Garber Goes A Charge Too Far.
Ross Garber, the challenger in the Republican contest for attorney general, looks to have stretched a Martha Dean campaign quote beyond its reasonable meaning. Garber charges Dean with wanting to legalize drugs, including cocaine and heroin. He turned the issue into an ominous brochure that landed in Republican mailboxes last week. It warns Republicans, “Martha Dean Wants To Decriminalize Heroin And Cocaine Use”, Inside, Garber cites a June 26th Associated Press story on Dean. Rick Green has the mailer here.
Today, Garber released a list of Dean quotes on guns, the death penalty, and decriminalization of drugs. There was plenty of fodder on the first two topics, but only this on the most explosive, drugs: “’Martha Dean believes we need to have a serious debate about decriminalizing drug use.’ Martha Dean for Attorney General Website (June 24, 2010)”
That’s Garber’s proof for the explosive charge of wanting to legalize lethal drugs? Dean could enter a defiant “not guilty” plea to Garber’s charge and expect a quick dismissal of his indictment. Dean is no Peter Schiff on this issue. She says we should have a discussion. That’s reasonable. Garber has performed the remarkable feat of making Martha Dean look like the sober candidate in this vitriolic contest.
7 comments
Sometimes, given enough space, people hsow themselves as they truly are.
Who’s desparate and who’s reasonable?
Hmmm.
I support Ross and think voters need to look at the REAL Martha Dean before they vote.
I looked at Martha and she looked REAL to me — Ross Garber, on the other hand? Not so much.
This race has gotten really sad really fast…
Strange how the down ticket races have become so much more vitriolic than even the Governor and Senate races. Perhaps with less attention, candidates feel more free to be brutes.
I really don’t get all of the commentators who seem to think that Ross is somehow this great “lawyer’s lawyer.” I’ve said it before; he could have resigned his post as counsel to Rowland’s office at any time if he felt he could no longer ethically or morally support Rowland’s positions; had he been representing Rowland personally, however, he could not have resigned so easily, and would have had an ethical obligation to continue representing the governor (in other words, if he was Bill Dow).
Thanks also, Kevin, for reminding us in your Sunday column about Ross’ involvement in the Judge Cofield affair. I’d imagine that even Colin McEnroe will have a tough time justifying the Judicial Review Council’s failure to act in that instance, and Ross ought be held to account for his role as chairman. I wonder what Garber supporter Norm Pattis would have done if he’d been in Ross’ shoes?
The bottom line is that Ross is a party hack of the first order, an old Rowland hand and a politician first and foremost, not this Atticus Finch figure that so many (cough Colin McEnroe, Norm Pattis, cough) make him out to be.
“The drug problem should be addressed primarily through regulation, as with alcohol…” Martha Dean, Connecticut Law Tribune
Published 10/29/01
Looks like you were the one who was wrong, Rennie. Maybe you should do your homework before you write.
Ross has gone over the line. He is acting like one of his mob clients. He has truly shown that he can’t win on his “accomplishments” because there are NONE. The voters know who to vote for on August 10th… MARTHA DEAN for Attorney General!
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