RedState Siren: "We Know Who Did It"

Hmmm...

In related news, the Free Times -- a small local SC rag -- is claiming that their transcript of a phone interview with Will Folks proves he didn't want to discuss the matter, and we should therefore believe him when he says he began braggin' and attention-whorin' only as a defensive action full of integrity and wholesomeness.

Um, two problems: Folks was the one who put this out there and was talking it up himself a year ago. So I don't believe that he didn't want to talk about it. I believe he wanted to create interest and mystery before grabbing some spotlight.

Further, if you read this, he's constantly laughing at questions, loving the attention. His denials aren't denials. He doesn't deny it. He pretty much is saying "Yes, it's true, but I'm not willing to give you the story." At no point does he attempt anything that looks like a convincing denial.

He's just stoking interest in his claims.

For example:

CH: What would you say?

[Talk about Folks’ contract work for Haley’s House re-election campaign, taxes, disclosures, political rumors]

WF: Are you writing a story?

CH: I don’t know yet, man. I haven’t decided. That’s why I called you. You’re a trustworthy guy. You know about South Carolina politics. You’re like, the badass blogger of South Carolina politics. You know this story. Help me out. Should I write this story?

WF: [laughs] I don’t know what story you’re talking about.

CH: You haven’t heard about anybody writing a story tonight?

[Talk about booze, political rumors]

WF: If you think you’ve got a specific question you want to ask me, why don’t you ask it, man? Don’t be a pussy, just ask a f#!king question.

CH: Did you have an affair with Nikki Haley?

WF: Did I?

CH: Yeah.

WF: I’m not going to comment on anything like that, man.

CH: Why not?

WF: I’m not going to comment on anything like that. Do you have proof that I did?

CH: Honestly, I guess it depends on how you define proof.

WF: [laughs] Is this like the “what the meaning of the word ‘is’ is?”

CH: Do you think there is proof?

WF: Proof of what?

CH: That Nikki Haley had an extramarital affair and you were involved?

WF: [laughs] That’s the weirdest phrased interrogative I believe I’ve ever heard in my life. I mean, any questions about Nikki Haley you should call Nikki Haley’s campaign. I did work for Nikki but I don’t work for her now.

CH: You’re the one I’m asking. I have a feeling there’s a possibility that you slept with her.

WF: Did you?

CH: Oh, no, I haven’t actually. I definitely wouldn’t say that I haven’t thought about, you know, how I’d feel about something like that. I’d be humbled. But, how about yourself? Have you had an affair with Nikki Haley?

WF: [laughs] Man, I’m not going to dignify that kind of …

CH: OK, to be more specific, did you ever tell anybody you had an affair with Nikki Haley?

WF: I’m not going to dignify that with a response.

CH: Did you have an affair with Nikki Haley?

WF: I don’t know what part of “I ain’t commenting on any of that” you don’t understand.

CH: Has anyone ever asked you that before?

WF: Man, I get asked everything, so …

CH: Would you say that you’re dodging the question right now?

WF: I’m not going to talk about something that …

CH: Would you say that you’re obfuscating? You can ask me a question, man, I’d answer it. Have I had an affair with Nikki Haley? No. Have you?

WF: I ain’t getting into that, man, I’m not dignifying that with a comment. Here’s the thing, man. I’m never going to comment on …

CH: Do you think this is a ridiculous question? Do you think this is silly? Am I wasting your time with this?

WF: You can print whatever you want; I mean I’m not worried about it …

CH: Is this out of left field?

WF: I don’t think it’s out of left field.

This isn't dodging; this is being coy, and deliberately so, telegraphing the fact you are being coy, more or less sitting there with a big shit-eating grin as he effectively communicates "Yeah it happened, aren't I big playah?"

How much more obvious can it be that this guy is exulting in his first six minutes of his 15 minutes of fame?

I wish I could find the video, but I can't. On The Office, Michael Scott hooked up with his boss, Jan Levinson-Gould, and when asked about it in "confessional," he just grinned and offered the most rote semi-denials possible, and then would giggle, and then would confirm it, and then would retract that confirmation. And then he just began revealing everything. Point is, it was comical. Like this.

This isn't attempting to deny anything; this is releasing a teaser-trailer for a would-be upcoming blockbuster.

posted by Ace at 02:20 PM

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