In November, Mike Nifong was elected, even though he failed to capture a majority of the vote. The key to his victory: near-monolithic support from African-Americans. Though he won only 49 percent of the overall vote, Nifong secured between 90 and 95 percent of the black vote.
An important article in this morning’s Newsday suggests that Nifong’s political base has all but completely crumbled. In a recent visit to
William Ragland, 76, a retired Durham Housing Authority maintenance supervisor: “I was shocked by how Mr. Nifong did the whole thing. It was a cover-up. He had evidence that these boys did not rape her” and withheld it.
Tiffany Reade, 30, told Mallia that she believed Nifong used the case to get the black vote: “I would never vote for him again.”
Michael Crump, 23, noted that victims of prosecutorial misconduct who are poor often lack the resources to expose it: “Them behind Duke, they got money, and they did the right thing fighting back against what she said happened.”
Reginald Brown, 18: “I don’t know what those guys did, but she said one thing, then another, changing her story. And the DA didn’t do right by them. There should be a price for that [for Nifong].”
Perhaps most significantly, the Mallia article reveals that Nifong has lost what had been the “wholehearted support” of Floyd McKissick, chairman of the Durham Democratic Party. Echoing Jim Coleman’s comments to 60 Minutes, McKissick contended, “The African-American community of
At this stage, who, exactly, does Nifong have left?
- Friends and family of the accuser, the only people Mallia could find who had good things to say about Nifong.
- The Troika (wife Cy Gurney, citizens’ committee co-chair Victoria Peterson, chief investigator Linwood Wilson).
- The Herald-Sun and the New York Times.
- The Group of 88, minus Arlie Petters.
- The leadership of the state NAACP, including “case monitor” Irving Joyner.
Hardly a frightening coalition.
The Mallia article demonstrates that average voters in
87 comments:
"At this stage, who, exactly, does Nifong have left?"
Cash Michaels, for one.
Also, instead of 90-95% support from African-Americans, I would say that number is sadly still overwhelmingly high, 80%+
It's encourageing to see many speak out on the side of justice and fairness - finally.
The Mallia article demonstrates that average voters in Durham have come to understand what happened in this case even as Irving Joyner, William Chafe, Victoria Peterson, Selena Roberts, and Duff Wilson cling to their ideological preconceptions. In this respect, it suggests that the political dangers for Roy Cooper in dismissing the case are minimal, if non-existent.
Oh puleeze.
This article demonstrates nothing of the sort.
Although it was probably difficult to find five black Durhamites who oppose Nifong, it's NOT a shock. (After all, he didn't get 100% of the Durham black vote.)
And it's certainly NOT a reason to believe that Durham's black community has changed its racist "get whitey" agenda.
I'm willing to bet that if Nifong ran for re-election tomorrow, his black support would STILL exceed 90%.
That is indeed a heartening report, if true. So, does this mean that Roy "Call Me Governor" Cooper is going to move soon? Is 12 weeks enough to actually investigate a non-case? With luck, maybe this will be the week.
Why is so easy for the average citizen to see Nifong and this phony case for what it is and so hard for the judicial system to see it? It is taking forever for the AG's office to put his miserable case to sleep. The outrage that I will feel if the AG goes forward with the May 7 hearing or this case will be astronomical. Sadly, I fully expect the AG to take the coward's way out and take this case to the May 7 hearing. It should have been dismissed as soon as the AG reviewed the exculpatory evidence and interviewed the false accuser. What she has said cannot be true based on the exculpatory evidence. Too easy I guess. They want it complex.
I think that I hear the Corpulent Lady warming up in the back room, and she is about to go onto the stage and sing.
Middle and low income urban blacks in Durham are looking at this case through the lens of fairness rather than race and class, and that's gotta be very painful to lots of people. It's a tremendously heartening story.
