(Election phone-jammer) Tobin attorneys seek probation

[Judi Lynn]

Tobin attorneys seek probation
Saturday, May 13, 2006 - Bangor Daily News << Back

CONCORD, N.H. - A former Republican official should not go to prison for his part in a conspiracy to jam get-out-the-vote phone lines in 2002, his defense team argued in court documents filed late Thursday.

Instead, James Tobin, 45, of Bangor, Maine, should be sentenced to probation and community service and ordered to pay a fine. The Washington, D.C., attorneys also filed more than 150 pages of letters in support of Tobin.
(snip)

"This case is an aberration," the defense team wrote. "As a father, husband, brother, friend, coach, teacher, counselor and volunteer, Mr. Tobin has exemplified what most Americans hope to achieve in their lives."

Letters signed by U.S. Sen. Susan Collins, former U.S. Sen. and Secretary of State William Cohen, state Sen. William Diamond, D-Windham, ex-presidential candidate Steve Forbes and Michael Saxl, the former speaker of Maine's House of Representatives, were filed alongside those from family, friends, colleagues and neighbors.
(snip/...)

http://www.bangornews.com/news/templates/?a=133976

[valerief]

1. No, not prison, but maybe one of those off-shore U.S. torture camps? n/t

[catnhatnh]

2. I don't give a RAT'S ASS if their Gentle Jesus comes back...

...and PERSONALLY begs compassion.How DARE a bunch of out of state high-powered clowns bred in their "culture of corruption" support a criminal who infringed the civil rights of every citizen in my state???Until this lying bastard TRULY comes to Jesus,and testifies against the sitting and two former RNC chairs involved in this horseshit my compassion consists of saying "Make sure he gets enough bread and water.".....

[Kagemusha]

3. Let me get this straight...

this CASE is an aberration??? Not the fact he committed a crime, but the fact he was PROSECUTED is the aberration and for that reason, he should be treated as a hero???

[ShockediSay]

14. maybe this is how they will use all phone data now being collected

jamming get out the vote cals by by activists and opposition

prove to me Cheney wouldn't do this - you can't

[Maat]

4. Who knows? He might have made a huge impact on the election!

The phone-bankers could have persuaded many people to vote, who, in turn, would have persuaded others to vote. I think that we should send a huge message that messin' with the vote is NOT EVER a tolerable thing. He should go to jail, in my humble opinion, or else be on 'house-arrest,' with numerous probation terms.

Rethuglicans are disgusting, especially when they minimizing the impact of this atrocious behavior.

[WhiteTara]

5. house arrest...now that is really not maat!

Prison for obstructing democracy. That is least sentence they should get. The greater the obstruction the stiffer the penalty up to death for traitors.

[Maat]

9. You're right; it's just I hate sending anyone to prison.

When I was a social worker (before I retired), I used to have visit clients in prison. I really hate to see anyone except the most violent in there; but that involves my personal issues (viewpoint).

These guys that committed this crime did do something truly heinous by interfering with the democratic process.

(By the way, I'm against the death penalty. I used to sit in holding cells reading parents (who had done some really, really bad things) their rights as to their children - who, generally, were placed with loving relatives, thankfully - because their parents were going up the river for a spell. I long ago decided that I didn't want to ever lower myself to seriously hurting or killing another human being, making me like them. I hope that I explained that correctly; you can see why they call me a "bleeding heart liberal.")

[WhiteTara]

11. your theory requires them to be human

and I think they have lost those rights to call themselves human. They are definitely evil mutants and deserve imprisonment or a traitor's death by firing squad. (my preference would be on the White House lawn at high noon on any day).
But hey, I'm glad you still have compassion for them...that is very Maat. :)

[Maat]

12. You're cool, BareNakedLiberal (n/t)!

[The Sushi Bandit]

6. Let the Bastard Rot in his Cell!

[The Sushi Bandit]

7. Let the Bastard Rot in his Cell!

[Maat]

10. I love your slot machine v. voting machine comparison.

Thanks for posting it. I sent the link on to my relatives and friends!

[brooklynite]

8. Where's the NSA when you need them?

Didn't they notice an "anomolous" calling pattern?

[NYC]

13. Interfering with elections is a very serious crime.

What could be more serious in a democracy?

Community service should not be for such serious offenses.

[rustydog]

15. He exemplified: cheating, lying, law breaking...

shit you have men of God raping little boys...Great they are priests...They are still a fucking rapist.

Tobin can be the best teacher and volunteer on earth..he is still a fucking criminal and he deserves jail like everyone else who runs afoul of the justice system.

[stepnw1f]

16. DIdn't He COmmit a Federal Crime

by messing with an election...

What would happen to you or me, if we did such a thing?

And who the fuck is this (D) Windham doing? Time to get rid of another GOP mole, Dem as well.

[Judi Lynn]

18. One important detail they consistantly leave out of stories on Tobin

is that although they had all the resources to take this to court right after it happened, the government refused to deal with this "in a timely manner" until AFTER THE NEXT ELECTION, thereby sparing the American voters the pesky obligation of being aware of just how far the Republican Party is more than happy to go, in order to keep Democrats and the Firefighters from bringing additional voters to the polls who cannot make it there on their own.

[truthisfreedom]

17. make an example of this guy. put this guy in prison and put him in the

headlines.

[Justice]

19. if he had pled guilty, sparing everyone all the angst and cost, and

told the full story of all that happened, maybe. But he fought tooth and nail, and still frankly denies he did anything wrong. Why would you show him mercy?

[yellowcanine]

20. Exactly. Make an example of him that obstructing elections is a serious

crime in a democracy.