 | ||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||
|
« Fall Scenes | Main | Tennessean: Kerry Was Right » November 2, 2006Fast Candidate Caught On Tape?
One ticket was for going 93 mph in a 70 mph zone on Route 840. She's rather whiny about the whole thing - not very senatorial. And, oddly, she refers to Williamson County - which makes up the bulk of the district she seeks to represent - as if she's an outsider. Here's the video: I haven't met Mary Parker. I've only seen her in her campaign ads and brochures that come into my mailbox (and go straight into my trash of course because I back Jack). So, I am taking Nathan's word that the whiny lawyer trying to get out of a speeding ticket in the video really is her. Just to be sure, I emailed the Parker campaign to inquire if it is indeed her. If it isn't her, this post will disappear... Update: Confirmed: It is her. The tape is from a court appearance in 2002 before Williamson County Circuit Court Judge Tim Easter. In the YouTube era, stupid stuff a candidate did on tape four years ago doesn't remain in the past. Instead, it becomes part of the campaign narrative, in this case showing how Mary Parker, Democrat nominee for the state Senate in Tennessee, was willing to abuse her power position as a lawyer to get out of a speeding ticket in ways that a normal person couldn't. A question for Gov. Bredesen, who has campaigned for and raised money for Parker: Given that the highest-ranking person in your administration, Deputy Gov. Dave Cooley, was caught on tape trying to abuse his political power position to get out of a speeding ticket - don't you think it sends the wrong message to be backing a candidate who also tried to use her power position as a lawyer to get out of a speeding ticket?
Jack talks about issues in his ads - taxes, spending, illegal immigration, protecting children from predators, etc. - while Parkers' ads feature other people describing her as a "remarkable woman." And you have to give it to her: she is pretty remarkable at trying to lawyer her way out of a speeding ticket. Photo credit: Mary Parker's campaign website. Update: Two of Johnson's four excellent TV ads are now available on YouTube: Jessica's Law Ilegal Immigration If you want to help Jack Johnson, please visit his website and contribute! Update: Parker's claim that Nashville judges routinely dismiss attorney's speeding tickets brings to mind NewsChannel5 investigative reporter Phil Williams' excellent investigative series last year on a pattern of ticket-fixing in the Nashville courts. Maybe Ms. Parker was so used to the Davidson County court system's corrupt culture of coddling the well-connected that she thought she could get similar treatment in Williamson County by waving her "I'm a lawyer!" card. Update: WKRN Channel 2 political commentator/blogger A.C. Kleinheider calls the video of Parker trying to get out of a speeding ticket because she's a lawyer "shocking," and says this: In the video she appears to contend that she should be able to have her speeding ticket voided simply because she is a attorney. Being a member of the powerful downtown legal community, Parker seems appalled that her stroke does not extend outside the Davidson County limits...She's probably equally shocked that video of her arrogant power-play from four years ago is now front-and-center in her campaign. Posted in Campaign Season
Comments
I am a lawyer and was in court that day. I can tell you that IS Mary Parker and the video shows exactly what happened. At the time, there was a video feed into the jury room where lawyers could wait and talk until their cases were called. When Mary Parker said that, there was total silence in the room, followed by comments of how stupid she was to say that in open court and on the record. At least one lawyer discussed sending a copy of that tape to the board of professional responsibility. It is Mary and that video captures here perfectly. Posted by: "Perry Mason" at November 2, 2006 6:45 AMWhat disturbs me is her apparent assertion that the laws are not applied equally to lawyers, at least in Nashville. I'm sure the judges in Davidson County will be quite surprised to hear of this well-known favorable treatment. Being a lawyer in Knoxville, who often has busness in Nashville, I guess I can put the hammer down at the Davidson County line. Posted by: CBT at November 2, 2006 6:49 AMYeah, I'd call her remarkable. We surely don't need anymore legislators in Nashville that assume that their status give them a free pass on obeying the laws. PLEASE Williamson County--don't let this happen. Posted by: Kay Brooks at November 2, 2006 7:11 AMPeople using all available strategies, including the "do you know who I am" variety, to get out of speeding tickets isn't much of a bombshell to me. It does strike me that she has a healthy sense of self-importance, but lawyers are audacious in court every day. Posted by: claunchs at November 2, 2006 9:52 AMWish more people were Backing Jack this publicly. Sometimes people think that he will win and no worrys. You still have to pay for TV and Newspaper. He will be a great Senator. A very honest and positive person. Posted by: hlb at November 2, 2006 11:22 PMPost a comment
Comments Policy: Your comment is subject to deletion if it is off-topic or includes foul language or personal attack. Readers, please email me if you find comments that include egregious violations of this policy. Comments may not post immediately - do not post twice!
|
|||||||||||
