[VA] Are voters aware that Soros is funding Parisa’s campaign?

[Anonymous]

It seems like this Commonwealth’s Attorney race is dividing the Arlington community. I will openly state that I am a Theo supporter, so grain of salt obviously, but it seems like no one knows (cares?) that a Soros-funded PAC is propping up Parisa and other challengers around the country. I don’t want my community manipulated or made into a guinea pig. If voters are aware of the Soros backing and don’t care, so be it, but why does it seem like Arlingtonians aren’t focused on the outside influence of a politically powerful billionaire?

Here’s a Post article in case anyone thinks I am a conspiracy nut: https://www.washingtonpost.com/local/public-safety/money-from-pac-funded-by-george-soros-shakes-up-prosecutors-races-in-northern-virginia/2019/04/23/5c754d14-6513-11e9-a1b6-b29b90efa879_story.html

[Anonymous]

Yeah, I don't like it.

[Anonymous]

Are people afraid to say something because of the right wing kook conspiracies about Soros?

[Anonymous]

I think this is the important part of the linked article:

"Tafti and Descano have staked out positions to the left of the incumbents on a range of issues, promising to end marijuana possession prosecutions, do away with cash bond and forgo death penalty prosecutions. In recent debates, both have highlighted racial disparities in prosecution, particularly for low-level drug and driving offenses."

Soros (and his PAC) have taken a specific policy stance - to back prosecutors who would "decrease our reliance on incarceration, advance equitable treatment, and increase community investments in alternative sentencing, community corrections, addiction treatment, and victim services."

Now, you can agree or disagree with that approach to prosecutions, but it's not some big secret. They are backing candidates that share those values.

[Anonymous]

Arlington deserves that woman. No one paid attention to the people in my condo when we asked that the homeless shelter in Courthouse have better security. Now we have the homeless sleeping on our entry steps and using our little green space to relieve themselves.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Arlington deserves that woman. No one paid attention to the people in my condo when we asked that the homeless shelter in Courthouse have better security. Now we have the homeless sleeping on our entry steps and using our little green space to relieve themselves.

A crime explosion is my exact fear.

[Anonymous]

What do you have against Soros?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:What do you have against Soros?

You know exactly what OP has against Soros. Doubt they’d be helping if the backer were a Koch.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Arlington deserves that woman. No one paid attention to the people in my condo when we asked that the homeless shelter in Courthouse have better security. Now we have the homeless sleeping on our entry steps and using our little green space to relieve themselves.

A crime explosion is my exact fear.

Wow. That's outrageous.

[Anonymous]

I don't care about the Soros angle. I just assume the type of people who will vote for Parisa because she is against aggressive prosecutions are the same people who are against segregation. That is, the kind of people who spend a fortune to live in wealthy parts of Arlington and send their kids to high-performing, majority-white schools, and fight against boundary changes that would let more poor kids in, but put signs on their lawns supporting candidates who say that they are "for diversity."

In 2019 they are against Theo and for Parisa but if some black kid mugs them or breaks into their car, I bet you a million of Soros' dollars that they are suddenly going to be on the side of the prosecution.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I don't care about the Soros angle. I just assume the type of people who will vote for Parisa because she is against aggressive prosecutions are the same people who are against segregation. That is, the kind of people who spend a fortune to live in wealthy parts of Arlington and send their kids to high-performing, majority-white schools, and fight against boundary changes that would let more poor kids in, but put signs on their lawns supporting candidates who say that they are "for diversity."

In 2019 they are against Theo and for Parisa but if some black kid mugs them or breaks into their car, I bet you a million of Soros' dollars that they are suddenly going to be on the side of the prosecution.

Judging by comments on AEM Facebook page, the “type” of people pushing for Parisa are not just the one you describe. But I know it’s lots of fun to blame NA for everything, always, so carry on with your narrative.

[Anonymous]

I don't think this "oooh, scary Soros!" argument is going to get you very far in a Democratic primary Arlington County...

[Anonymous]

From another post

I did a little reserach - the current Commonwealth Att R Stamos has stated during her campaign “Arlington hasn’t had a wrongful conviction in 30 years. ‘-in over 30 years not 1?
Dozens of local attorneys have signed a blistering letter criticizing the tactics of prosecutors in Arlington. It has also been signed by criminal defense and civil rights lawyers- note the letter does not endorse anyone.

“We are concerned that although only 9% of Arlington is African-American, black people represent nearly half of those charged with driving on a suspended license, and nearly 60% of those charged with marijuana possession in Arlington. Black people also represent over 60% of persons convicted in Arlington of obstruction of justice, trespassing, and larceny. We are concerned that the low incidence of trials in Arlington is mainly due to overcharging and the fear of harsh consequences if a defendant does not accept a plea bargain”.
“We are concerned that Arlington convicts defendants of felonies at more than twice the rate of neighboring jurisdictions, despite its very low crime rate. We are worried that this reflects a culture of overcriminalization.”
“We are concerned that the Arlington County Commonwealth’s Attorney’s discovery policy, which prohibits the use of technology to obtain copies of police reports and other documents, places unique and arbitrary restrictions on the discovery process, making it needlessly difficult for defense attorneys to be prepared for trial.”--That is absurd. Why should attorney's have to hand copy such items as police reports, detective's notes, etc? That procedure detracts from a fair trial as it is time prohibitive and cost (client cost) prohibitive, and less accurate, to hand copy all that material.

"Among all Northern Virginia jurisdictions, there is a consensus among defense attorneys that Arlington is the most difficult environment in which to obtain fair results, and the fact that so many attorneys were willing to take a professional risk by putting their names on this letter bears that out."

She has been in office for over 30 years. It concerns me that she has no professional experience other than the Arlington County prosecutor's office. Rarely is a one-dimensional view of the world a well-balanced, open-minded approach. She and has no other experience while she may have a D next to her name she is harsher than many R’s.
Stamos appears to believe that she is ENTITLED to keep her elected office. Ms. Stamos has conveniently tried to paint herself as a reformer when her well-documented history is as anything but.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I don't think this "oooh, scary Soros!" argument is going to get you very far in a Democratic primary Arlington County...

Outside money is outside money. I don’t care whose team it’s coming from, I don’t appreciate getting a mailer every other day paid for by a PAC that has nothing to do with Arlington.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I don't think this "oooh, scary Soros!" argument is going to get you very far in a Democratic primary Arlington County...

Outside money is outside money. I don’t care whose team it’s coming from, I don’t appreciate getting a mailer every other day paid for by a PAC that has nothing to do with Arlington.

Exactly. Arlington has been targeted because Soros’ PAC thinks it can get a candidate elected to further its national agenda. I want a prosecutor who cares about Arlington. Not to mention Parisa’s utter lack of experience, even as a defense attorney. She’s just a pawn.