Them thar's are fighting words -- Majette's campaign. Does it know when to call the attack dog off & that a response begets a response?

A 10-4-04 post entitled "Do as I say, not as I do (and did this summer with Oxford*) -- Democracy: A commitment to civility," contains the following:

Democracy: A commitment to civility

Democracy is a means of living together despite our differences. Democratic deliberation is an alternative to physical violence. It is predicated on the assumption that it's possible to disagree agreeably, that it's better to laugh than cry, that one can vigorously contest the positions of one's adversary without questioning his or her personal integrity or motivation, and that parties to a debate are entitled to the presumption that their views are legitimate if not correct. - Thomas Mann

If you missed the post, it has part of a great editorial from the Macon Telegraph that is worth our consideration.

I deferred doing a post on the topic discussed below, hoping it was a mistake that would be quickly corrected by those (read "the person") responsible.

A couple of days after I did the Macon Telegraph post, the "paper-plate campaign of Denise Majette" started a "brutal, slash-and-burn side that never revealed itself in the primary. We assume that the new no-prisoners attitude can be attributed at least partly to the presence of Rick Dent, former political counselor to U.S. Sen. Zell Miller."

The Isakson campaign had "put out a run-of-the-mill press release listing the Democrats who had offered their endorsement of him. Some were of dubious pedigree; others — locked in tough races — are looking for cover. Many were House lawmakers who had served with Isakson. On the whole, not a surprising list."

"Even so, within four hours, the Majette campaign responded with a withering, point-by-point critique of all 30 Democrats: 'former Democrats from the disco era, insiders, scandal-ridden politicians who haven't been heard from in decades, Bush supporters, and other assorted dinosaurs.'"

"It's rare to find a general election, Democrat-on-Democrat document that uses the words 'stripper,' 'child molester' and 'early release for convicted felons' with such relish."

"[Majette] was particularly rough on three House Democrats who face tough re-election challenges from Republicans."

(quotes from 10-7-04 PI and 10-11-04 PI.)

Predictably, the reaction to Majette attacking fellow Democrats did not go over very well, with angry lawmakers accusing Majette of trying to drag the legislature down with her. She promised to take the attack piece press release from her website.

Although it was still available for several days (I looked at it again on Tuesday), as of Wednesday a.m. it was down. Then why I am doing the post you ask.

Well, there's something called fighting words. The "fighting-words doctrine" was first enunciated in a 1942 case before the U.S. Supreme Court upholding a constitutional challenge to a New Hampshire statute that prohibited the use of offensive, insulting language toward persons in public places. The Court stated:

"There are certain well-defined and narrowly limited classes of speech, the prevention and punishment of which have never been thought to raise any constitutional problem. These include the lewd and obscene, the profane, the libelous, and the insulting or "fighting" words — those which by their very utterance inflict injury or tend to incite an immediate breach of the peace."

The 10-13-04 PI reports the following regarding the press release, its presence, lack thereof and possible reemergence on Majette's website:

Campaign manager Rick Dent says [the press release] will be coming down from Majette's Web site. It just takes a few days to get the Web masters to do their work.

But Dent holds out the possibility of its return — as one would a sledgehammer.

"If any of those Democrats on that list do anything else — campaign with Mr. Isakson, participate in a press release with Mr. Isakson, anything — we'll do it again," Dent said. "And we'll come after them individually. So if they appear at a press conference, appear at an event — you name it — if we find out about it, we'll come after them locally."

Now, that's an offer they can't refuse.
_______________

Congresswoman Majette: Them thar's are fighting words. If your campaign manager doesn't know when it is past time to call the attack dog off -- himself -- you need to step in and issue some directive.

A response begets a response Mr. Dent. I suspect some of the Democrats who you have threatened -- as if you are holding all the cards -- might do as the PI suggests, and say, hey, that an offer I can't refuse. For after all, in my opinion Sir, your words are fighting words. Page two.

I woke up this morning thinking I was dreaming that I was in Washington state and must be at Mount St. Helens. Why? I felt tremors.

Upon further investigation, I ascertained the situation. It seems that the Dean had gotten up even earlier with much on his mind.

The tremors were from the Dean shaking in his boots as his paced the floors in his home, worried that the "sledgehammer" might next be directed at him.