Kudos to Vivian Paige
By Brian Kirwin | Monday, October 12th, 2009 | PolicyTime to put the old partisanship that I’m so well-known for (at least in the Deeds campaign) and defend fellow blogger Vivian Paige.
Norfolk’s City Attorney sent Paige a letter using the power of government threatening charges of “defamation and violation of privacy” if she didn’t delete a comment and turn over the name and email address of the commenter.
Who prompted it? Commissioner of Revenue Sharon McDonald was CCd on the letter, so it’s likely either the City Attorney reads blogs during work hours, Sharon McDonald complained, or an unnamed City Council member prompted the action.
My first thought was, if this is about defamation, why not the Commonwealth’s Attorney? Why the city attorney?
Vivian, as is her style, posted a response that must have Norfolk officials staring at shoelaces for wasting time on such nonsensical jabber.
It’s sad that local city attorneys spend more time monitoring a blog than researching the legal standing of their demands on a blogger about comments other people make.
Someone in the city owes Vivian a huge apology, and fast. The way it looks to me, that apology should come from at least two offices.
Couldn’t help this one, though – Vivian included a quote from Christina Nuckols – “It’s too easy to become hermetically sealed in the campaign bubble and grow indifferent to the outside world.” Also true of an editorial board, methinks.
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About the author
The right wants to jeer him. The left wants to censor him. Moderates usually want both. Brian Kirwin is a political consultant and public relations strategist in Virginia Beach with a lightning-rod flair. Brian also serves on the VB Arts & Humanities Commission and frequently appears on Hampton Roads theatrical stages, if only to prove that all actors aren’t liberals. Kirwin’s columns stir up debate and hit the political scene with no punches pulled.
Comments
6 Responses to "Kudos to Vivian Paige"
Brian,
There are no stupid questions.
There are just questions asked by stupid people.
The city attorney would send the threatening letter because defamation is a civil matter. The city attorney is tasked with defending the city, interpreting its laws, and enforcing the city’s rights. When it comes to defending and enforcing it is all done on the civil side of court. Defamation is not criminal and the commonwealth’s attorney only has the power to engage in criminal prosecution, and act in very limited civil matters where criminal style procedures are utilized.
As is usual, Vivian has shown good judgment in her reaction.
Thanks, RL. See why I skipped Law School?
That Norfolk City Attorney just made himself look like a complete numbskull.
Sharon MacDonald, too. Using government resources to attack your political enemies…sound very Nixonian, or Clintonian for that matter…
Wouldn’t this be a matter for the Attorney General’s office since McDonald is an elected official paid by the state? In any case, I wonder who is footing the bill for the City Attorney’s fees? The citizens of Norfolk?
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