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News & ArtsMonday, September 17, 2012
Money / Election Senator Benton Threatens to Sue Challenger Probst for ONE MILLION DOLLARS!
Posted by Goldy on Mon, Sep 17, 2012 at 5:17 PM
Doing his best Dr. Evil impersonation, Republican state Senator Don Benton has threatened to sue Democratic state Representative Tim Probst for one million dollars, accusing his challenger of "intentionally, knowingly, and maliciously" making false and misleading statements. The threat came in a cease and desist letter (pdf) delivered from Benton's attorney.
Benton accuses Probst of lying about the senator's shoddy voting record (Washington Votes reports Benton missing 299 out of 2,469 votes since 2009, fourth most in the senate) and his shoddy performance as a former Washington State Republican Party chair (contemporaneous media reports described Benton's tenure as "brief and contentious"). But the state Dems have released a fact sheet (pdf) backing up Probst's claims.
Having been on the receiving end of bullshit cease and desist letters like this myself, it's hard not laugh. One of the candidates in this 17th LD senate race is shaking in his boots right about now. And it's not Tim Probst.
1
35 years practicing law, and Lake Oswego attorney Peter Mozena's chief accomplishment listed online is his glowing, clumsy Amazon review of Bill O'Reilly's audiobook "Culture Warrior".
Bill O'Reilly makes important comments on the state of the country and civilization. Only those who have closed minds will not see the insights into issues that are creating conflicts in the culture brought to light by this book. It is always an extra bonus to have the book read by the author so that the right emphasis will be brought out.http://www.amazon.com/review/RFPCEZX4SLG…
3
Not that he lied about Benton, but didn't our state Supreme court rule that it's legal to lie during political campaigns?
4
@3 Yes, it did! And it's total crap. But since that's the case now, candidates should be vigilant of what their opponents are saying, and they should make a big mess of it when they catch a lie. This may not be such an instance, but I certainly support the right of a candidate to retaliate against a lie or a misrepresentation.
5
It's great to see that Sen. Benton cares enough about his district and State to hire an attorney for Oregon.
What a dick.
What a dick.
7
Defamation is nearly impossible to win, even if the allegations have merit, due to anti-SLAPP laws.
Benton is a blowhard.
Benton is a blowhard.
8
There are a hadfull of detestable creatures in smallitics, Don Benton is one.
Hey, maybe he should run for U. S Senate again. He did so well against the perpetually "vulnerable" Patty Murray.
Hey, maybe he should run for U. S Senate again. He did so well against the perpetually "vulnerable" Patty Murray.
9
Hey Goldy, hope you are keeping an eye on the Dawn McCrazey v. Rosemary McAuliffe 1st district senate race. Tea Party candidate is trying to stealth her way into the senate and take out a key Democratic Senator and the head of the Ed Committee. Great story there about hiding a radical agenda, refusal to take public questions, some really weird local PTSA involvement in an attempt to undermine public education, as well as some possible shady violations of campaign tax laws by local fundy churches. Go investigate. you will be surprised and rewarded with good material.
10
Don Benton is one of the worst blowhards on the political scene. And I love that his idiotic hack of a lawyer can't even put a sentence together ("Additionally, we will be investigating violations of state and federal election's laws for your false and misleading statements.")
Ooooooooooooh!
Ooooooooooooh!
11
@4 Sure but who arbitrates what is truth and what is lie. If gay marriage supporters say their is no evidence that gay families are worse than straight ones and are sued by the bigots, what's to say a conservative majority supreme court might in fact find it a lie?
I'd much rather leave it up to our messy and often ineffectual media than grant courts the power to silence or punish political speech.
Hell just the ability to legitimately threaten such a thing would have a chilling effect on controversial speech by lesser meaned people.
Our justice system is far too imperfect to be used except when truly necessary.
I'd much rather leave it up to our messy and often ineffectual media than grant courts the power to silence or punish political speech.
Hell just the ability to legitimately threaten such a thing would have a chilling effect on controversial speech by lesser meaned people.
Our justice system is far too imperfect to be used except when truly necessary.
12
I have had occasions to go up to Olympia and have observed Don Benton on the Senate floor. He is impressive. His depth and breadth of knowledge makes him the "Go to" guy in Olympia. When the Democrat Senate couldn't get their own budget out of the ways and means committee, it was Don Benton who reached across the aisle, worked with three fiscally responsible Democrats and got a budget through. That is why the Democrats hate him so much. He did what the Democrats couldn't. His bills to protect children are unmatched. The real story here is that Tim Probst doesn't have a record to run on. In September, up through the 12th - Tim Probst did not receive one local contribution. That is significant. This is because Tim's answers and Representative votes are determined by whether or not it will get him re-elected, not whether or not it lines up with his or his district's values. As I said before, he has no record to run. His constituents get that - and that's why there is no local support.
I have had occasions to go up to Olympia and have observed Don Benton on the Senate floor. He is impressive. His depth and breadth of knowledge makes him the "Go to" guy in Olympia. When the Democrat Senate couldn't get their own budget out of the ways and means committee, it was Don Benton who reached across the aisle, worked with three fiscally responsible Democrats and got a budget through. That is why the Democrats hate him so much. He did what the Democrats couldn't. His bills to protect children are unmatched. The real story here is that Tim Probst doesn't have a record to run on. In September, up through the 12th - Tim Probst did not receive one local contribution. That is significant. This is because Tim's answers and Representative votes are determined by whether or not it will get him re-elected, not whether or not it lines up with his or his district's values. As I said before, he has no record to run. His constituents get that - and that's why there is no local support.
14
I have had occasions to go up to Olympia and have observed Don Benton on the Senate floor. He is impressive. His depth and breadth of knowledge makes him the "Go to" guy in Olympia. When the Democrat Senate couldn't get their own budget out of the ways and means committee, it was Don Benton who reached across the aisle, worked with three fiscally responsible Democrats and got a budget through. That is why the Democrats hate him so much. He did what the Democrats couldn't. His bills to protect children are unmatched. The real story here is that Tim Probst doesn't have a record to run on. In September, up through the 12th - Tim Probst did not receive one local contribution. That is significant. This is because Tim's answers and Representative votes are determined by whether or not it will get him re-elected, not whether or not it lines up with his or his district's values. As I said before, he has no record to run. His constituents get that - and that's why there is no local support.
I have had occasions to go up to Olympia and have observed Don Benton on the Senate floor. He is impressive. His depth and breadth of knowledge makes him the "Go to" guy in Olympia. When the Democrat Senate couldn't get their own budget out of the ways and means committee, it was Don Benton who reached across the aisle, worked with three fiscally responsible Democrats and got a budget through. That is why the Democrats hate him so much. He did what the Democrats couldn't. His bills to protect children are unmatched. The real story here is that Tim Probst doesn't have a record to run on. In September, up through the 12th - Tim Probst did not receive one local contribution. That is significant. This is because Tim's answers and Representative votes are determined by whether or not it will get him re-elected, not whether or not it lines up with his or his district's values. As I said before, he has no record to run. His constituents get that - and that's why there is no local support.
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