The Rest of the Story
May 15th, 2008 by Dave
Someone sent that photo to a Lee family member with the attached note:
There are 30 more pictures like this.
They get more and more interesting.
The media starts to get them next week.
All Republican delegates get them this week.
Every non-profit will get them the week after that.
Churches will get them the week after that.
They will go online next week.
Did I leave anything out?
The return address was that of a prominent Delaware Republican, who obviously did not send it. That is reminiscent of a recent email that appeared to have been sent by me, but was not. So there’s a pattern.
Also, I take this kind of thing very seriously. I have been the family recipient of this kind of filth in the past.
I assume the U.S. Attorney, FBI or the proper authorities will be contacted, but let’s be honest. Mail fraud and intimidation of this sort aren’t exactly high up the feds’ priority list. So who knows when they’ll get around to it. That’s why I tried to get the source.
As far as the picture itself, it is as benign as one can get. And if they had more, they’d have sent them. But this kind of attempt to intimidate and blackmail Bill into not filing is atrocious.
And sending it to a family member is beyond disgusting. Put yourself in their shoes, and imagine receiving this filth about one of your loved ones.
This is sick and it is an outrage! It is my hope that an investigation takes place and this person is plastered all over the papers and blogs for their hatefilled efforts. Let’s see where the trial leads. Science is much more exact these days and my prayer will be that this person gets what they so deserve — a prison sentence and some mental health treatment.
What/who is the picture of?
Is that the whole note?
Don: The photo of Bill Lee in a yellow polo shirt with a plastic cup in his hand, taken at a Dewey bar a couple of years ago for Ryan Cormier’s News Journal blog.
Dave: Is there any particular reason you couldn’t have indicated to Mike Matthews the severity of the situation so that he might have cooperated with you?
Hube beat me to it.
This is truly disgusting for the GOP and Bill Lee but it has also exposed Dave Burris’ tactics with Mike Matthews in the worse light possible.
What was the postmark? When was it received?
I suspect that all of us would have responded the same way that Matthews did (although perhaps a little less colorfully). Is there some course of action that would avoid publishing the photos that was offered (Blackmail)? Or is this a vague political threat like “We have a lot of dirt on Obama if he gets the nomination…”
couple of quick questions:
1. Were you acting at the request of the the Lee family when you contacted Matthews?
2. Have the Lee family or the “prominent republican” contacted the police? why why/not
3. You “assume” the fbi will be called. Are you saying that the feds have not been contacted?
4. Since family members are affected, are you saying you will stay away from negative ads, or “filth” when talking about candidates you are opposing? (atkins family, protack family etc.)
5. Do you think it is at all possible for other pictures of Bill Lee drunk/partying/or whatever to exist
6. Who was the family member?
7. When did Bill Lee find out about this photo mailing? Does he approve of the way you have handled this story?
8. Would you have revealed a source of material if presented in the way you presented it to Matthews?
Thanks
I didn’t think the picture was that bad. Republicans sometimes come off as a bit stuffy. I think it kind of humanized him a bit.
…oh and can you scan the letter and envelope so we can see the font/handwriting/stamp/postmark etc?
“4. Since family members are affected, are you saying you will stay away from negative ads, or “filth” when talking about candidates you are opposing? (atkins family, protack family etc.)”
What the hell is this? Jesus, Dan, can you crawl any further up Johnny’s crack?
“What the hell is this? Jesus, Dan, can you crawl any further up Johnny’s crack?”
It’s a question to provoke a wanted reply. It’s what talk show hosts do. You might move out of your comfort zone and give it a try Al.
I think Al was right in pointing out that was a terrible question. Dave is on this, because the letter was based on intimidation, blackmail and fraud (return address and name of person who had nothing to do with letter), but you (Dan) turn it into negative campaigning issue with that question.
Ponder:
-1) You (Dan) are buds with John
-2) John and Dave - not buds (duh)
-3) Having been a (ear) witness to one of the phone calls JA made, LYING about Dave and the county committee, I would say there is a “high school” gossip club mentality there
-4) Girls Gone Wild bus in Dewey a couple years back
My list is done.
I can’t think of any time Dave has mentioned Protack’s family, or Atkins’ family when it didn’t relate to a police report.
Dominique - Remember, the picture itself wasn’t the issue and I think you’re absolutely right: I think it kind of humanized him a bit.
The issue is the letter that accompanied the picture and that the return address and name was someone of influence that had absolutely nothing to do with the letter.
