Dan Wilson’s Blog

Balloon Boy dad’s national media blitz ends at jail, Sheriff says – The Denver Post.

Richard Heene is hitting up all the news shows and claiming it wasn’t a hoax right before having to report to jail on Monday. He claims he only pleaded guilty to prevent his wife from getting deported. The real reason he is proclaiming his innocence is to help his future TV reality show career. Jail time appears to be an acceptable price to pay for Larry King et al. appearances to this man. I assume these are paid, which sickens me.

I proposed at the time the hoax was revealed that his court ordered punishment should be:

Richard Heene shall not be allowed to make any TV or radio appearances for 15 years, paid or otherwise, including but not limited to in-person or phone interviews, news shows, reality shows, press conferences, statements, or any other television appearance. Failure to adhere to this punishment will result in violation of probation, jail time, and all money received plus ten percent will be seized and donated to charity.

I am pretty sure that this doesn’t fall under cruel and unusual punishment. I believe this is the worst possible punishment this man could receive in his deranged, attention-seeking world. I say that knowing that the death penalty is legal here in Colorado.

It would also set a much needed precedent that attention seeking for the gain of personal celebrity at the expense of the public will not be tolerated. What if someone died trying to rescue little Falcon during the event? What if someone dies next time these is a hoax? Maybe the Octomom will die after her next 8-kid birth, and leave 20 or so kids orphaned and on the dole. These crimes in the name of attention getting need to be punished not by taking away liberty, but by taking away celebrity. I don’t feel justice has been rendered when I see this man on CNN.