Return of the low-level staffer

Last week was a big one for accusations of using the UK plot for political gain. There was Cheney, Tony Snow and Lieberman claiming that terrorists were thrilled with Ned Lamont's primary win in Connecticut, renewed calls for support on the Iraqi war (which never had anything to do with terrorism), and even arguments that it proved the necessity of granting the administration the right to break laws with impunity. You can add 'fundraising tool' to the list.

Democrats assailed the Republicans Friday for e-mailing a fundraising appeal mentioning the war on terror hours after British authorities disclosed they had disrupted a plot to blow up aircraft headed to the United States.

"In the middle of a war on terror, we need to remain focused on furthering Republican ideas more than ever before," former New York City mayor Rudy Giuliani said in a letter that asked for donations to the Republican National Committee.

The RNC blamed a low-level staffer for distributing the fundraising appeal, which the party said had been scheduled for release before news of the plot broke.

"Once the RNC learned of this error we ceased distribution of the e-mail," said Tracey Schmitt, a party spokeswoman.

Low-level staffers seem to have an extraordinary amount of authority in the Republican community. They can get Photoshopped campaign ads on TV, launch smear campaigns, and initiate fundraising drives-- all without having a single supervisor approve their work.