Ruling of the Fair Election Practices Committee
Democratic candidate for DA Sandra Doorley was in “a position of substantial leadership” of the DA's office, ruled the Fair Election Practices Committee today, when the office made the blunder that left career criminal Eric Magin on the street to steal guns from a sheriff's car.
The FEPC criticized a portion of an ad by the campaign of candidate Bill Taylor for saying that Magin stole the guns, instead of making clear that Magin was arrested and arraigned for stealing the guns, but had not yet been convicted.
Tuesday, October 25, 2011
Doorley In "Position of Substantial Leadership" When the DA's Office Blew It
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6 comments:
That's why Dem and Chron buried the story inside section 2. Even though that hairsplitting finding against the Taylor commercial, the big story was that Doorley was in charge when the criminal was let out!
Bad for their side so not on page 1!
Even though the FEPC got it mostly right this time, I don't think the GOP should buy into it as a legitimate arbiter of anything. First, how can a politically appointed committee of political people make a neutral decision about what is and is not fair claims in a campaign? Second, it is a dem vehicle to be used to tear down GOP candidates. Like the D&C or RBA or other institutions who try to keep a facade of neutrality, it will make rulings favoring republicans in some instances - particularly in races the dems are going to lose anyway - but don't mistake that for true impartiality.
Moreover, the whole concept is ridiculous. Some committee is going to be the absolute arbiter of the "truth"? If a campaign does not complain to the committee about an ad, is that an admission of the accuracy of the ad?
It is Orwellian to have such a committee in a free speech society in the first instance. If a candidate thinks an ad is false - it can point out the falsity.
Let's not give this farce legitimacy.
Monkeytoe,
You make some excellent points. The role of the FEPC is more complex than you suggest and our impression is that it is not a Democratic advocacy group trying to pass itself off as impartial, like the D&C, or the RBA under the odious Parker.
We'll be doing an analysis of the FEPC in the days ahead and will look forward to your comments on it.
I can't believe the democrats even when to the FEPC. I thought Joe Morelle dumped all over the group and said he was boycotting it.
Does he only like them when they rule in his favor but denounce them when they find against him?
What a pathetic little baby.
Philbrick,
the Monroe County FEPC is organized by the Faith Alliance and League of Women's Voters, correct?
Regardless, even if it really attempts to be "neutral", I don't believe much in such things. Much like the media's neutrality, it exists only in theory. And it is just as true if the FEPC were dominated by republicans.
Everyone brings their biases into whatever they do. As much as you try to put them aside, they color your perceptions and decisions. Some people can put them aside better than others, but even then, they lurk in the background coloring decisions.
And, in the realm of fair or unfair political advertising, I really don't see how one gets away from their biases - as the facts are rarely cut-and-dry in such a way as "did she go through the red light". Instead, it is "is it fair to blame Doorley for this mistake b/c she was in management, even if she didn't personally make the decision?" Well, some people think it is fair, others don't. It is not a "fact" that can have an objective truth.
But Dorley now has the backing of two whole crime victim advocates.
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