I doubt that many of the voters would change their minds if the election were held again today. The democratic party has played the politics of victimhood for over 50 years now. The race victim card, the feminist victim card, the poor victim card...they have long benn able to tap in to the martyrdom facter.....we all think it's such FUN to be a victim, we are so noble...like Christ on the Cross, when we endure our victimhood...unlike the people we despise who may be more industrious...ot simply more determined, than we are.
That's the basis of the "moral superiority" of the gang of 88 whose high-tech lynching of the three Lacrosse players still doesn't bother them, and is readily demonstrable in their defense of what they did.
Feelinga are more important than reality to almost all of these people, ....one reason why the situation never changes.
This reporter ain't in Durham to write this article or find great BBQ, folks. A couple of phone calls from his office is all that would be needed to do this story. Pay attention to the AG's office for the next few days.
Carolyn says:
Sorry, the black community is too little, too late in acknowledging Nifong's guilt. And even then they still ignore their own.
Yes, Nifong was a corrupt DA who exploited their racism to get elected. But -- he exploited it, he didn't CREATE it. The black community did that themselves.
The only thing the black community is really sorry about is that in selling their souls for a mess of pottage, the bowl turned up empty.
Newsday is a liberal paper, but not of the New York Times variety. I think it is a very important story and represents some of the good that may come from the case.
The story does make the Gang of 88 look like stubborn mules who don't care about the truth. To hear regular black folks as well as leaders in the Durham community talk about fairness says a lot. This is a concept foreign to the Duke gang.
I hear a rumor that the charges will be dropped today.
truthhurts001 9:40am
Sadly, you know Durham well. The AA community would vote for anyone who gets them what they want. It's a banana republic.
They'd say what they did to a journalist. Then go into a voting booth and vote for Nifong all over again.
The NY Times belongs on that list.
They live in the gutter.
As Abraham Lincoln famously said, "You can fool all of the people some of the time, you can fool some of the people all of the time, but you can't fool all of the people all of the time" (and he wasn't just talking about Republicans). Even though the Herald Sun and a small group of professors are still in denial, back in December and January two important things happened: 1) it became obvious that Nifong withheld vital DNA evidence and 2) the State Bar stepped in. At that point any reasonable person would have to rethink his or her position. Just consider the common excuse of those few still in denial: "something" must have happened or "we'll never know exactly what happened." Implicit in these statements is the admission that you can't take Precious at her word, so it's time for the last holdouts to wake up and smell the coffee. After all, since when do we arrest people on the charge of "something"? I don't think that's a crime, much less a felony.
Interesting comment from a DIW thread last week:
I don't claim to know Durham or North Carolina, but I find it hard to believe that dismissal of this case (1) would result in a riot or (2) would present any real political peril for Roy Cooper.
When this case broke, the AA community eagerly embraced the accuser. If it went to trial or just a hearing with Crystal on the stand, they would be deeply embarrassed. Surely most of the AA community is praying for the case to go quietly away.
If Cooper enters a vague dismissal, they'll have the best of both worlds. They can claim justice was denied a poor black woman by the white boys and their rich daddies, and they'll never have to see her accusations put to the test.
Please don't post rumors that the charges are going to be dropped today. It upsets the AG and just gives good people false hope that someone in a position of power in N.C. will do the right thing. Patience, patience!
I grew up in the South, in a place not far from Durham, NC. I attended public schools (from kindergarten through law school -- UVA). I had lots of AA friends and acquaintances. Most of them were kind, hard-working, fair-minded people. Almost all of them were highly suspicious of the US criminal justice system. When I was younger, I tended to dismiss their concerns as being a little paranoid. Having now been a lawyer for nearly 20 years, I am much more sympathetic to their point of view.
I was not surprised by the Durham AA community's initial outrage over the reported "rape" in this case, or their initial support for the alleged "victim." However, I have always believed that the AA community in Durham would turn on Nifong once they became aware of the actual facts. Racist agitators such as Joyner and Peterson are very vocal and therefore garner much media attention, but I do not believe they represent the majority AA view. Most AA's, like the rest of us, want the justice system to be colorblind and ensure fair treatment for everyone. I'm glad the Mallia article has finally pointed that out.
