Washington Notebook: Pearce defends hiring fiery blogger
By Michael Coleman/Journal Staff Writer
UPDATED: Thursday, March 27, 2014
WASHINGTON — Rep. Steve Pearce, R-N.M., on Wednesday defended his hiring of a communications director who wrote for the PolitixFireball blog, which has published inflammatory rhetoric about Jews, Muslims and President Barack Obama.
Pearce confirmed in a Journal interview Wednesday that his new spokeswoman, Rebekah Stevens, wrote for the controversial blog.
The website has affiliated Facebook and Twitter feeds. The blog and related social media accounts were focused on conservative issues and are well-known in New Mexico for confronting Democrats, journalists and others in sometimes inflammatory ways.
PolitixFireball’s Twitter account, which boasts more than 40,000 followers, is no longer accessible to the general public.
A screen capture of a PolitixFireball tweet, dated March 18 (the year is not specified) and posted Tuesday on the website of ProgressNow New Mexico, a progressive political group, says in response to another Twitter user: “I know the Jews went up in smoke … I think you’re wrong re: the economy.”
PolitixFireball also has referred to Santa Fe New Mexican reporter Milan Simonich as Slobodan Milosevic, the late Serbian president charged with war crimes, and equated President Barack Obama to Adolf Hitler. Another social media post from PolitixFireball asserted that Muslims are “blood lust” conquerors.
Pearce, asked about the comments in a Journal interview Wednesday, disavowed them and conceded that Stevens’ past online presence was “very confrontational.”
“They are not things I would have said,” Pearce said. “She’s very aware she doesn’t speak for herself anymore. … She’s working in a bigger system, and we all work together here.”
The conservative congressman said he had a “very frank and straightforward discussion” with Stevens before hiring her. He said he told her such rhetoric is unacceptable in a congressional office. But he also said the 24-year-old Stevens is young, talented and knowledgeable and deserves a chance.
“I want kids working in these offices that have passion for what they’re doing,” Pearce said. “It’s easier to train restraint than energy and enthusiasm. We always look for work attitudes and work ethics. You can’t train those things.”
Stevens, who has worked on Pearce’s past political campaigns and serves as vice chairwoman of the Grant County Republican Party in New Mexico, did not respond to a request for comment from the Journal on Wednesday.
Pearce said PolitixFireball not only ruffled Democrats’ and reporters’ feathers but also those of some Republicans.
“Republicans are making hay of (her hiring), too,” Pearce said. “My deal is we look for people who can do the job.”
http://www.abqjournal.com/374754/news/pearce-defends-hiring-fiery-blogger.html
Press secretary for Rep. Pearce quits
By Michael Coleman / Journal Washington Bureau
PUBLISHED: Saturday, March 29, 2014 at 12:05 am
WASHINGTON – A new press secretary for Rep. Steve Pearce resigned Friday, three days after the announcement of her hiring sparked an uproar about her previous role as a blogger for the controversial PolitixFireball website.
In a statement, Pearce, R-N.M., suggested that Rebekah Stevens’ online past, which included making inflammatory remarks about Jews, Muslims, Democrats and others, had become a distraction that could hinder his effectiveness in office.
“When I hired Miss Stevens, I hoped she could transition from activist to become an asset to the people of New Mexico,” Pearce said Friday. “It is now clear that major obstacles will prevent this. I asked for and accepted her resignation this morning. I hold myself and my staff to the highest level of accountability, and any distractions that hinder my service to New Mexicans must always be addressed
.”
Todd Willens, Pearce’s chief of staff, told the Journal on Friday that the congressman wasn’t fully aware of the extent of Stevens’ social media past, which included blogging, as well as posts to Twitter and Facebook. But he also stressed that Stevens did not hide anything during her interview process.
“I didn’t vet it as properly as I needed to,” Willens said. “I certainly have learned from this.”
