This just struck me as being fairly stupid infighting.

Idaho GOP, Democratic Party Leaders Spar Over Foley Scandal

Republican National Committee Chair Ken Mehlman campaigned in Idaho Thursday for congressional candidate Bill Sali, and defended the actions of his party’s leaders on Capitol Hill in response to the Mark Foley scandal.

"I think that what Congressman Hastert has done, which is the right thing to do, is to take extraordinary steps to deal with an extraordinary situation," he said.

Typical party line and frankly not too outrageous.  The issue was that Stallings had made a criticism for them not condemning Foley.

But a much nastier battle is being fought– on paper.

On Tuesday, Idaho Democratic Chair Richard Stallings criticized GOP Representatives Butch Otter and Mike Simpson for not condemning Foley’s behavior sooner.

But here is where the trouble starts.

"Dick Stallings is desperate," Otter told CBS 2 News during Mehlman’s visit Thursday. "That’s desperation politics when you try to paint everybody with a brush. And you know, if all my candidates stood for what his candidates stand for– I’d be obliged to do the same thing."

On Wednesday, Republicans fired back with a press release titled, "Dick Stallings Owes Otter and Simpson an Apology."

Chairman Kirk Sullivan said the Democrats have "sunk to a new low" by trying to politicize the Foley scandal. He demanded the minority party "retract" their comments from Tuesday.

But that’s not all.

Sullivan and Representative Simpson referred to Stallings as "Dick Stallings" throughout the entire press release– a common nick name for those named Richard.

This prompted yet another stinging press release from Stallings on Wednesday titled, "My name is Richard."

Yep.  He is upset they used a derivative of his name.

Idaho Democratic Party Spokesman Chuck Oxley wrote, "Stallings asks that in the future, Republicans refer to him by his Christian name in their communications with the media."

"My parents named me Richard, and that’s the name I go by," Stallings said. "The least they could do is extend the courtesy of using my given name."

Well ok, he has the right to be called by his chosen name.  And I don’t have any knowledge of whether this is a constant issue or not.  I found one old blog in 2005 that called him Dick also.

Maybe it’s a folksy thing.  No, not a Freudian slip.  Sheesh.  Quiet in the Peanut Gallery.

Stallings is walking the party line of corruption being a root of the Republican party, but Sullivan does raise a good point.

In the GOP press release, Sullivan says, "Where was Stallings’ righteous indignation when Democrat Congressman William Jefferson was found with dirty money in his freezer?

With an election coming up in just a few weeks and power in congress up for grabs, it appears the name-calling may continue among Republicans and Democrats alike.

Indeed.

I wish everyone would drop the posturing and just deal with the facts.