetics) at the time she took it.

Here is another, however I don't know the exact source sorry guys.

http://www.ptgustan.com/oct08/todd1.jpg

But it actually looks like you'd expect a knife wound to: a bit deeper, not "shiny" or "reddish"

Here's a hint Ashley: When taking photos to document a crime
1.) Don't wait til the next day (as it looks less serious)
2.) And for the love of God don't slather yourself in makeup beforehand....it kinda obscures your injuries

Jonsey:

The picture actually didn't look any different to me that the one most-displayed -- except that the image had been flipped. The "B" is right-way around.

I'm anxious to hear what the police have to say about this.

If the picture is flipped, then the B goes to the left side of her face (like Jonsey showed). The officer said it was on the right side of her face. I'm still calling BS. Another media source claimed he pinned her arms to her chest with his knees, so that implies he did it facing her. Her twitter clearly said she was looking for a Bank of America, but decided to go to a Citizens Bank instead?

I just wanted to point out that her Myspace says that she is a political science major, thus her interest in politics.

the "B" even backwards, looks perfect...during a struggle I doubt very seriously that the carving would be that straight...perfectly straight line and two curves...this is strange...the 'black' eye looks enhanced with makeup...maybe she's telling the truth...also the fact that the criminal would stick around to beat her...as she's 'walking' (not running and screaming as I would have been) back to her car...something seems fishy.

Please look at the eye - notice that it is not at all blood shot & is not swollen - it would be impossible to receive enough trauma to cause the discoloration without swelling & a bloodshot eye. The "B" is not credible - not so much because of the directionality - but because it was suposed to have been made during a struggle and with a sharp knife - yet - no portion of this 'scratched' B is deep enough to be called a "CUT" - not plausible!
I will emphatically state that if someone did this to her - they should be profoundly punished.
BUT - if she faked this - and then some innocent 6'4" 200lb black guy is hauled in and put through prosecution - and she goes along with it because she just can't back out of her story - that would be criminal!

Ah yes, College Station. Home to Texas A&M, virtual 100% lockstep conformity to Republicanism, and people like this:

http://en.wikinews.org/wiki/George_Deutsch_resigns_NASA_post_after_Texas_A&M_refutes_his_resume

Has anyone noticed that the twitter entries about her "looking for ATMs", being in the "wrong" part of Pittsburgh, and having a "rough night" are all from midnight on the night she was allegedly attacked. If she was attacked around 9 pm on Wednesday night, then... Well?

the B on her face is backwards...exactly what would happen if you were painting a B on your Face in the Mirror and forgot about needing to reverse it...like on the front of an ambulance in your rearview mirror....try it!

This story screamed fishy the moment I read it. There are a few inconsistencies that I haven't seen posted here yet... so here goes..

1. She left the scene of the crime and knew how to get to the friend's home quickly, explain her situation and return within 45 minutes to call the police. This does not gel with her statement to police that she was lost, confused as to her whereabouts and could not remember which ATM.

2. The backwards B could be explained by an alternate position by the attacker, yes, but the perfection of the initial does not support the story of being beaten viciously . I have been the victim of a violent crime/robbery and you do not patiently wait while someone is perfecting their artwork on your face.

3. The black eye is half real, the bruising is segmented once you look beneath the makeup ( also a theatre person here, highly experienced) which leads me to believe it was done deliberately in small segments through pinching or lighter repetitive self inflicted blows until a mild bruising could occur. It has been enhanced for the photograph, I assure you. The complete lack of broken blood vessels in the "white" of the eye is not only unlikely , but damn near impossible.

4. When a thug wants money they grab and go, they want their crack hit, NOT to stop and make a political statement. That in itself is just ridiculous. I was robbed at an ATM by a man that has done this repetitively... they run the moment they get the money... and that's simply how it is.

I feel sorry for this kid who obviously has some serious emotional issues she needs to sort out. I do hope she gets help. And heyyyyyyy I am from Texas too! Don't think we're all nuts...lol

T.

sorry, but she has "crazy" eyes to me

"that the person who perpetrated this crime is swiftly apprehended and brought to justice."

This does nothing to the Obama campaign. She is the one who perpetrated this crime, and she will be brought to justice. Then the Obama campaign can say that Republicans will stop at nothing to discredit the Obama campaign.

Of course, but the time this is resolved, Obama will be elected, and the "assault" moot.

Obama canvasser gets beaten by a McCain voter, a reporter gets knocked down by a Palinite at one of her rallies, racial slurs are thrown out daily by Republican campaigns across the nation... but the DEMOCRATS are the violent thugs?? Yeah. And I'm the tooth fairy.

Obama canvasser gets beaten by a McCain voter, a reporter gets knocked down by a Palinite at one of her rallies, racial slurs are thrown out daily by Republican campaigns across the nation... but the DEMOCRATS are the violent thugs?? Yeah. And I'm the tooth fairy.

