Jessica McBride, no sense of decency

When the Brawler saw the news that Molly Christofferson, campaign manager for DA John Chisholm and daughter of Bill Christofferson, was arrested for forging checks to pay off drug debts, the first thing he felt was sympathy for the Christoffersons. The Brawler has seen loved ones grapple with drug addiction before and he hopes they get through this (Ms. Christofferson is expected to seek a plea).

After ruminating on the news, he then wondered how the right half of the blogosphere would react. Ignore it? Take the high road and wish them the best? Or use the news as an occasion to score vicious partisan points?

The Brawler is ashamed to say he thought Jessica McBride actually might have taken one of the first two paths.

So convinced was the Brawler that Jessica might act like a human being, he was actually surprised when he turned to her blog and saw a blown-up picture of Ms. Christofferson.

The post reads:

Notice the lack of a headline. None needed. Adults can't control what their kids do. But... well, you-know-who is closer to her than Jack Abramoff was to Mark Green. And I'm not talking about John Chisholm.

'Nuff said.

The Brawler really doesn't know where to begin when confronted with this. (And not the least of which because it's barely coherent and the analogy doesn't make any sense whatsoever. Last I checked, Mark Green's staff at a minimum took freebies from Abramoff, and lied about it, and Green was in the back pocket of Abramoff's partner in corruption Tom DeLay. Meanwhile, Jessica rants about Doyle being like Nixon based on ... what?)

Now obviously the Brawler is strongly partisan and believes there can be virtue in honest partisanship. And the Brawler has been known to point out the colorful personal lives of Charlie Sykes and Jessica's own husband, Paul Bucher. But when you like to claim the high moral ground and position yourself as a family values guy, well, someone's going to point out your personal life doesn't match your rhetoric.

But the Brawler can truthfully say that if conservative pundit X has a kid in trouble -- even an adult kid -- he wouldn't touch it out of basic humanity. Maybe it comes from being a parent. But it seems there are some things that should be left alone or handled with grace. Even when dealing with political "enemies."

Heck, the Brawler has exercised restraint in saying things about Jessica McBride. The Brawler started regulating comments after a commenter put up some unflattering remarks about Jessica that went too far.

And after reading her piece about Ms. Christofferson, let's recall these remarks from Jessica last month (apropos of Ann Althouse freaking out in an online point/counterpoint thing):

... The complete trash that goes on in the blogosphere, the viciousness, the juvenile attacks, the namecalling, and the libel... it's out of control.

I think female conservatives (although Althouse is more of a centrist) get it the worst (and other women are often the flamethrowers). Just ask Michelle Malkin. People photoshop her head on other people's bodies and routinely call her sexist and racist slurs. Maybe women just get it the worst. The shots are cheaper, pettier, although males certainly get called names too. ...

*****************************

Some advice to Althouse. Here's what I've learned over time: Don't post on the comment threads. Don't send emails. Don't link. And, whatever you do, don't videotape yourself going off on them. Just don't read them, don't respond to them, don't empower them, don't write about their blogs, and don't notice them. You're above it. Over time, others will get sick of their tired game, and they will be preaching to an audience of one. If they aren't already.

Jessica McBride, sliding effortlessly from self pity to smear campaigns.

Why does Jessica McBride have an audience at all? And why is a person of such self-evidently low character a journalism instructor at UW-M?

Postscript: Lakeshore Laments -- of which the Brawler is not a fan -- manages to express some sympathy for Ms. Christofferson even while taking a shot at her father. The Brawler notes that Binversie has trouble spelling "daughter" in the headline.

Update: Xoff writes in comments:

"For the record, I have received a number of sympathetic and supportive emails from the right side of the blogosphere, including Owen Robinson, James Wigderson, and Christian Schneider, as well as from some fellow travelers.

"Molly has been in treatment since soon after her arrest, but addiction is a
devastating illness, and it will continue to be a long haul.

"Thanks to all for their good wishes."

Update II: Left and right agree: Jessica McBride is beyond the pale. Dave Casper (who apparently is banned in Iran) and The American Mind take Jessica to task. The Brawler's buddy Dad29 questions the need for some of the details in the original JS story. James Wigderson doesn't see the need for the JS story and says "maybe" McBride took a cheap shot.

On the left, James Rowen, a friend of XOff, weighs in.

(Link removed.)

Comments

[xoff]

For the record, I have received a number of sympathetic and supportive emails from the right side of the blogosphere, including Owen Robinson, James Wigderson, and Christian Schneider, as well as from some fellow travelers.

Molly has been in treatment since soon after her arrest, but addiction is a
devastating illness, and it will continue to be a long haul.

Thanks to all for their good wishes.

[Anonymous]

Here's the difference:

Ms. Christofferson is admitting that she has a problem and is trying to change.

Ms. McBride is neither admitting that she has a problem, nor is she trying to change.

'Nuff said.

[Anonymous]

Email the honchos of Journal Communications to take down from the TMJ website that despicable entry on its blogs:

STEVEN SMITH, Chairman of the Board
ssmith@journalcommunications.com

PAUL KRITZER, Legal and Secretary
pkritzer@journalcommunications.com

[A Friend]

I was in treatment with Molly and she is a bright, articulate woman who had the courage to admit she has a Illness that required treatment. Yes, and Illness. Addiction is not something that we seek nor want. Our brains are chemically different than those of "normal" social users. Weather it be drugs or alcohol or working out or our work, our brain tells us to push it to the next level. Not our fault, but it can be devistating to those we love and care about, those we work for, and left untreated, it will kill us. When Molly admitted she was powerless and control was an illusion, she asked for help. Yes, what happened was unfortunate, but lets give credit to a person with ties to an elected office, for doing the right thing, white washing nothing, facing her demons (which seem to be many) and ultimately getting help. Happy Birthday.

[never tell]

McBride is showing signs of "jumping the shark." Let's hope she doesn't make us all suffer too long.

[never tell]

Wallah!