Democrats demand apology from DeBolt
Vanguard has obtained a copy of a letter from the Democrats who are the targets of Republican mail, radio, cable and robo-calls.
The letter is being sent to Rep. Richard DeBolt, R-Chehalis, the House Republican leader.
The seven Democrats are asking that Debolt denounce the attacks, apologize and end them.
The letter is being sent to Rep. Richard DeBolt, R-Chehalis, the House Republican leader.
The seven Democrats are asking that Debolt denounce the attacks, apologize and end them.
January 24, 2006
Representative Richard DeBolt
Minority Leader
Washington State House of Representatives
Dear Representative DeBolt:
We, the undersigned members of the House of Representatives, have been the targets of your campaign committee in recent days. Because we refused to bring to the floor a bill that had not received a public hearing as of that date, a bill that most members had not even seen or read, we are being accused of “refusing to impose life sentences for violent sex predators.”
It is an egregious lie, frankly, and unworthy of the good people in your caucus.
However, we are not the true victims of this action. Thousands of families in Washington received phone calls and postcards falsely warning of a “violent predator” living in their communities. Parents we’ve spoken with were unnecessarily alarmed; children seeing the postcard were needlessly frightened.
Fear-mongering, exploiting children for political gain, lying to the public – these are the kinds of stunts that should not be acceptable here in Washington state.
Last June you signed a letter asking for donations to the Speaker’s Roundtable, the organization responsible for these calls and postcards. You were recently quoted in the Olympian saying that these political decisions are being made independent of your caucus.
Whether you are directly involved in these decisions or not, these innocent people deserve an apology and we are asking you to give them one today. Please let the people of our state know that this sort of political tactic was a mistake and will not be repeated.
Only then can we get down to what we all want to do: pass meaningful legislation that will protect children and convict more sex offenders.
Sincerely,
Rep. Bill Grant
Rep. Pat Lantz
Rep. Geoff Simpson
Rep. Deb Wallace
Rep. Tami Green
Rep. Derek Kilmer
Rep. Pat Sullivan
posted by Jon | 1:45 PM
13 Comments:
From a tactical standpoint, it appears the GOP seems convinced that the average voter is soooooo stupid this type of strategy will never loose the novelty it depends on to be successful.
If there is such a thing as tactic fatigue, they are really going to suffer this year.
Hey DeBolt, is that a tactic in your pocket?
No, he's just excited to see sex offenders.
HHhmmm.... what say you all hold your breath until you get an apology?
DeBolt's beating you guys like a drum on this. Even ol' Deb said that this "underhanded tactic was working." And w2hat an INCREDIBLY smart thing that was for HER to say!
Hey anonymous, what say I sit on your face until you apologize.
Or hey, how about put you in a sleeping bag face first until you apologize? Or maybe waterboard until you scream uncle? German Shepards in your face, Lindy England demanding your full frontal nudity Or, um let's see what else does your morally bankrupt party recommend for wrong-doers...
Yesiree Bob, no doubt about it. Change is in the wind.
You know, we all claim that our side is winning. Whatever. I do it to.
A sober statement is this: this action by the Speaker's Roundtable has touched a nerve, not just with Democrats. For DeBolt to try to distance himself from Speaker's Roundtable is just absurd. Anyone who is even slightly familiar with politics in Washington knows that is a complete crock.
As for anonymous' contention that DeBolt is "beating you guys like a drum," well, pride goeth before a fall and all that.
I doubt this is the end of the story. People can complain about gutter politics all they want, and worry about taking high roads etc. It's the GOP that has set the tone for 2006 in this state.
It's a long, long ways to November.
Have they got their apology yet?
And bezore, please keep YOUR sexual fantasies to yourself.
dems have no intent in passing meaningful legislation regarding sexual predators. Their bill is a joke, as it allows the majority of offenders to seek "treatment" instead of being punished for their crimes, just because they know the victim. as a victim of abuse myself it stays with you longer than any prison sentences being handed out today, we need mandatory minimums for strangers and victim known predators alike.
and talk about using children, the dems won't pass a meaningfull bill because all their buddies who work in social services will have no one to treat, thus all their funds (and campaign donations) will dry up.