All the authorities have to do is pull the records for her credit/debit/ATM card -- that will show exactly where the transaction transpired. As most ATM machines have a camera you should be able to see how Ms. Todd appears *before* she was attacked.

It doesn't matter if she cannot recall which ATM it was. Her bankcard will tell you exactly where she was.

The police did not take a photograph of her when they responded to the complaint. The photo was supplied by Ms. Todd.

This woman pisses me off. Why the hell would you do that to the McCain supporters??? Did she really think it would help us? NO! She made us look stupid! And I am also pissed because I actually believed it when I first read about it. God forbid I gave her the benefit of the doubt because I didn't think anyone would be stupid enough to fake something like that. And then to blame it on a "black male" is horrible. I just hope people realize this was one stupid woman and it does not reflect poorly on other McCain supporters.

I found her! She IS an AGGIE after all! http://www.flickr.com/photos/ronpaul2008/2312941086/in/pool-ronpaul2008

"that the person who perpetrated this crime is swiftly apprehended and brought to justice."

I don't think Obama need be embarassed for making that statement. It's just as appropriate even if her injuries are indeed, self-inflicted.

Of course she's lying. She's white, conservative AND a woman.

Among misogynists (most whom are liberal), those three characteristics are all they need to determine her guilt.

From reading most of the comments here, I get the ugly feeling that many here would love to batter her some more with clenched fists until she's spitting teeth.

That would teach her not to make Nobama and his cargo cult supporters look bad, right? Yeah, it's outrageous that Ashley Todd had the nerve to report the vicious assault she suffered. Even before all the facts are fully investigated and a final report is issued by the police, most of you are willing to condemn her and victimize the victim even further.

Country First.

Well, her Myspace page lists her body type as "average", so we already know shes a liar.

to reiterate, there was a hospital on the same street she was attacked.. how would they ever prove sexual assault if she didn't go to the hospital after she was attacked??

very curious...

> In fact, she made the Obama campaign look a foolish for buying her line of bull, as well, since the Democratic candidate's people issued a statement roundly condemning this crime and saying they hoped "that the person who perpetrated this crime is swiftly apprehended and brought to justice."

If you change which "crime" they're talking about after the fact, it won't look so bad...

to reiterate, there was a hospital on the same street she was attacked.. how would they ever prove sexual assault if she didn't go to the hospital after she was attacked??

very curious...

Okay I really don't want to be judgmental, but I do have a few questions regarding her story:

1. Since she doesn't "remember" the exact location of the ATM she used - why don't the police contact her home branch to get the location information. (my monthly bank statements always shows the address of the ATM machines I use)

2. If she had truly been pummeled - why aren't there more cuts, bruises or abrasions on her face? I would think someone who had recently been kicked & punched (in the face) would have more signs of trauma.

3. Why would she refuse immediate medical attention? I'm sure the knife used in the "attack" wasn't sterile. (can someone say tetanus shot) & now that she is alleging she had been sexually assaulted - why wouldn't she want to be checked for STD's?

4. & does it REALLY make sense that someone would hang around to mutilate & sexual assault someone on the street. Why not in her car or a side street?

He story really seems implausible. Only time will tell!!

One last thing - the white of her eyes look very clear. I've had a black eye before & my eye was swollen shut. Additionally the white of my eye was somewhat discolored for a day or two.

I live in the area. Basically impossible that someone could be assaulted, held to the ground, mutilated, etc. at that time of the evening, in that part of town, without being noticed. Liberty Ave in Bloomfield is the main thoroughfare of the neighborhhood with multiple restaurants and bars. No wonder the police are skeptical.

Remember that women in South Carolina that killed her sons and said that some black guy kidnapped them. Every Black man in the area even close to the alleged description was stopped and harassed by police. I wonder how many Black men are being harassed because of this woman’s insanity. By the way why was it a Black man? Maybe the Republics can make a Willie Horton out this.

i agree w/ T-rex.

i love the Bloomfield area! i always felt secure walking on Liberty Ave. alone at any part of the night in Bloomfield.

Please feel free to send your 'best wishes' to Ashley at rabbitdb8r@yahoo.com.

"Of course she's lying. She's white, conservative AND a woman.

Among misogynists (most whom are liberal), those three characteristics are all they need to determine her guilt."

Oh please. I'm "white, conservative and a woman" and I think she's lying.

Really, step back for a second and imagine you are her. For the rest of her life she is going to looked at as a fraud (unfortunately, it is quite obvious). Not just that, her mental stability is now in question. This is, honestly, saddening.

The B was administered starting at the top of her cheek. Her account of the attacker sitting on her chest rules out theories of the attacker being upside-down in relation to her position, or having her head in a headlock, etc.

Looking at the mark, you can see at the bottom of the curve (bottom of cheek) right before it meets the stem of the B, two lines. The vertical stem was drawn first. As the person drew the bottom curvature of the B, they noticed the line wasn't going to meet the stem. So they stopped, and retraced the line to get it to join at the base of the stem.

