Postcards from the slimy edge

That wasn't a Jiffy Lube reminder that came in the mail last week. It was something much greasier, from an outfit called the Speakers Roundtable.

The GOP political-action committee sent out 25,000 postcards showing a mug shot of a skeevy-looking man with his eyes and name blocked out, and the headline: "This violent predator lives in your community." It went on to cite the names of certain Democratic state lawmakers, stating they "refuse to impose life sentences for violent sex predators."

This wasn't an informational mailer for a community scared by people such as convicted child rapist Joseph Duncan. This was political strong-arming, punishment for Democrats' refusal to let House Republicans open the current session with an immediate vote to sharply increase penalties for sex offenders.

The Republican bill calls for a minimum 30-year sentence for any rape of a child under 12 by anyone — stranger or otherwise. If the perpetrator used a weapon or other force, the minimum would be life.

Democrats rightfully balked. Their bill would impose a minimum 25-year sentence, but only if the perpetrator was a stranger, or if some sort of force was used.

While we all want these people put away, tougher sentences may not be the answer, Dems say. In fact, they may lead to fewer convictions. Children might be reluctant to testify against family or friend, or might even be coerced not to, with such a high sentence at stake.

Instead of sorting that out in a reasonable, nonpartisan way that will serve the state's children, the Republican PAC goes on the attack and tries to put Democrats in a political straitjacket. No matter which way they turn, the thing just gets tighter.

And if they dare protest, they're painted as defending the depraved.

You knew there was something wrong when House Republican Leader Richard DeBolt, R-Chehalis, backed away from the postcard like it was a hornet's nest knocked from a tree.

DeBolt said the postcard was dreamed up by Kevin Carns, executive director of the Speakers Roundtable.

"I'm not going to apologize for playing tough," Carns told The Seattle Times.

Play too tough, though, Mr. Carns, and someone is sure to get hurt. And in this case, it could be our kids.

It might sober up the shenanigans to share this: Washington state can now boast of being the home of the first American to be prosecuted for traveling abroad to engage in sex with children.

A U.S. Appeals Court on Wednesday ruled that the government can prosecute people like Michael Lewis Clark, 71, a former Seattle resident who lived mostly in Cambodia from 1998 to 2003 and admitted to having sex with 40 or 50 boys there.

If we can figure out what to do about sex offenders on a global scale, surely lawmakers should be given the time to deal with those within the state lines, without getting smeared by partisan little postcards.

Nicole Brodeur's column appears Sunday, Tuesday and Thursday. Reach her at 206-464-2334 or nbrodeur@seattletimes.com.

Is that the best you can do?