Think of this the weakness of the punishment of Rapists means there are more rapists. I feel sorry for the children of this state. over 90% of them will not get protected by this new law because over 90% of the child rapes is done by someone they know. I guess a dad rapeing his daughter will get a year or two then he will be back at it with the daughter again. Right??? And the democrats claim they care for the children. Here is a case where they ignore the child. Whats next lower the age of consent??? It is being brought up every year in CA. If a law is passed in CA or OR you know the next year it will be here. I guess rapists have the right to rape children they know just dont touch a stranger. Makes it easier to find a mark. or make a mark on a childs life forever.
The anonymous who is talking about cases where the victim knows the offender.
When the head of the state prosecutor's group says it will be harder to obtain convictions under mandatory 25-30 year sentences, maybe we should stop and listen.
If it is indeed true, as they suggest, that the proposed Republican legislation would make it MORE DIFFICULT to obtain convictions, then maybe the Republican proposal had some flaws. Which means it's a good thing it wasn't passed with no testimony.
The whole thing was a gutter level political attack.
Obviously Stefan has chosen to post what he wants. Good for him. I can take it.
Certainly there are situations,when it's a parent, where prosecutions will be harder , but to exempt all teachers, coaches, neighbors, priests and anyone else who knows their victim just because it's hard is ridiculus. There are many ways for victims to testify if needed, by video for one. And I don't want it passed without testimony, but let's have that testimony dems.
anonymous (it's getting hard to identify the anonymous-ie around here.) The one right above this...
Yes, we should have the testimony. From everyone who is interested, within the human limits of time and space.
As for whether HB 2411 is ridiculous, well, reasonable people could have a reasonable discussion about it. And at least your post is reasonable.
Honestly, I get a little squeamish at the thought of letting a parent who would molest a child out of prison as well. But if there is merit to the argument that 25-30 year sentences might actually lead to FEWER convictions, then I'm kind of compelled to consider that possibility.
Others see it differently. I mean, nobody really has the ultimate right to claim total truth in this issue. Law enforcement and prosecutors are going to have their perspective, seeing as they are the ones who have to get these people behind bars.
I really don't understand why the GOP chose to essentially ignore the opinion of prosecutors and law enforcment. A bone-headed mistake.
The Speaker's Roundtable's actions have been hurtful to people. And I'm not talking about Democratic officials, I'm talking about regular old folks that got a lot of painful emotions stirred up thanks to the awful way the GOP group went about their ad blitz.
They still need to apologize.
While I agree the postcard could have been done in better taste, (more information sucha as: A sex offender like this could be living in your community or, identifying it as a political ad) I don't expect repubs to print a new postcard with a new picture for each district. Other than that this seems like politics as usual from both sides.
On the subject of punishment, I don't believe we should just bow to the wishes of law enforcement on this issue. There has to be a middle ground, but remember the laws we have now were new once as well and law enforcment simply adjusted their tactics over time. 25-life may not be perfect, we may need new jails and we may have to adjust our investigative tactics, but I believe punishment has to be a corner stone of any new legislation. Defining that punishment by whether or not the victim new the perp is not a good idea, it's too big of a loop hole.
I hate to bring up Oreilly, but the Judge Cashman (Vermont) incident comes to mind. Never mind the controversy just look at the case and compare it to this law. The man knew the girl, lived in her home, yet he raped her over a four year period. He would be eligable for treatment, and that is just wrong.
(anonymous from 7:17)
I appreciate your civil post. I did a quick search and came up with this:
http://www.metrowestdailynews.com/columnists/view.bg?articleid=119296
Apparently the Vermont case involved a plea bargain. Honestly I'd have to read up on it more to have a sound opinion.
We all get in trouble if we take things out of context (that's not aimed at the anonymous poster who is being civil...it's a statement to myself as much as anything.)
It's a complicated world. I don't want my family to be in danger, but neither do I wish to overreact.
I don't care for Bill O'Reilly either. Apparently he made some inflammtory statements in the Vermont case. Not helpful.
In any case, thanks for causing me to read an article about the Vermont case, it's an intersting situation.
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