HELLO FIRST AMENDMENT CLUEPHONE FOR YOU

[rone]

Via modrnwrld_blog, Josh Marshall writes:

This week RNC Chairman Ed Gillespie sent [Rock The Vote] a 'cease and desist' letter threatening legal action against the group and raising the possibility of seeking the revocation of the group's status as a tax-exempt 501c3 organization if the group did not cease discussing the draft issue.

Claims that a draft is possible, Gillespie argued, are so ridiculous on their face that the the group could only be acting from 'malicious intent and a reckless disregard for the truth.'

This isn't some dinky state GOP outfit, like the one in New Mexico that wanted loyalty oaths.  This is the freakin' national chairman.

Comments

[ronebofh.livejournal.com]

Oh boy! If we're going to start calling things that cause a negative impression "slander or libel", i've got one hell of a laundry list for the GOP!

[lots42.livejournal.com]

I meant to convey that if you accuse an orginization of trying to start a draft, that's much much worse, in the public eye, then if you accuse an orginization of say, littering.

"These guys want to enslave your children and send them off to die" can cause a much worse impression then "They litter!" if the general public starts to believe you

[erikred.livejournal.com]

The odds of anyone successfully bringing back the draft AND getting re-elected are as close to none as makes no odds.

More likely, but still remote, is a Skills Draft (http://sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2004/03/13/MNG905K1BC1.DTL), with the government amending Selective Service to require males and females aged 18 to 34 to register and indicate their current occupational skills.  Apparently, the adminstration needs more truck drivers, doctors, foreign language speakers, and computer operators.

Again, this is remote, and all that's happening now are the preliminary stages (http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/national/164693_draft13.html) (i.e., writing up the rules and procedures on the slim chance that someone calls for it later on).

A leading conscientious objector organization has this to say about the whole issue. (http://www.nisbco.org/UAA/03152004.html)

[lots42.livejournal.com]

Skills draft? Hell, half the people chosen will just say 'I'm gay!' and the goverment will run screaming in fear

[mmcirvin.livejournal.com]

I always liked the line Jesse Taylor of Pandagon (http://www.pandagon.net/) used once on an Army recruiter: "Sorry, I'm super gay." I suppose he figured he make it super gay to be on the safe side.

[ronebofh.livejournal.com]

"Not just a little gay — full-blown Liberace gay!"

[erikred.livejournal.com]

How about a whisper campaign mischaracterizing a man's adopted child (http://www.record-eagle.com/2004/aug/081904.htm)?

The idea of the RNC assuming the moral high ground in a game of dirty politics defies belief and redefines chutzpah.

Pot and kettle.

[boutell.livejournal.com]

Heh. Spot on. Should have read your comment before writing mine.

[lots42.livejournal.com]

Dirty pool by one side doesn't not (what's the word) mean it's okay for the other side to do crap

[erikred.livejournal.com]

Absolutely true. It does, however, weaken the moral position of the egregious offender in crying foul.