Off topic, Cash Michaels offered a lengthy response to my questions of a few days ago, asking him to back up his criticisms of KC Johnson. It's here.
A plea: Much of what Michaels says looks on first inspection to be silly, or worse. However, I suspect that there are some nuggets of useful information and perspective there, as well. The first impulse for some commenters at D-i-W will be to take this as Red Meat, and start a Flame War "against" Michaels, either there, or here.
If you are among those so tempted, please resist. It would be much more productive to hold a conversation that stays away from ad hominems and sticks to the issues. Irrespective of however reckless or foolish the "other side" may wish to appear.
Although he's never made this explicit claim (hence no link), KC Johnson is a Big Boy, and thus doesn't need a blog hooligan defense. To coin a phrase.
10:37:
A Duke lax parent on an earlier thread reported they've heard one of the special prosecutors is on annual leave for several days and no action will be taken until he/she returns--so I don't know how that affects your rumor.
Some other people Nifong has left: Raleigh F.I.S.T., UBUNTU, and related socialist/communist extremist organizations, who plan a march against "rape culture" in Durham on April 28, as reported in Workers World online-- http://www.workers.org/2007/us/rape-culture-0405/
Ironically, author Tyneisha Bowens describes this event as a "national day of truthtelling," among other things--though her article begins with these obviously false words:
"On March 13, 2006, a woman of color who is a mother, veteran, honor student and sex worker was raped and sodomized in Durham, N.C. The survivor was assaulted at a party thrown by members of the Duke University lacrosse team. She and another entertainer were hired to dance at the party and instead were subjected to sexual assault and racial slurs."
And it gets worse after that, clearly suggesting that the false accuser was disbelieved from the get-go.
There are those who, with absolutely no evidence supporting their opinion, will continue to believe that "something happened" at that party. They refuse to be confused by facts or reality.
The longer this drags on, the greater the damage to these three young men and their families. No annual leave should interfere with the swift justice due Reade, Seligmann and Evans - the full dismissal of all charges and a very public and detailed apology by the State of North Carolina and the City of Durham, not to mention Duke!
Of course, donkeys could fly too!
This is just an attempt by the local NAACP/NewBlackPanthers and the News& Observer to show that Durham blacks are not the ravening racists that they are.
Don't be fooled. African Americans hate whites. The media, college profs and liberals hate whites.
The feminazis and ethnic hatred studies profs at Duke are still justifying their actions in the same way Kunstler, Sharpton and Jesse Jackson justified the false accusations in the Twana Brawley case.
"It could have happened" White men are so inherently evil that they should be prosecuted and incarcerated because of false accusations."
That's still the mantra in the feminazi falsehood and fantasy studies deaprtment at Duke.
To Amac:
I just took a look at the Cash Michaels posting.
It appears that he's come across two factual errors: that in May, I suggested that Nifong had the backing of the state, rather than the county, party leadership; and in my first post on the political aspect of the case, also in May, I used an old name for the Durham Committee on the Affairs of Black People, which I then corrected.
He further notes that I've criticized Nifong for unethical behavior yet said I thought that a candidate cited for unethical behavior (Keith Bishop) was the best candidate in the primary. All three candidates in the primary were ethically challenged. One of them had to win. Of the three ethically challenged candidates, Bishop seemed to me the least bad. Perhaps, in retrospect, Freda Black was better than Bishop. I considered Nifong the worst at the time and believe my judgment was vindicated.
I can't quite figure out what he's saying in critiquing my comments about the Coleman Committee report.
Michaels' political analysis on the primary is intriguing: perhaps there are other examples in Durham's history when a white candidate bested by 18 points a black candidate endorsed by the city's major black PAC. And on Bell, his chief objection appears to be that I uncovered an embarrassingly timed contribution.