You can see a close-up, turned upside-down, at http://minx.cc/?post=276420 (where the blogger defends the upside-down vantage point theory, which I say is discredited).

Such carefully done, detailed work, in my opinion, rules out someone doing it in the heat of the moment, at risk of being discovered by passers-by, who then would carefully scratch a backwards letter. I can only conclude she did it herself, with a mind to make it as clear a B as possible.

This morning, I was angry at a local talk show host for implying that Ms. Todd was lying.
Then I got angry at all the other blogs saying the same thing.
Now I'm angry at Ms. Todd, because the more I read about it, the more it looks like the act of a delusional young woman. Maybe she'll pull a Crystal Mangum (she of the Duke Lacross case here) and claim she's not really sure what happened.
When people like this cry wolf, it not only hurts their credibility, but also that of other victims. In light of stories like this (and the Lacrosse case and Tawana Brawley), crime victims are reluctant to come forward for fear of being turned from victim to perpetrator.

Both the McCain and Obama campaigns were acting in good faith in their expressions of sympathy.

The last time she visited her page was on the 17th October. It prominently lists Ron Paul, not McCain, as "Hope for America." Why would a Texan go to Pittsburgh to "help" with a campaign she undermines on her own facebook page?

Two things that really tick me off about this is (1) I am a Pittsburgher, and this is really a great city. Too bad it got such a bad rap with this story. (2) I'm not a armchair criminalist, but when I first saw her picture I said to my husband "He punched her with his right hand (shiner on her right side), but carved her with his left (cutting on her right cheek) ... backwards?" It made no sense. The only other thing I want to say is I AM SO SICK OF DIVISIONIST POLITICS. I claim no "party" as my own. I AM AN AMERICAN. I **LOVE** MY COUNTRY. I want nothing but the best for it, no matter WHO is leading. Surely I'm not alone. I've listened to your people saying things like this is typical for Obama supporters. Then when the poor thing was proven to be a liar others were saying, this is typical for McCain supporters. GET OVER IT. Just be a damn American and work for the best for your country people, which is people on ALL SIDES OF THE AISLE, not just one. Oh yes, and I DO hope they get this poor thing the help she needs, but in my heart I hope they can use this as a hate crime because she's so damn stupid.

LOL...she carved a "B" on her face in from of a mirror and that why it showed up as backward.

Blame the black guy, typical. This country needs to get this race relation thing straight. A white women make up story and blaming black people. I am not black and I am pissed.

I can't say I'm happy about this attack on this young Republican. But there is a silver lining: Finally it may wake the Republicans up, so they'll stop viewing Democrats as just "friendly advesaries."

Well, you should wake up to the fact this attack is a complete lie.

http://kdka.com/local/attack.McCain.Bloomfield.2.847628.html

The weird thing is, right after the media announced she was lying, her account on Life in the Field (lifeinthefield.com) was taken down.

LOL, Lynette. It's the fault of both sides of the aisle? I'm so sick of these fake Lou Dobbs "independent" types doing this every time Republicans are caught doing something terrible. The, "other people do bad things too" defense isn't a good one.

LOL, Lynette. It's the fault of both sides of the aisle? I'm so sick of these fake Lou Dobbs "independent" types doing this every time Republicans are caught doing something terrible. The, "other people do bad things too" defense isn't a good one.

what a tangled web we weave....

Eric Dondero said:
This is just the a taste of things to come under an Obama administration. We Libertarians have experienced this thuggery from the Left for years now, and now the Republicans are getting a taste of it, as well.

Democrat blockers stalked us, and surrounded us in our efforts to petition for property rights, and to end affirmative action in States like Missouri, Montana, and most recently Arizona.

Even more recently Ralph Nader/ACORN thugs, blocked our petitioners for Libertarian Party ballot access in Ohio, New Hampshire and Connecticut.

Our Republican friends didn't lift a finger to help us out. Maybe as a result of this incident, and other violent incidents nationwide in recent weeks against Republican McCain supporters, they'll finally wake up: The Democrats and Leftists will use any means at their disposal, including brutal violence, to stop the supporters of Liberty.

I can't say I'm happy about this attack on this young Republican. But there is a silver lining: Finally it may wake the Republicans up, so they'll stop viewing Democrats as just "friendly advesaries."

---

wow, mccain has spread the politics of division and fear. kudos, mccain supporters were salivating over this. this man cannot win, people like you eric, cannot be the center of gravity in the world. go into the fringe, where your hate and fear cannot affect the world.

I wonder if it's possible that she's covering up real domestic violence committed by her boyfriend? The whole 'I don't remember' bit with concern to her black eye and the 'B' is either shame for being caught lying, shame for being a victim of her boyfriend's fist or shame for both. I she was beaten by her boyfriend, I'd give her a bit of sympathy, if not, I say carve a 'B' in her forehead.