Complete fabrication of story meant to embarrass Missouri GOP

From Eric Dondero:

Politico's so-called hot shot "Investigative Reporter" David Catanese ran a 12 paragraph "gotcha" story on MO Lt. Governor candidate and libertarian Republican Peter Kinder. The left-leaning Politico alleged that Kinder has had a scurilious relationship with an ex-Penthouse Pet. Both Kinder and Tammy Chapman acknowledge they're longtime friendship. But Catanese is alleging that Kinder, a single man, visiting St. Louis area gentleman's clubs has caused the Missouri GOP to reconsider him as a potential candidate for Governor.

The executive director of the Missouri Republican Party has privately warned Lt. Gov. Peter Kinder the party will pull its support for his gubernatorial candidacy if evidence surfaces he's lying about the extent of his relationship with a former Penthouse Pet or similar allegations are proven true, POLITICO has learned.

Lloyd Smith, a veteran GOP operative who has a long history with Kinder and now heads the party, delivered notice to the lieutenant governor within days after the Riverfront Times published a damning photograph of Kinder with a stripper at a pantless bar, according to a Missouri Republican with knowledge of the conversation.

Now this update to the story "hot shot" Catanese was forced to post.

UPDATED @ 11:10 PM: Missouri GOP spokesman Jon Prouty phones to say that the story is untrue. "The conversation between Lloyd and Peter that you're reporting on is not true. That conversation did not happen," he said.

When asked about what Smith has said to Kinder about the allegations, Prouty said he was not privy to specifics but that the executive director did not convey to Kinder he would pull his support.

What Catanese and other left reporters/bloggers don't seem to get, is that the GOP is much more libertarian these days, than in the past. Daliances with risque performers, visits to gentleman's clubs don't carry the same punch in GOP circles as they used too in the days of religious right dominance.

In fact, as the libertarian wing emerges, it's increasingly becomming a plus.

Photo credit - ThePitchNews.com Photo below - MO GOP Exec. Dir. Jon Prouty.