tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3126825064641092276.post6567594361475340855..comments2023-10-29T09:14:37.832-04:00Comments on Painfully Objective Political Analysis (POPA): Is IPOPA Hypocritical? A Response to Advance IndianaChris Wordenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00558836541249077077noreply@blogger.comBlogger2125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3126825064641092276.post-25737938917002759522008-09-24T13:06:00.000-04:002008-09-24T13:06:00.000-04:00Chris:You raise some GREAT issues. First, the ad ...Chris:<BR/><BR/>You raise some GREAT issues. <BR/><BR/>First, the ad did identify Ms. Pierce as the CEO of both The Villages and Prevent Child Abuse Indiana.<BR/><BR/>Second, Ms.Pierce did not just state facts. Here are her lines from the commercial:<BR/><BR/>- "It was heartbreaking because case workers were desperate to help children." <BR/><BR/>- "The magnitude of the change that has occurred since Governor Daniels took office is really almost unbelievable."<BR/><BR/>- "The tragedy of working in the child welfare system is that there will always be children who are abused or neglected. But he’s so committed." <BR/><BR/>Third, in my own mind, I knew that all I would do if the ad stayed on the air was speak publicly on my blog. But I didn't tell Ms. Pierce that, so she certainly could have viewed my letter as a threat because I was adamant that it come off the air. (I will post the letter as soon as a figure out how to put up a scanned doc on blogger).<BR/><BR/>But you seem to raise something that I hadn't thought of, which is the potential of me gaining an advantage for a client by virtue of a blackmail effect. <BR/><BR/>But ANYBODY who saw the ad and who knows either of these organizations (including all of their board members) knows this ad was wrong. I'm just the only one who you KNOW OF that cared enough to say something that got out in public. (I'm told quite a few child service providers took note as well, and they may have talked with Ms. Pierce without getting the spotlight shined on them). <BR/><BR/>My point is that blackmail value comes from the secrecy associated with a fact. This was a public communication seen by millions. Making a threat on it would be like telling a convicted sex offender with a "sex offender" sign already posted in his yard that you're going to tell his neighbors about the conviction. <BR/><BR/>But even playing devil's advocate against myself as deviously as possible, I can't connect the dots under any scenario. I made no request for anything for any of my clients, only one of whom (I think) currenty has ongoing contact with the Villages. Nor does Ms. Pierce even know on what cases of mine any of her employees serve. But let's say she could identify them. She's going to tell her people to go into court and say a parent I represent should have his kid back because the kid is safe when he really isn't?!? She would have no guarantee that I wouldn't still disclose her widely-known "secret."<BR/><BR/>In short, this is why I never gave thought to any alleged "blackmail" threat. There was no way in my mind such a thing could ever happen unless Ms. Pierce was a complete imbecile who thought she could buy my silence by endangering children.<BR/><BR/>Does she strike you as someone who would play that game? Not by a long shot. I'll tell anybody who listens that she leads a good shop and performs a valuable service for our state. She just got this decision terribly, terribly wrong.Chris Wordenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00558836541249077077noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3126825064641092276.post-83246705776241231712008-09-23T17:31:00.000-04:002008-09-23T17:31:00.000-04:00Chris: I have a few questions, that were not answ...Chris: I have a few questions, that were not answered by either the original Advance Indiana blog or your response. I'd begin with the caveat that I haven't seen the advertisement. Did the ad identify the speaker in her capacity as an employee of the Villages? I'm assuming from your post that it did, and did so in such as a way as to indicate some form of endorsement. Second, was she stating a political opinion or a verifiable fact. I think this would go to the question of political advocacy. If she was stating a statistic which would be uniquely within her purview, I don't see that as a political endorsement. <BR/><BR/>Finally, would you be willing to post the letter for others to make a determination of its content and intent. I would not indicate that you were in any way sending the letter on behalf of the agency to which you are contracted, but don't you feel some responsibility as an attorney, particularly one that would deal with the Villages in your capacity in the juvenile and family law arena, to avoid the appearance of legal threat when contacting this person. I haven't read the letter so I am not informed enough to assess your tone or intent in the letter, but it would seem that by putting it on your professional letterhead that you are implying the intent of legal action should the activity in question not cease and desist. This implication, if not being equally thrown toward any 501(C)(3) not following the letter of the rules, would seem, to me, to be hypocritical. I won't take it as far as AI, in that I don't think your actions can be attributable to the Marion County Democratic Party, unless of course it was done at the behest of a member of that party (which is something about which I have no evidence). <BR/><BR/>Those are my questions three, I look forward to your response.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com