Thursday, August 31, 2006

A Little Birdie Misspoke


Birdie, birdie you spoke too hastily...

This morning, Too Conservative posted a press release from Jeanette Rishell's campaign; she is the Democratic candidate in the 50th District's special election to replace deceased Harry J. Parrish. According to TC, Rishell has gone 'bonkers."

Unfortunately, TC must have received a copy of a discarded press release; it looks an awful lot like the one on her Web site, Jeanette Rishell for Delegate, and the one sent to local media but...it ain't the same; there are two huge gaping differences between the two.

The press release posted by TC reads:

Currently, those who run illegal boarding houses can be charge with no more than a misdemeanor. I propose that we this offense be changed to a felony with associated penalties applied. This would include increasing the current fines from a minimum of $10 to $2500; and an increase in the maximum from $1000 to $10000.

The press release on Jeanette Rishell's Web site reads:

Currently, those who run illegal boarding houses are given a token penalty. I propose that the penalties be sufficiently increased to promote compliance. This would include increasing the current minimum fine from $10 to $2,500; and an increase in the maximum fine from $1,000 to $10,000.
So as you can see, Rishell is not calling for owners of illegal boarding houses to be charged with a felony; she simply wants to hold them accountable to the rule of law; no one should take undue advantage of the poor or create a fire hazard; and penalties for breaking the law should be more than a gentle slap on the wrist.

The second bone of contention is Rishell's call for a separate docket to handle non-compliance violations; contrary to what Too Conservative claims, Rishell is not proposing to "creat[e] courts not found in Virginia," but rather to separate dockets so non-compliance cases can be individually heard on their own merits.

This would allow the courts to specifically focus on the issue of non-compliance without blurring problems of overcrowding, illegal boarding houses, noise, traffic and so on with the crucial docket for drug trafficking and other drug offenses.

Sounds like perfectly reasonable proposals; and certainly nothing "bonkers" about them.

Comments:
Nice catch, HL
 
What is a "discarded" press release? One that the candidate sends out but then realises makes her look bonkers, so she re-writes it?

It looks like a "little birdie" spoke too soon, but that birdie would be the Rishell campaign.

Can't blame reporters OR bloggers for thinking a candidate actually means what they say when they send out press releases, even if the candidate IS a democrat.
 
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