The Virginian-Pilot
©
RICHMOND
Hurling homophobic and racial slurs, an unidentified blogger has launched an Internet attack on lieutenant governor candidate Pat Edmonson.
Campaign officials said the barbs began with e-mails sent in recent weeks and have migrated to an anti-Edmonson Web site.
Responding to that deluge, the campaign Thursday filed a lawsuit in Virginia Beach General District Court that seeks to have the blog shut down and the identity of its creator revealed.
Edmonson spokesman Conner Morris said the campaign is "hiring security, which is highly unusual for this kind of race" because of concerns about the threatening tone of some of the e-mails.
Posts on the "Stop Pat Edmonson" blog criticize campaign staffers, insult the candidate's physical appearance, question her sexuality - in one she is called a "bull dike" (sic) - and label her African American husband a "negro."
Aside from the lawsuit, Edmonson sent an e-mail to supporters about the saga as part of an effort to counter the attacks.
Taking a page from Barack Obama's political playbook, the Edmonson campaign said it will launch a "fight the smears" section on its Web site to refute rumors.
A Virginia Beach School Board member, Edmonson is one of four Democrats seeking the party nomination for lieutenant governor.
The others are Jon Bowerbank, a Russell County supervisor; Michael Signer, former deputy counsel to then-Gov. Mark Warner; and former state finance secretary Jody Wagner, a longtime South Hampton Roads resident.
Officials with Edmonson's campaign said in a news release Wednesday that they believe a Wagner supporter is behind the blog because of a reference to her in one of the posts, though that hasn't been proved.
Wagner issued a statement condemning the attacks.
"Anything that takes away from the dialogue of how we can better provide for Virginia families is inappropriate," says Wagner's statement, which was released by the Edmonson campaign. "Negative and personal attacks have no place in this race."
Republicans running for the seat are incumbent Lt. Gov. Bill Bolling and challenger Patrick Muldoon, an attorney.
The office of lieutenant governor is considered a part-time position in Virginia; it pays $36,321.
Part of its appeal to those with political aspirations is that it can be a stepping stone to the Governor's Mansion - Gov. Timothy M. Kaine held the position before his election as the state's chief executive.
Julian Walker, (804) 697-1564, julian.walker@pilotonline.com
Delicious
Digg
Reddit
Facebook
Twitter
Google
Yahoo
Didn't a famous colored guy,
Didn't a famous colored guy, I believe he was a negro, announce to the nation that George Bush does not like black people? Why did he not get stiffled and charged with slander or a hate crime? Because he is intitled to his opiniun that's why. It's just the same 'ol double standard over and over again.
The courts are the only option available
Did anyone else catch Google/Blogger's policy that they will not remove libel until directed to do so by a court order?! So, even if they believe something to be "False and untrue communication published with the specific intent of injuring another person’s reputation" they will allow it until the victim goes to the trouble and expense of getting the court system involved.
Nice.
Was the First Amendment to the Constitution repealed
while I was on vacation? You know, the one that reads: "Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances."
Out of curiosity, I went to the "the blog" to see what all the fuss was about. While the writing is a combination of sophomoric bloviations, both crude and inflammatory, its content is hardly worth anyone running off to court to "out" the writer, and to close down his/her blog.
I will never vote for any candidate who tries to deny people, no matter how jaded or misguided they may be, their basic Constitutional rights. The Constitution is not a smörgåsbord, that one can pick and choose from...ignoring the rest. You either pledge to honor and uphold it, warts and all...or you don't.
how blessed we are
I feel sorry for whomever has so much time that they could so elaboratly and thoroughly attack this woman. I guess one of the strenghts of our country also reveals our weaknesses. Whomever it is would probably not have the courge to do this in person, so they are really a coward anyway. Slandering someone based on there skin pigmentation is so shallow that I almost didn't want to honor this with a response.
Uh...no
The fairness doctrine provided equal time for political opinion. That requires tough skin.
Uh...no. That's the rhetoric line they're trying to sell to the gullible. If that was really the case it would apply to all media and not targeted toward making politically talk radio economically infeasible.
Trying to pass a law to suppress your opposition's speech is pretty much the same mentality as this woman thinking she has the right to have the courts silence someone. People demanded the 1st amendment specifically because of politicians doing this before the US revolution.
The article says a Dem supporter may be the one...
From George K:
"As much as I distrust Republicans, this could have just as well been a Democrat."
The article itself says that "a supporter of Jody Wagner", another Dem vying for this position, may be the culprit.. Here is the exact copy from the article:
“Officials with Edmonson's campaign said in a news release Wednesday that they believe a Wagner supporter is behind the blog because of a reference to her in one of the posts, though that hasn't been proved.”
Ms. Wagner is quoted as condemning such invective.
If true, I guess them Dems can be just as homophobic and racist as those Repubs they're always accusing of such antics, ya' reckon?
Civil Rights/LGBT issues
I just spent some time reading through her website. It's clear that an important issue for her is LGBT rights, and she proudly notes on her website her support of these groups, including her news item about her recent visit to Freddie's Beach Bar in Arlington. I am happy that she is upfront and unapologetic about this issue I and wish more folks running for office were so upfront on controversial issues. What voters should do is ask themselves if the issues important to her are important to them and vote accordingly.
hey, justanotheruser!
"I can't figure out which rule I've broken"
don't feel bad. I post stuff all the time and it disappears. Someone doesn't like me either and I don't think I'm inflammatory at all.
agree but disagree
I don't think taking childish shots at someone outside of taking issue with their agenda's is right at all. I'm not for any Democrat and I don't care for her ideas especially after all that has been going on lately including the increasingly mismanaged econonic problems, and the tiresome overexposure of freaks like Barney Frank and Schumer from NY.
this comment is awaiting staff approval
George, the Fairness Doctrine is being pushed by people that want to shut down conservative talk radio. Nothing fair about it. Even President Obama opposes it.
(It seems that I've irritated the great moderator in the sky again. Just a few days after earning my immediate posting privileges back I've apparently lost them again. I can't figure out which rule I've broken, other than 'editorial staff has the right to interpret the rules as they see fit.' And I've enjoyed our banter this week.)