A billboard sponsored by the Page County Democratic Committee (PCDC) urging citizens to vote “Yes” in the upcoming redistricting referendum has drawn reactions ranging from praise to calls for lawsuits and even threats of vandalism. One commentator has even urged the Page County Republican Committee to fund a federal trademark lawsuit against the PCDC. Some critics claim the billboard is “misleading and illegal.” Those claims are baseless.
The billboard’s wording is accurate and drawn from public sources, including Donald Trump’s statement about “taking over the voting.” It separately urges citizens to “Vote Yes on Redistricting April 21,” plainly expressing the PCDC’s position. The sign also identifies the Committee as its sponsor, in full compliance with Virginia’s political advertising disclosure laws.
Critics argue the billboard “implies” Trump supports the measure. That is a matter of interpretation, not fact. PCDC believes that voters are perfectly capable of recognizing the difference between political commentary and personal endorsements. Threatening legal action to silence this kind of message is a prior restraint on protected political speech that comes dangerously close to the form of censorship our constitutional protections are meant to prevent.
Moreover, it defies logic to claim the billboard is meant to persuade through association with Trump. If that were its intent, it would likely discourage rather than attract Democratic support. The message is unambiguous: the PCDC supports a “Yes” vote.
Virginia’s Constitution warns that freedom of speech and of the press “can never be restrained except by despotic governments.” Political committees, like citizens, have every right to express opinions on ballot issues. No law or court decision in Virginia makes a truthful, properly attributed political message unlawful simply because some find it disagreeable.
The Page County Democratic Committee will not be intimidated into removing or altering the billboard. It will continue to participate openly in public debate, as guaranteed by the Constitution of Virginia and the First Amendment to the U.S. Constitution. Those who value liberty and open debate, regardless of party or opinion on redistricting, should stand firmly against such efforts. Attempts to suppress or punish such expression — whether through lawsuits, threats, or vandalism — strike at the heart of democratic discourse and will be met with a prompt and vigorous response by PCDC through all lawful means.
Sincerely,
It’s time for Page County to catch-up on short-term rental regulations
Expiration of ACA subsidies hitting many of our neighbors hard in Page County
‘Thoughtful approach to a very complicated problem’ in short-term rentals
Recent reassessment revives popular Page sport…blaming ‘outsiders’
Impairing local careers and local healthcare
Virginia must stand up to platforms breaking state’s sports betting laws
Concerns about FirstEnergy’s transmission tower rebuild between Luray and Sperryville
Local teachers strive to protect students from federal funding cuts
How federal cuts to healthcare affect you, your family, and your friends
Call for public involvement in deciding how to use the county’s Goodrich Road property
Sorry Joseph, while I sympathize, I can’t take it seriously when democrats complain about 1st amendment issues. You supported a senile old man whose administration silenced the opinions of medical professionals and others about COVID. And I’m sure you’d give me the whole “public safety” argument and not realize your own hypocrisy. Additionally, your party is responsible for labeling parents in Loudon County as domestic terrorists when they complained about their children being abused by trans students in school.
Senile old man….do you really want to go there? You support a President who stares at an eclipse, uses a Sharpie to predict where a hurricane will make landfall, and wonders why we can’t use nukes on our enemies (or hurricanes) since we have them. And that was all in Reich #1.
Joseph Petralia, Treasurer, Page County Democratic Committee ~ Luray, Va. What you believe to be a clever sign where at first glance it appears to have Trump telling Republicans to vote Yes on redistricting, will backfire, by misleading your own low intelligence voters to vote NO.
The sign says it all about the democrat party in whole, that they will deceive and lie to get a vote because to them it’s all about gaining power and control and we see how the they used that power during covid and now the new governor show her true intentions.