I regret that he appears upset that I failed to respond to his lengthy, attacking email of some time back. (That e-mail was generated by a request from me that he supply a cite in which I had said that Bill Bell is the "black mayor of Durham who wants to see three white privileged Duke boys from the North hang," as Michaels had claimed I had written.) As he neglected to provide any citation for this comment (which I didn't make), it seemed to me our conversation had come to an end.
I wonder if Tyneisha's statement bears deconstruction.
"On March 13, 2006, a woman of color
Sounds like a euphemism from the 50s.
who is a(n) (unwed) mother (of three, by three different men),
veteran (prostitute and repeat felon),
honor student (with straight A's in lying and avoiding Detox incarceration)
and sex worker, (which might explain some of the many DNA contibutions in all of her orifices, which coincidently matched none of the accused)
was raped and sodomized in Durham, (which is reundant)
... survivor (?!?) was assaulted (too stoned to perform) at a party thrown by members of the Duke University lacrosse team. She and another entertainer (prostitute) were hired to dance at the party and instead were subjected to sexual assault and racial slurs, (which they initiated)."
Sheesh - does anyone truly believe that Stalinist agit-prop?
11:38 said,
I was not surprised by the Durham AA community's initial outrage over the reported "rape" in this case, or their initial support for the alleged "victim." However, I have always believed that the AA community in Durham would turn on Nifong once they became aware of the actual facts....Most AA's, like the rest of us, want the justice system to be colorblind and ensure fair treatment for everyone.
First, "initial" support would've been in March, NOT eight months later in November. By election day, it was clear to all that Nifong was prosecuting three innocent boys. And that's exactly what 90-95% of Durham blacks WANTED.
To state that "most AAs want the justice system to be colorblind and fair for all" ignores both this case and the nationwide celebrations of OJ's acquittal.
I sent copies of the Newsday article to several of the editors and reporters for the Herald-Sun and News & Observer, asking that they consider producing an article along the line of the Newsday article.
The only response that I have received so far has been from Bob Ashley at the Herald-Sun, in which he said (to paraphrase), "No. We do not subscribe to the news wire that distributes Newsday articles, so we cannot run carry that article".
I emailed Mr. Ashley back, and pointed out that I was not requesting a re-publication of the Newsday article, but rather that the Herald-Sun produce an original article, surveying the state of opinion among Durham citizens towards the Durham DA, given the new information that has come to light since the election.
I will let you know if I hear again from Mr. Ashley.
This article, like so many "news" stories, is a small collection of quotations, taken at face value, not real news, not even a real survey. Unfortunately this type of story passes for news in most of the media these days. These are quick and easy stories for reporters, no real research or investigation.
The reporter states that "many neighborhood residents" said that neither Nifong or the accuser have earned their support. How much is many? The article doesn't give us a clue.
I get a laugh when news stories wax literary. The evocative opening of this story, conjuring up the Old South, reminds me of the literary embellishments in the early news stories on the hoax in the New York Times.
KC - "I can't quite figure out what he's saying in critiquing my comments about the Coleman Committee report."
I don't bother trying to read his prose anymore. It's very poor. Joan Foster out-writes almost all the pros. She's good writer. Cash needs a lot of work.
I think this story was essentially written before Mallia got to Durham. All he had to do was find a couple of people to 'prove' his claim, and he was done.
The interesting question is: Why? Is it part of an effort to break some news as gently as possible?
11:38 Right on. Out here in Nevada, what passes for representation at the local, state an federal level is a laugh. I don't like the picture of the AA community, some are writing. Its their town and their state and they have a right to vote for whoever they want. Theres no "too late" - The early news reports and Nifong made it look for real. The big problem -RUSH TO JUDGEMENT.
12:55 -
I may be showing a bit of cynicism here, but I doubt that Bob Ashley truly misunderstood your communication.
What I think you just experienced is one well-known and taught technique on how to deal with a question that one does not want to answer. Specifically, one answers not the asked question but, instead, answers a similar or related question for which one has a good answer. In the best cases, there is enough similarity that one may rationalize an honest mistake or misunderstanding occurred. In such cases, should the questioner make the non-trivial effort to persevere and make followup inquiries, they are ignored.