RickJ - see my comment 14 for probable cause to the assertation. Like the name Matthews used to say, “Asshat.”
Dan Gaffney said..
“couple of quick questions:”
F. Lee Gaffney don’t you have a traffic report to do?
“It’s what talk show hosts do”
How would you know? That Mickey Mouse radio station of yours can’t even push 5 watts and couldn’t catch as skip over the Delaware Bay to save your butt.
Hube,
Given Matthews apparently lax attitude regarding “off the record,” I wouldn’t have given the specifics to Matthews either; however, I think all of us would have been more tactful in requesting the information (no one has ever accused Dave of being tactful).
There seems to be an implied message in the note that was received: Bill Lee shouldn’t enter the race of embarrassing photos will be released (others will argue that there’s no threat of blackmail, but they have a bias against Dave to begin with, and why send the photo at all?–remember, Lee hadn’t officially filed when all this started). The same photo that was mailed was also posted on Matthews’ blog the day after the convention last week (although Matthews posted in a doctored fashion such that his website couldn’t have been the source of the photo). It’s not unreasonable to think that the same person who sent Matthews the photo might have also sent it to the Lee family member.
I commented over at DeLib…knowing some of our vistors won’t go there, here it is:
Now that this is out (to a degree), I personally would like to see it divulged and the person whose name and address that appeared as the sender to raise tremendous hell. That’s where the claim of fraud has to originate.
As Dave did point out, this isn’t the first of it’s kind (first on postal mail, but it happened earlier on email). To let it go is a terrible precedent.
Now, on Dave v. Matthews. That was unfortunate and uncomfortable. As I leveled at Dana once, intentions are a bitch, especially to the one who intended them. That means the originator may have a set of intentions, but if not specifically stated, then they will be lost and likely be painful to the originator.
I sincerely believe that Dave, by knowing him and discussing this with him, had every intention of not using a level of bravado that he is accused of. However, looking from the outside, I can see where that was easily missed on the first email. From there, it all spiraled away. RickJ assesses this well (in the comment thread at DeLib).
My take is, the Lee family owns the complaint for the intimidation part of the mailing. To that, I suspect they respond, “Bring it, beeeyotch!” The person who was defrauded by having hisher name and address appear as the sender owns the complaint for fraud. I wish to all hell and back that goes genuinely public. Like I said before, letting it go sets a terrible precedent.
Well. I guess a lesson here is that a step back from the keyboard, and a deep breath, are good ideas.
Serious question: Dave, why did this reveal need to wait until today?
Comfort zone? You pious poseur. At least I don’t rile up people to intimidate non-Christians, or “pray” with elected officials I purportedly cover.
By the way, in my experience, you’re better off asking the subject the questions in person or on the phone, rather than posting them in a public forum. What’s the purpose in that — you want the chance to say he wouldn’t answer quesions? Or just trying to rake him over the coals again for helping take down your hero, Johnny Boy.
Bringing John Atkins’ “family” into this doesn’t even rise to the level of cheap ploy. But then you wouldn’t want to get out of your “comfort zone” by asking Atkins’ wife what she thinks of the extra-curricular activities. Hypocrite.
Dominique
“I didn’t think the picture was that bad. Republicans sometimes come off as a bit stuffy. I think it kind of humanized him a bit”
Dominique, there must be more pictures of concerns. The one Mike posted of Bill Lee with a paper cup and ice actually did humanize him. Some folks take issue with Bill’s age but the photo Mike posted shows Bill fit and healthy and would put many half his age to shame.
As far as what appears to be photos sent by U.S. Mail, I know Mike and no way he had anything to do with that.
I’d love to give this crap the tender, loving response it deserves, but I think I’ll allow Dave to wallow in the mess of his own creation.
Kilroy: Let’s see if any of these “other” pictures show up. If they don’t, we’re dealing with someone who’s a liar as well as a blackmailer.
Jesus, this could have been handled quite a bit more appropriately. Just coming off the information that there might be blackmail involved in the initial email stage would have sufficed, and we all would never have known about this. In Dave’s defense, maybe he didn’t know what could have been said without harming a possible investigation. Then again, why would Dave be doing the police work of questioning a possible accomplice?
It was just handled all wrong from the beginning.
But then again, the drama is much more entertaining.
I wouldn’t be surprised if he made it all up to cover his ass either.
Dave never should have mentioned the word “subpoena,” because he was talking through his hat. I can understand why Mike M. got upset and defensive; I wouldn’t stand for such a threat from an FBI agent or prosecutor, let alone someone with no authority to make the threat.
