Our national leaders are helping us, by sharing their wisdom and experience. Here's a sample:
"If Sarah Palin isn't enough of a reason for you to get over whatever your problem is with Barack Obama, then you damn well had better pay attention," according to Congressman Alcee Hastings. "Anybody toting guns and stripping moose don't care too much about what they do with Jews and blacks. So, you just think this through."
His audience loved it, laughing and applauding.
Representative Hastings' remarks have received very little attention in national news, but a south Florida newspaper did explain that "...U.S. Rep. and Palm Beach County congressional delegation member Alcee Hastings meant to disparage Sarah Palin, but not the nation's hunters and sportsmen...." And, it's CNN's fault, because the network didn't explain how off-base Palin is on topics other than moose hunting.
Taking a line through " 'sarah palin hot photos' and the American Presidential Election," it's going to be a long, dreary, road to November 4.
In the news:
- "Hastings’ office explains…"
Palm Beach Post (September 25, 2008) - "Alcee Hastings Attempts To Scare Jews About Palin"
the Post Chronicle (September 25, 2008) - "Florida Congressman: Palin 'Don't Care Too Much What They Do With Jews and Blacks' "
Political Radar blog, ABC News (September 24, 2008) - "Florida congressman points to Palin to rally Jews to Obama"
Political Ticker... blog, CNN (September 24, 2008)
- America determines who leads using a political process
- America's leadership over the next several years will make a great difference in how the War on Terror is conducted
- So, politics is inextricably entangled in the War on Terror
This just keeps getting better and better.
2 comments:
In 1981, Hastings was charged with accepting a $150,000 bribe in exchange for a lenient sentence and a return of seized assets for 21 counts of racketeering by Frank and Thomas Romano, and of perjury in his testimony about the case. He was acquitted by a jury after his alleged co-conspirator, William Borders, refused to testify in court (resulting in a jail sentence for Borders).
In 1988, the Democratic-controlled U.S. House of Representatives took up the case, and Hastings was impeached for bribery and perjury by a vote of 413-3. Voters to impeach included Democratic Representatives Nancy Pelosi, Steny Hoyer, John Conyers and Charles Rangel. He was then convicted in 1989 by the United States Senate, becoming the sixth federal judge in the history of the United States to be removed from office by the Senate. The vote on the first article was 69 for and 26 opposed, providing five votes more than the two-thirds of those present that were needed to convict. The first article accused the judge of conspiracy. Conviction on any single article was enough to remove the judge from office. The Senate vote cut across party lines, with Senator Patrick J. Leahy, Democrat of Vermont voting to convict his fellow party member, and Arlen Specter voting to acquit.[1]
The Senate had the option to forbid Hastings from ever seeking federal office again, but did not do so. Alleged co-conspirator, attorney William Borders went to jail again for refusing to testify in the impeachment proceedings, but was later given a full pardon by Bill Clinton on his last day in office.[2]
BGnes,
There's an old definition of an honest politician: one who, when bought, stays bought.
I'm not quite that cynical.
However, Representative Hastings' background could be seen as either an indication of the basic shadiness of Congress, or of a double standard.
In any case, Representative Hastings, and other leaders like him, ensure that elections will not be boring, tedious, discussions of issues, positions, and philosophies.
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