Another such technique, also taught to folk who deal with media or public inquiries, is transition. In transition, one begins with a short or general or non-specific or non-responsive answer to the asked question, and transitions to a longer answer to a different question that was not asked. In some cases, the second answer is protesting against a strawman (strawperson?) that was not in play but is emotionally charged.
KC - still laughing " conversation had come to an end." You are the best.
It has been posted on LS Board that Good Friday, this Friday at 4:00 PM is the best time and day for a dismissal.
Unfortuantely, Friday is a State Employee's holiday.
Kemp
African American Black Power Base In Durham
I recommend that we give credit where credit is due.
Many of the AAB political leaders are still looking at this case as a trophy that is ...worth the hunt.
The real AAB power base in Durham are the thousands of AAB Grandmas who took one look at Precious' behavior and how that behavior is corrupting here own children and decided...No Trophy here!
This dog don't hunt.
Most AA's, like the rest of us, want the justice system to be colorblind and ensure fair treatment for everyone.
Apparently you missed the black "Dancing In The Street" party after the murderer OJ Simpson was acquitted.
According to Cash,
JOHNSON SCREWS UP SOME MORE–
"...Johnson’s wild allegations about the NAACP “supporting” the prosecution of the Duke Three, when, in fact, they’ve done no such thing. And the baseless allegation that NCCU law Professor Irv Joyner is pro-prosecution... [Joyner] has stated categorically that he has not taken a side in the Duke case, and only answers the questions he’s been asked." [emphasis added]
Okay, got it: if Joyner claims he's being impartial, he's being impartial. Doesn't matter how partial he clearly is, he claims otherwise --- categorically, even!-- so that's that.
I looked up Houston Baker's repulsive letter, and note that just before he started his attacks on the LAX players he announced he was against railroading, so I guess he's in the clear, too.
Sigh...here's the deal, Mr. Michaels: you can categorically and adamantly and fiercely and even, I dunno...in no certain terms...deny that you're doing something, but that won't stop people from noticing, if you're obviously doing it.
I think that Nifong's support is crumbling even at the NY times. Not all of its writers have followed the lead of Duff Wilson. Also, as far as African-American support for Nifong, has anyone figured out how much of the eligible African-American vote Nifong got? If only 50-60% of eligible African Americans voted in the DA election, even the overwhelming support he got among African-American voters is not all that significant. I really do suspicion that a lot of African-Americans in Durham are feeling used. By the same token, I can understand why they were reluctant to vote for either the Republican candidate or Lewis Cheek and why many African-American voters (like many white voters) may have stayed home on election day.
I think many of you are so biased in your thinking that you're missing a greater point. While African Americans will still vote overwhelmingly for a Democratic candidate for DA, they are hardly likely to vote for Nifong again.
Given that the last primary attracted several candidates, they have the option of supporting someone other than Nifong.
I think that Cash Michaels does not want to be caught on the losing side. He knows the charges themselves are bogus, but nonetheless he would like to see the AA community of Durham vindicated somehow. The way to do that is to say that while the charges are false, the people who have supported the LAX players are defending racist behavior, etc., etc.
As you know, he has really gone after me, and that is fine. I have chosen to enter this arena with my eyes open, and this is part of it.
There is no way to sugar-coat either the NAACP's website or Irving Joyner's remarks. They are what they are, and the meaning is self-evident. Joyner even now insists this is moving toward a trial, which is not true. Cooper is not taking it to trial, and he knows it.
Also, I blame entities like Sports Illustrated and the NY Times for making Joyner the "resident expert" in this case. The man has batted 0.000 and I doubt he wants to change his perfect record.
McKissisk endorsed for vacant state senate seat.
http://www.newsobserver.com/114/story/560137.html
Apparently you missed the black "Dancing In The Street" party after the murderer OJ Simpson was acquitted.
