Md. appeal: 'Strangle' e-mail is free speech

Washington Times ^ | November 16th | Jeffrey Anderson

[Halfmanhalfamazing]

When Walter Carl Abbott Jr. posted comments last year on a Maryland government Web site saying he would "strangle" Gov. Martin O'Malley, he learned there's a difference.

The 45-year-old Pikesville construction worker was found guilty of threatening a public official. He is serving two years' probation for his rant against the governor, whom Mr. Abbott blames for personal financial problems that stem from business competition from illegal immigrants.

...

Out back, a homemade sign leaning against his partially finished garage says: "Deport Illegals - Imprison Bush! By Order of the American People!!!"

[Halfmanhalfamazing]

This doesn't pass the smell test to me. I don't consider this a free speech issue, but I think that he might have been made an example.

[DemforBush]

“He responded with a lengthy e-mail to the governor that included the phrase: “If I ever get close enough to you I will [w]rap my hands around your throat and strangle the life from you.”

I would have taken it as a threat as well. Had it been something like “I wish you’d drop dead from a heart attack” or something like that, I would say the free speech argument would have considerable merit. But the guy crossed the line when he directly threatened the life of another individual.

Now, I’ve no doubt that the fact that he said it to the governor is making the situation much worse than it might otherwise be. I think it highly likely the plan is to “make an example” of the mook.

[Venturer]

We had a good decent Governor in Ehrlich. He was doing a fine job and we had a small surplus, then along came the Democrat machine.

I have to admit Ehrlich made a bad decision on his Lt. Governor and Mike Steele pulled out to run for the Senate, but why the people of Md. went for the corrupt Mayor of Baltimore I cannot tell you.

[P.O.E.]

Just wondering - what would have been the penalty had it been a threat against someone who wasn’t a public official?

Not that I’m advocating either, but I find these kinds of rules typical of how politicians insulate themselves from the governed.

[plsjr]

Another step in the direction of fascism.

If Mr. Abbott's statement were a part of a greater pattern that demonstrated intent to harm, then there is an argument.

This, however, smacks of ‘thought crime’ and the recognition of the oligarchs that the natives are ‘not pleased’ with the way they're arbitrarily destroying our livelihoods - that's what they've done to this man by not holding criminals (illegal immigrants) accountable and allowing them to undercut taxpaying U.S. Citizens’ businesses.

Sadly, this was done by 12 peers who were not advised to consider 1st Amendment Free Speech rights.

[hal ogen]

Remember, this was in Maryland. Maryland is the poster-child for liberal wackiness. Keep in mind Sen Mikulski, Cong Van Hollen, Sen Cardin, Cong Hoyer and so on. The mayor of Bsltimore is on trial for using gift cards meant for the poor. Cong Pilosi comes from Baltimore where her family is entrenched historically in liberal politics. Do a search on Maryland political corruption. Maryland is really a mental asylum.

[maddog55]

I keep putting this out for us folks in MD:

Maryland is the fifth least free state in the country.
The state is 34th in economic freedom but a distant
50th in personal freedom. Maryland’s impositions on
personal freedom include the second-strictest gun
laws in the country, and marijuana laws are fairly
harsh (except that the first offense of high-level possession is a misdemeanor, and there is a weak medical
marijuana law), motorists’ freedoms are highly
restricted, gambling laws are tight, home schooling
laws are burdensome (curricula must be approved
by the government), centralized land-use planning
is very advanced, eminent domain abuse is totally
unreformed, victimless crimes arrest rates are high,
and civil unions are not recognized. On the plus side,
taxes on beer, wine, and spirits are fairly low, and
overall Maryland has one of the least restrictive alcohol
control systems in the country. Surprisingly, the
state has not enacted complete smoking bans yet. On
economic regulation, the state has the usual left-ofcenter
failings on labor law, but more strikingly it has
the second-most health insurance mandates in the
country (they add 67 percent to the cost).

[nicollo]

On the plus side, taxes on beer, wine, and spirits are fairly low, and overall Maryland has one of the least restrictive alcohol control systems in the country

... except for Montgomery County: Department of Liquor Control