By Scott Tibbs, March 08, 2004
The world of Internet debate can be pretty rough an tumble at times. No sacred cow is left unscathed. If you're going to be participating in a political message board, you need to have some tough skin. Sometimes, though, people take it beyond the bounds of common decency to the point where there should be universal revulsion at the tactics used.
Here on the AMCT message forums, the revolting nature of the attacks here is magnified by the fact that they were used against someone many of us know in person: the late J.D. Maxwell, former Republican candidate for Sheriff who passed away on March 7th. Maxwell had a yearlong battle with brain cancer before finally losing the fight and his life to the dreaded disease. Maxwell has had a very tough last year, going through an ordeal many people could not handle. His death brings a great deal of sadness to the people who, like me, knew him and called him "friend".
It started out innocently enough, when "local talent" posted the news that J.D. had died, and wrote that J.D. "was a very dedicated, and good man, who will be missed by many.God rest his soul." In the very first response in the thread, Democratic Party activist Craig Harvey posted the following:
Quote:
On 2004-03-08 10:42, Craig wrote:
That is not my opnion.
What was Harvey saying? That it is not his opinion that he was a "dedicated, and good man", or that he would be "missed by many"? Or was Harvey expressing disagreement to the statement "God rest (Maxwell's) soul?" It is a sick, depraved thing to say, so soon after someone has passed away.
But the AssMoTalk Left wasn't done. "TreeTerminator" wrote "Compare and contrast (some) liberals' and conservatives' reaction on this post to posts when Frank McCloskey passed away. That says a world." Democratic activist Don Moore wrote:
Quote:
On 2004-03-08 13:17, Don wrote:
I don't recall Frank McCloskey being involved in the frame-up of a political opponent.
So here we have it. A few extreme Leftists, still seething over the arrest (and subsequent conviction) of County Council member Scott Wells on charges related to his drunken driving arrest in September of 2002, cannot let go of their hate for J.D. Less than a day after J.D. tragically passed away, the radical Left is still engaged in a politically-motivated smear campaign against J.D. One would think that Scott Wells was the Messiah of a Green Religion.
There has been plenty of debate over Maxwell's role in the arrest of Scott Wells, but I won't go into that here. I will say it is appalling that some Democrats can't leave J.D. alone for a few days while his family and friends are in mourning. No, J.D. blasphemed the Messiah. There can be no respect for the dead.
But that is not even the worst thing Don Moore said in that thread. On page one, he posted:
Quote:
On 2004-03-08 11:25, Don wrote:
John Donne's words don't always ring true.
And what exactly were John Donne's words? "Any man's death diminishes me, because I am involved in Mankind; And therefore never send to know for whom the bell tolls; it tolls for thee." Moore's slam is sick beyond belief. Dismissing J.D.'s death in such a manner is simply inexcusable. I call on every single Democratic Party official to rebuke Don Moore for his macabre statements and I call on Don Moore to apologize for his callous words.
There is more.
Quote:
On 2004-03-08 16:36, papaj wrote:
Mr. Maxwell means different things to different people. He left an impression on people during the last years of his life that could have been avoided. As far as I'm concerned about it, there will be people that will say things depending on their perception of Mr. Maxwell. Why lie about a person just because of death.
One does not need to lie. Has "papaj" ever heard the phrase "if you can't say somethin' nice, don't say anything at all"? In this time of loss, is it too much to show respect for a husband, a father and a friend? Apparently, for some radical Leftists, it is.
Worst of all is the reaction of an anonymous coward who goes by the handle of "FAIR MARKETEER"
Quote:
On 2004-03-08 19:24, FAIR MARKETEER wrote:
J.D. Law!!!
Rot in Hell you lying dog!
That is, with all due respect --- Sir!
Keep the home fires burnin' ....
This is perverted and depraved. I guess it is easy to say such an evil thing when you hide behind a fake name, like a coward. Greg Travis should immediately ban "FAIR MARKETEER" from the board for his disgusting lack of humanity.
Not all of the Leftists on AssMoTalk have been as despicable as Don Moore, Craig Harvey and the anonymous coward "FAIR MARKETEER". In fact, David Coonce, NINO, and Citizen Gregg have offered respectful condolences to Maxwell's loved ones. I thank them for that.
Here is my question to Moore, Harvey and "FAIR MARKETEER". How would you feel if you logged onto a message board and saw your father, your spouse, your child, your brother or your friend attacked with such hateful venom, less than a day after he passed away? If you have no respect for J.D., can't you at least respect the feeling s of those who knew and cared for him?
Obviously, the answer is a resounding "NO!" After all, J.D. "sinned" against The Messiah.