And apparently you ignore the Charles Stuart incident in Boston where the police literally rounded up many black men without cause, and the Susan Smith incident in South Carolina.
For centuries, whites in this country have literally gotten away with murder. I don't support the OJ verdict but he was tried and accuited; get over it.
I was recouperating from surgery during the OJ trial. I watched every second. Marcia Clark is a terrible ADA, as was Darden - they certainly did not prove to me he was guilty beyond a reasonable doubt. I am white - many white ADA and defense attorney in DC would be the first to tell you, the case against OJ was not proven. He was found not quilty - I believe in the jury system.
I don't recall the specific turnout percentages last election day, but I do remember that the polling place was packed when I was there, and that turnout was reported to be good, for a non-presidential election year. But that is a "straight from memory" recollection so it has little or no value.
As for Cash, I hear that his latest claim is that he did not single handedly consume all of the barbeque in North Carolina, but instead, he used both hands. For once I believe him.
Durham is the place where a city council member took it upon himself without asking the white female mayor back in the mid 1990's to give Johnnie Cochran a key to the city because he got OJ off.
They were hooping and hollering and proclaiming OJ innocent. These were supposed to be "educated" black people.
That's Durham.
If anyone says that the AA community is interested in the truth and in fairness, you don't know what you're talking about.
I suspect that deep down most blacks feel the same way. They don't care about the truth very much. Only neverending pity parties.
The African-American community of Durham wants fairness
Sounds great, but based on the comments so far this clearly wasn't the case. The openly stated feeling was that they must be convicted whether they did it or not "for all the past things that white people did". Let's be honest here: Nifong supported get caught and they know that even the usual Al Sharpton/Jesse Jackson propaganda does not work anymore given the good work done by blogs so better to surrender and take the high ground (and no doubt, raising the victim card - "we are the real victims").
K.P. did you start your book yet?
McKissick contended, “The African-American community of Durham wants fairness, and the view is that if Mr. Nifong was not fair in this case, what’s he going to be like in other cases?”
As one who represents criminal defendants on a regular basis, this is what I have been waiting to hear. Nifong has been like a toxin, damaging everyone with whom he came in contact. It is not unreasonable to expect fairness from a prosecutor, whether you are poor or wealthy.
Nifong has damaged the three defendants, the accuser, Dr. Meehan, Duke University, the city and county of Durham, race relations, prosecutors everywhere, victims of crime, our justice system, the State of North Carolina and others. (Not to mention the self inflicted damage)
Why is this case still pending?
Margaret opined: "Don't be fooled. African Americans hate whites. The media, college profs and liberals hate whites."
As a Duke grad, I sure hope you arent one too. It's one thing to be ignorant and bigoted. It's another to trumpet your ignorance for all to see.
As one who represents criminal defendants on a regular basis, this is what I have been waiting to hear. Nifong has been like a toxin, damaging everyone with whom he came in contact. It is not unreasonable to expect fairness from a prosecutor, whether you are poor or wealthy.
Nifong has damaged the three defendants, the accuser, Dr. Meehan, Duke University, the city and county of Durham, race relations, prosecutors everywhere, victims of crime, our justice system, the State of North Carolina and others. (Not to mention the self inflicted damage)
Why is this case still pending?
Stanley, this case soon will be over, but Nifong's case is just beginning. Rae Evans was not kidding when she said he would pay every day for the rest of his life. His butt will be in court for this and that for a long, long time.
Nifong engaged in the worst kind of theft that a person can do, short of taking someone's life. He did the next worst thing, and if there is justice, he will go to prison.
I don't know if this has been posted before so I'll apologize in advance if it has (sorry) but it's new to me:
Indoctrinate U
The YouTube trailer.
Carolyn says:
Re Jim2said's explanation of Bob Ashley's 'technique'! You described not only most reporters, but most politicians! LOL!
Answer everything BUT the question!
3:38 wrote...
"And apparently you ignore the Charles Stuart incident in Boston where the police literally rounded up many black men without cause, and the Susan Smith incident in South Carolina."
