You are misapplying the messenger metaphor. In that metaphor, the messenger is bringing bad news that is true. The messenger is not advocating a position; just reporting true but bad news.Dr Exiled wrote: ↑Sat Nov 14, 2020 5:48 pmThat is my point regarding the Lincoln Project's campaign to cancel lawyers they deem as unworthy. Representing the unpopular with certain crowds has its downside. I guess this firm didn't want to face the repercussions the Lincoln Project threatened. Maybe this is a way to defeat the election challenge, threaten social and economic ostracizing?Gunnar wrote: ↑Fri Nov 13, 2020 9:00 pm
I think it extremely likely that the firm knew from the start that the position was frivolous, but they couldn't resist the opportunity to enrich themselves by humoring Trump and his cronies. As long as Trump is willing to pay them handsomely to file frivolous lawsuits on his behalf, they are content to profit from his narcissism and self delusion as long as they can get away with it, or until they realized that the cost to their ethical reputation is more than they are willing to pay. I am convinced that at least some of the lawyers representing Trump merely unethical opportunists who are eagerly and unethically taking deliberate advantage of Trump's glaring deficiencies and incompetence as long as they can, with little or no regard to how much this will damage our democracy.
I think it is a bad choice to attack the messenger. Assuming the election contesting arguments are specious, just point that out and the judges will dismiss the cases. That seems to be what is happening so far. It'll be over in a few weeks. Most election contests don't end well anyway. So, there shouldn't be anything to worry about, right?
We’re talking about, not about messengers simply reporting the truth. We’re talking about powerful, well-compensated advocates who are paid to win cases, with truth not being a central issue.
How should society treat powerful individuals who use their power and resources to cynically undermine one of the very foundations of our society?
I will zealously defend the right to counsel for those who those who are faced with deprivation of freedom or property through the coercive power of government. But this is arguably the most powerful individual in the country being assisted by other powerful individuals in a broad scale attack on the foundations of our democratic republic. These lawyers are big boys and girls who do just fine. If they changed their minds because of some public criticism, then they should find another profession. If criminal defense lawyers can withstand criticism for defending murder and rapists and the ACLU for defending Nazis, surely a large firm of lawyers can take some heat for filing lawsuits on behalf of the most powerful man in America.
I don’t believe for a second that this form is made up of snowflakes who turned and ran because they caught flak from the Lincoln Project. I find it much more plausible that they took a really hard look at the complaint they filed, the motion to dismiss that was filed in response, and discovered that what their client was asking them to do was not consistent with their ethical obligations.
To be clear, I don’t approve of what the Lincoln Project did. I would never pressure a fellow lawyer not to represent an unpopular client. I also do not approve of harassment as a political tactic.
But I also believe context is everything. What is happening is intentional sabotage of our fundamental democratic institutions by the most powerful man in the world because he cannot admit he lost an election. He laid the groundwork four years ago and has been relentless about it for the last year. He’s lied and lied and lied and lied about the extent of fraud in our elections, claiming that a Trump loss equals massive fraud. Ever since the election, he and his administration has been a geyser of lies about election fraud. And he and his supporters are cynically abusing our justice system, not as an arbiter of legitimate grievances, but to give the appearance of so much fraud that his true believers will lose confidence not only in the election system, but in the judicial system. Just watch. That’s what’s next. It’ll sound like “So, massive fraud and yet not a single judge would do anything about it. Hmm! The legal system is a corrupt part of the deep state.”
So, while I disapprove of the Lincoln Projects actions, I’m not going let the shiny distraction of CANCEL CULTURE” distract my attention from actual and serious damage being done to my country by a deranged narcissist. And, while I recognize the right of anyone who has a hundred bucks to file a lawsuit, I shed zero tears for the man who is abusing and undermining the system that gives people that right.