Things that are not OK

[baxil]

The anti-gay crowd behind California's most contentious ballot measure, Proposition 8, is already lying in their all-out fear campaign. Now it just got a whole lot uglier:
Donors who gave money to the No on Prop 8 campaign say they received blackmail letters demanding money, and the Yes on 8 campaign now says the letters were sent by their

Comments

[mouser]

The letter from Yes on 8 came by certified mail, demanding at least $10,000

So, they sent a certified mail so the FBI knows who was blackmailing them and attempting some type of voter coercion (can't remember the name of the crime...)

[baxil]

Sadly, what they're blackmailing the business owners with isn't actually illegal. And not even necessarily false; the companies have given money to No on 8, and saying so isn't libelous.

That doesn't make it any more defensible. They're basically saying "Give us money or we will broadcast things that hurt your business." Whether targeting donors to political campaigns is defensible is an argument worth having; but when you add extortion into the mix, it is flatly not ok.

[targaff]

They're basically saying "Give us money or we will broadcast things that hurt your business."

Maybe it's just me, but saying "give us money or we will advertise the fact that you are fair and equanimious" is a good reason not to comply.

[baxil]

This particular business is in one of the more right-wing areas in the state. And it's implied they're in real estate, which is a really, really fragile field right now. History will prove them right, but it's not much consolation if business falls off as a result of a campaign designed to tear away their conservative customers.

[baxil]

Thank you.

[kevynjacobs]

WHOA!

That's some P.S.! I can see why you put it in cypher.

[necama]

I think Bax is the only person with Tourette's in ROT-13. :-)

[baxil]

Sometimes you've gotta vent.

...

... Um, I mean, what P.S.? Cypher? I know nothing! I sneezed and whacked the keyboard at random a bit. Must have forgotten to delete it from the post.

[kevynjacobs]

Gesundheit. If the sneeze was so hard the keyboard felt it... it needs a 'gesundheit'. :)

[wy]

Wow, that's fucked up.

[baphnedia]

With your permission, I'd like to xpost this over at Paradice... :p

[baxil]

Spread it as far as possible.

[lienne]

I was going to ask if I can link this post in my journal, but I think I can take that as a yes. Nevertheless, here's a heads-up just in case.

[baphnedia]

http://www.paradice.net/phpbb/viewtopic.php?p=7091#7091

Of course, the most suitable place I have for it is the POOP group... but it's better than nothing... :p