These cases happened years ago...Susan Smith in 1994, and Stuart in 1989...how about some recent cases? The sad reality is that many agendists, black and white, believe that payback is in order...you know, the Chan Hall philosophy...just look at the case of the alleged rape of the white Duke student...what's the latest on *that* case? We hear next to nothing about *that* alleged rowdy, drunken, drugged party, which was held by members of a black fraternity...gone are the days of black men being rounded up (and that's a good thing, of course),and your examples just prove my point...today, it's perfectly acceptable to round up the white boys for an outrageous DNA sweep...please don't pretend that in 2006, this would have EVER been allowed to happen to a group of black men...injustice is injustice, no matter the color...it's unacceptable to try to balance the shameful record of bigotry and injustice against blacks in the past, by now screwing whites...
"Abandoning lynching because they looked like jerks" sounds right - not to mention the bed sheet and pointed hats -
Blacks are so desperate to create racism that they are blind to their allegiances so they end up looking dumb. Whether its Sharpton, Jackson, or Nifong, its all the same.
Until blacks stop allowing other people of any color, whether its race mongers like the black leadership or liberal politicians trolling for votes, to use them to win money and elections, they will always be nothing but second class citizens who get no respect socially or economically.
why did you leave duke and pres brodhead off your list of remaining enablers...they continue behind the cloak of "on background comments" to slam the three and to trash both mike pressler and his teams of years past....
I expect to get blasted for this, but there is an explanation for the slow pace of the SPs other than malice or cowardice.
Merely dropping the case will, as several have repeatedly said, leave a cloud over the heads of these young men for the rest of their lives. "The charges against these rich, white athletes were dropped," snicker, snicker, wink, wink. But trying this case would be an obscenity. The only decent thing is for the state of North Carolina to lay out in painstaking but ABSOLUTELY OFFICIAL detail the evidence that these kids did not commit any criminal offences. That of course will not compensate them for their pain, their fear, and their expenses, but it may be important in helping them salvage their futures.
Obviously, I do not know that this is what is going on. But it may be, particularly given that the mens' defense counsel and families do not seem to be attacking the SPs for their admittedly slow pace. Let's agree that mitigation of damages is not a bad thing if it happens.
JeffM
Nifong is just another in a long line of white liberal Democrat politicians who used black voters to gain power.
Its bad enough when a savvy, half-sincere guy like Bill Clinton does it. But the phony rape charge was so inflammatory that even a dorky, klutz, amateur like Nifong was able to pull it off.
Imagine letting someone like Nifong play you for a sucker.
3:39 pm said:
I was recouperating from surgery during the OJ trial. I watched every second. Marcia Clark is a terrible ADA, as was Darden - they certainly did not prove to me he was guilty beyond a reasonable doubt. I am white - many white ADA and defense attorney in DC would be the first to tell you, the case against OJ was not proven. He was found not quilty - I believe in the jury system.
It's tempting to say: Recouperating from surgery when you watched the OJ trial, eh? Those painkillers may explain your view of the case.
It's tempting to say: You're white and think the case against OJ wasn't proven, eh? Thanks for providing evidence to counter the pernicious stereotype that whites are peculiarly intelligent.
But seriously: What WAS the "reasonable doubt of OJ's guilt" remaining in your mind at the end of criminal case? (I'm going to be charitable and assume that any doubt is gone now that pictures of OJ wearing "those ugly-ass shoes" -- the ones that left the footprints in blood and there were like 12 pairs sold worldwide.)
Caught where Cash is threatening you and Mr Taylor over in the cave! No need to include any of his terrible writing in your upcoming book. Nobody reads his bull anyway and he wasn't had any effect on the case in any way, shape or form other than to give the blog hooligans something to snicker about! Be sure and tell us what color crayons his NCCU lawyer used when he wrote the threatening letter to you!