Willens also said after Stevens’ hiring was announced, Pearce learned she had been sent a cease-and-desist letter by Anissa Ford, who served as a personal assistant to Gov. Susana Martinez during the 2010 campaign. The potential for litigation involving a staffer was yet another distraction the congressman wasn’t willing to endure, Willens said.
Ford’s attorney, Todd Wertheim of Albuquerque, confirmed the letter on Friday.
“She (Stevens) had made some statements about Anissa on PolitixFireball that were defamatory in our view,” Wertheim said, adding that Stevens had not responded to the letter as of Friday.
Stevens did not respond to the Journal’s request for comment.
The PolitixFireball blog and related social media accounts were focused on conservative issues and are well-known in New Mexico for confronting Democrats, journalists and others in sometimes inflammatory ways. PolitixFireball’s Twitter account boasted more than 40,000 followers.
Pearce, asked about controversial comments on PolitixFireball in a Journal interview earlier this week, disavowed them.
“They are not things I would have said,” Pearce said. “She’s very aware she doesn’t speak for herself anymore. … She’s working in a bigger system, and we all work together here.”
Roxanne “Rocky” Lara, a Carlsbad Democrat who is challenging Pearce in the November general election, sent out a fundraising letter Thursday that drew attention to Pearce’s decision to hire Stevens.
But it wasn’t only Democrats who had a problem with the hire, Willens said. Some New Mexico Republicans also were critical of the decision to give Stevens a communications role, which was another factor in Pearce’s requesting her resignation.
“We need our friends,” Willens said.
In a statement, Pearce, R-N.M., suggested that Rebekah Stevens’ online past, which included making inflammatory remarks about Jews, Muslims, Democrats and others, had become a distraction that could hinder his effectiveness in office.
“When I hired Miss Stevens, I hoped she could transition from activist to become an asset to the people of New Mexico,” Pearce said Friday. “It is now clear that major obstacles will prevent this. I asked for and accepted her resignation this morning. I hold myself and my staff to the highest level of accountability, and any distractions that hinder my service to New Mexicans must always be addressed
PEARCE: Said hiring had become a distraction
Todd Willens, Pearce’s chief of staff, told the Journal on Friday that the congressman wasn’t fully aware of the extent of Stevens’ social media past, which included blogging, as well as posts to Twitter and Facebook. But he also stressed that Stevens did not hide anything during her interview process.
“I didn’t vet it as properly as I needed to,” Willens said. “I certainly have learned from this.”
Willens also said after Stevens’ hiring was announced, Pearce learned she had been sent a cease-and-desist letter by Anissa Ford, who served as a personal assistant to Gov. Susana Martinez during the 2010 campaign. The potential for litigation involving a staffer was yet another distraction the congressman wasn’t willing to endure, Willens said.
Ford’s attorney, Todd Wertheim of Albuquerque, confirmed the letter on Friday.
“She (Stevens) had made some statements about Anissa on PolitixFireball that were defamatory in our view,” Wertheim said, adding that Stevens had not responded to the letter as of Friday.
Stevens did not respond to the Journal’s request for comment.
The PolitixFireball blog and related social media accounts were focused on conservative issues and are well-known in New Mexico for confronting Democrats, journalists and others in sometimes inflammatory ways. PolitixFireball’s Twitter account boasted more than 40,000 followers.
Pearce, asked about controversial comments on PolitixFireball in a Journal interview earlier this week, disavowed them.
“They are not things I would have said,” Pearce said. “She’s very aware she doesn’t speak for herself anymore. … She’s working in a bigger system, and we all work together here.”
Roxanne “Rocky” Lara, a Carlsbad Democrat who is challenging Pearce in the November general election, sent out a fundraising letter Thursday that drew attention to Pearce’s decision to hire Stevens.
But it wasn’t only Democrats who had a problem with the hire, Willens said. Some New Mexico Republicans also were critical of the decision to give Stevens a communications role, which was another factor in Pearce’s requesting her resignation.
“We need our friends,” Willens said.
http://www.abqjournal.com/375925/news/press-secretary-for-rep-pearce-quits.html
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