The Free View-- weblog of a presidential candidate

MPP Declares War on Drug Czar

I just got this in my e-mail. I'll let it speak for itself.

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This Thursday, December 5, the Marijuana Policy Project's Rob Kampia
will appear on FOX News Channel's "The O'Reilly Factor," which airs at
8 p.m. Eastern. (The program is repeated at 11 p.m. Eastern; please
check your local cable listings for channel and non-Eastern airtimes.)

At approximately 20 minutes after the hour, Kampia will be featured in
a 5-minute, one-on-one interview with host Bill O'Reilly, discussing
the formal complaint that MPP is filing against Drug Czar John Walters
for his illegal campaigning against Question 9, MPP's recent ballot
initiative in Nevada. (See MPP's media advisory below for details.)

For background on the drug czar's illegal involvement in campaigning
against Question 9, see the following links.

http://www.mpp.org/states/site/quicknews.cgi?key=2088
http://www.mpp.org/NV/news_2089.html
http://www.nrle.org/news/lvrj091802.html
http://www.nrle.org/news/lvs091802.html
http://www.nrle.org/news/lvs091902.html

media advisory:
http://www.mpp.org/releases/ma120202.html

=====================================

MEDIA ADVISORY DECEMBER 2, 2002

MPP Declares War on Drug Czar's Illegal Campaigning

Formal Complaint to be Announced at Dec. 4 Press Conference

WASHINGTON, D.C. -- On Wednesday, December 4, the Marijuana Policy
Project will file a formal "complaint of possible prohibited personnel
practice" with the federal Office of Special Counsel, charging White
House Drug Czar John Walters with violating federal law by using "his
official authority and influence for the purpose of ... affecting the
result of an election" -- specifically, the election that included
Question 9, MPP's Nevada marijuana initiative.

MPP's Executive Director Robert Kampia and Director of Government
Relations Steve Fox will discuss the complaint at a noon press
conference on December 4. At that time, MPP will also release a letter
to the Nevada Secretary of State's office alleging that John Walters
illegally campaigned against Question 9 without properly reporting his
activities to the state, as required by Nevada's campaign finance law.

"During the fall campaign, John Walters declared war on the law and
war on the truth," Kampia said. "Today, on behalf of U.S. taxpayers --
including the 5,000 who contributed to our campaign -- we are
declaring war on the drug czar for his illegal and dishonest
activities. In filing this official complaint, we are calling for the
removal of John Walters from office for gross violations of the Hatch
Act." The Hatch Act, originally enacted in 1887, bars federal
employees from carrying out certain campaign-related activities.

"Walters has committed numerous crimes against the taxpayers,"
Kampia added. "He used his official authority to affect the outcome of
the Question 9 election, as well as other state drug policy
initiatives, in plain violation of the Hatch Act. Because none of this
activity was properly reported as campaign contributions, he is in
equally plain violation of Nevada campaign finance laws. Walters
conducted a campaign of lies against Question 9, using the taxpayers'
money to spread misinformation."

WHAT: Press conference to announce the filing of a formal
complaint with the federal Office of Special Counsel,
charging Drug Czar John Walters with illegal campaigning
against Nevada's Question 9

WHO: MPP's Executive Director Robert Kampia and Director of
Government Relations Steve Fox

WHEN: Wednesday, December 4, at noon

WHERE: National Press Club, Peter Lisagor Room, 529 - 14th St. NW,
Washington, D.C.

The Marijuana Policy Project works to minimize the harm associated
with marijuana -- both the consumption of marijuana and the laws that
are intended to prohibit such use. MPP believes that the greatest harm
associated with marijuana is imprisonment. To this end, MPP focuses on
removing criminal penalties for marijuana use, with a particular
emphasis on making marijuana medically available to seriously ill
people who have the approval of their doctors. For more information,
please visit http://www.mpp.org .

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I've long sung the praises of the MPP-- and I will continue to do so well into the future I suspect. I think history is going to show Rob Kampia in a very favorable light. Or history might barely remember him -- after all, can you name any of the activists who helped end the first Prohibition? Either way, history will certainly be better off for having had him pass through.