Scalise

Savvy observer that you are (you read LITD), you're already aware of the Scalise dust-up.  The hard-left Southern Poverty Law Center came upon the factoid that he'd addressed a David-Duke-organized conference in 2002, and realized it had a nugget of incomparable value.  The headlines are now ubiquitous.

And what will the Freedom-Haters do about one of their own demonstrating a moment of integrity and fealty to truth?

Louisiana Democratic Rep. Cedric Richmond defended colleague Rep. Steve Scalise (R-La.) in the midst of reports that Scalise spoke at a white supremacist convention in 2002.

“I don't think Steve Scalise has a racist bone in his body," Richmond, who is black, told the New Orleans Times Picayune.

"Steve and I have worked on issues that benefit poor people, black people, white people, Jewish people. I know his character."

How valuable is this nugget to the FHers?  I think Jen Kuznicki lays it out with chilling accuracy:

The left has successfully planted enough stories and innuendo in the press that it will be impossible for the leadership of the House to ignore.  If they stand by him, and say he’s not a racist, this will hang over the entire House and soon you will read, “the white supremacist House” in slipshod so-called news sites across the internet.  They will have to make him step down and they will pick another Majority Whip.

Now, let us recall that Scalise was the Pub establishment's pick in the primary over Rob Maness, who  had the backing of conservatives.  I wouldn't go so far as to talk about a silver lining - this damages the overall Pub brand due to the sinister machinations of the enemy, there's no way around it - but it may force a shakeup to at least some degree in the upcoming House leadership structure.

And that's a good thing. With an enemy as vicious as the post-American Left, no Pub can afford to be clueless, as Erick Erickson points out:

Conservative commentator Erick Erickson laid into Scalise, too, saying via Twitter: “How Do You Show Up at a David Duke Event and Not Know What It Is?” Erickson is guest-hosting Rush Limbaugh’s nationally syndicated radio program on Tuesday, and hinted via Twitter that this storyline will be a major focus of the show. Nonetheless, the chaos in the political world over this—with unusual alliances forming on both sides of Scalise—does Boehner no favors heading into the all-important speakership vote next week.

Once again, the big lesson here is to be surprised at nothing the forces of darkness cook up.  They never relent.