Before you condemn Dave, though, remember his quest to flush out the anonymous pink postcard bandit. I’d be pretty frustrated, too, if I kept running into dead ends. IOW, cut him a little slack.
Al Mascitti
“Kilroy: Let’s see if any of these “other” pictures show up. If they don’t, we’re dealing with someone who’s a liar as well as a blackmailer.”
If they were sent U.S Mail and are offensive I doubt we will see them. I missed something between the picture Mike posted and all of this stuff! The only upside to all of this is Old 5 Watt Dan from WCORN has something to feed on! I doubt if Dave would go to such extreme and something may have been mailed. But surely if it was offensive it would never be posted for all to see. Also, if there was an investigation pending I think a former judge would not taint the investigation by allowing this type of exposure. Also, it only feeds the rumor mills and can end up very damaging to his campaign. I see no political benefits from all of this. If you were the victim of a situation like this I think you would work with investigator as not the hamper their investigation. However, all those dam post cards anything is possible in this state. Me. I just like to know where in the hell did $840,000.00 of federal money when during the Red Clay Financial meltdown.
Kilroy is right. This is seemingly only pink piping.
The problem with all of this pink to-do is that at least half of us just don’t beleve it. We can’t get beyond that is it some of the funkiest infighting evah and we don’t trust anyone involved.
Nancy, you are right, that is part of the battle: the perception.
Until people are willing to share it (the option/onus is up to the people that are affected - see my comment #20 for that), you only have us to rely upon. No matter if it would be us, you, anyone; if you are asking people who don’t closely know you, it’s a stretch to expect everyone to simply receive every word as truth.
DG has spent his life living in a crack and pretending to be a Christian.
Nancy: And some of us do trust someone involved.
If having a drink was an issue, Senator Vaughn would not have been elected to anything. It all seems silly and unnewsworthy. I am surprised no one has mentioned the one person who seems to have made an issue of the Judge and a drink.
Oh well, not worth my time. It is just more of what people hate about politics. People trying to show others in the worst light to gain advantage while the state falls apart. The Lee family needs to sit back and laugh at this one. Show me a picture giving a beer to a 15 year old or one with a bottle while in the driver’s seat, then we will talk.
Confucius say, “Man who go to bed with itchy butt wakes up with sticky finger.”
Time to put this one to bed!
One last note: upon now knowing the reason why Dave pursued the matter, and then going back to re-read the emails, something does not jibe.
However if one dares assume the unthinkable, that the crime was invented to cover the actions of the investigator……..then…the lines of the email fit quite well into a logical pattern…….
Anyone else want to take a crack at that? Yea or Nay?
So Dave is the issue not the person trying to slime Bill Lee or even the nature of charge? I am puzzled. That is why I like to stick to issues. This stuff makes my head spin.
You’re very bad, Dave! How dare you stand up for a friend’s honor?
Alexander Hamilton tried to stand up for his own honor and was shot dead.
The thing I find amazing is that people stay up until 1:30 in the morning hashing over a line of crap that most soap opera producers would throw out as being to over the top.
The photo is nothing. The letter is a childish threat at best or worste. The controversy is laughable.
As for there being more photos , I kind of doubt it, if you hate someone bad enough to have them , why not just send them to Dan G. or a news agency and ruin Judge Lee and be done with it , why the slow reveal ?
No sorry , I think someone took the one photo that they thought could be spun to be bad for Judge Lee and hoped that the threat would do the rest.
This should be a chance for Judge Lee to show just what he is made of , by how he handles this.
So, what are the photos showing? Lee drinking? Doing something silly while drunk? Unless there’s nudity or violence involved, no one cares.
On the other hand, someone from Lee’s campaign could have done this as a Rovian setup, much like the infamous CBS memo which perfectly turned the truth of Bush’s service evasion into a weapon to be used against Dan Rather. The message - no reporter, not even the venerable Dan Rather, is safe if the Bush administration flexes its muscles.
Not that I’m suggesting Lee’s campaign is behind this, I just think you should keep all possibilities in mind when there’s a setup like this (as in, assuming “prominent Republican” didn’t send this, then he’s been set up, and so has Matthews).
Here’s the issue. A commenter over at DWA made a comment something like “Wait until the one with vomit down the front of him comes out.”
If something like that was part of this photoset, there would be ramifications. There is also the possibility that this was a test balloon released to see how the campaign and its friends respond to the threat. I can only hope that discretion wins the day and if given the opportunity, bloggers and other forms of media would resist the urge to post it.