3:38 PM brings up the Charles Stuart and Susan Smith cases and tries to compare them with this one. For those who've forgotten, in the Stuart case, a white man killed his wife and wounded himself and then blamed black attackers; in the Smith case, a white woman blamed a black for stealing her car with her two children inside.
Then he goes on to cite "hundreds of years of unpunished white murders" -- we know where this comes from. Notice how he doesn't cite ANY evidence for this. We're just supposed to all "know" it.
First, in the Stuart and Smith cases, those were actually plausible claims: After all, blacks murdering whites and stealing whites' cars are common occurrences in America. But a claim by a black woman that she's been gangraped by whites? How often does THAT really happen? The last case I've found occurred in 1959! (I welcome any new information on this subject.)
As far as this undocumented black holocaust (always occurring in the distant past), where is the evidence for it? It seems like if a story like this is repeated often enough, it "becomes true" and becomes part of -- indeed, the CENTRAL PART of -- the metanarrative that is shoved down the throats of students by professors in the Angry Studies Departments.
And if the answer is "slavery", then we must acknowledge that nearly all the enslaving of black Africans was done by Arabs or fellow blacks, and nearly all the transporting to the New World was done by Hispanics (Portuguese and Spanish). White-America's most significant contribution to slavery was ending it -- and not just with words, but with the deaths of 300,000 white soldiers. That's the REAL truth.
Cash "Mmm, a whole bull!"
JeffM - you may be right - not about the blasting, but about the fact that the case needs to be laid out in detailed fashion in order to get it off the books. As it has been stated here, since no actual investigation took place a year ago, it will take time to conduct a thorough investigation now.
We will see if any grownups work in the democrat halls of power over in Raleigh.
And apparently you ignore the Charles Stuart incident in Boston where the police literally rounded up many black men without cause, and the Susan Smith incident in South Carolina.
I'm well aware of the Charles Stuart incident and the Susan Smith incident.
It does not change the fact that over 90% of Durham's racist "get whitey" black voters re-elected Mike Nifong based on his wrongful prosecution of three innocent young white men.
For centuries, whites in this country have literally gotten away with murder.
Actually, 99.999% of "whites in this country" have never committed murder.
I don't support the OJ verdict but he was tried and accuited; get over it.
And after he was acquitted, racist blacks held a national "Dancing In The Street" celebration.
Get over it.
What about the Stuart and Smith cases? Want to compare those hoaxes to the Duke hoax?
First and foremost, they didn't press charges in the Stuart and Smith cases.
A guy was arrested as a suspect in the Stuart case but was released when Stuart's brother came forward and told police the truth. Compare this with Precious' relatives.
Furthermore, after the Smith and Stuart cases, there was a big debate and theme in the press about the "propensity to believe."
In the Duke case, there was not only a "propensity to believe," but to charge with the crime, with no evidence, for a year and counting.
But there has been almost no press mea culpa or introspection about the "propensity to believe" in the Duke case. Some will always believe and will be proud to believe.
And your point is?
Stuart's claim was never plausable. It does not work that way, he would have been dead also. My wonderful Director Steve, with a Phd from Harvard in education was " Are you sure? It was not obvious to me that Smith killed those children,
Contrary to current MSM lies, people on pain killers are not walking around in a fog. Neither are people on antidepressants. This stuff does not put you OUT. All of us work with people everyday who are High on Life-You can tell who drinks alcohol excessively but not the drugs. Except for the runny nose of Cocaine or the rapid heartbeat.
8:41pm
Great points. Thanks for clearing things up for the clueless.
7;23 Its true - the best defense is a good offense - attacking the messanger is inappropriate.
"If at first you don't succeed...
redefine success."
This explains some of what we are seeing and will see.
I'm betting Cy will desert Nofing before Victoria, BTW.
To the 9:39- pay better attention to your coworkers. I've fired three of my employees due to perscription drug abuse. You damn sure can tell when they are eff'ed up on that junk. Our work is too dangerous to let them work like that, so they get to go work somewhere else.
I can see Nifong and Victoria Peterson "hooking up". One is as loony as the other.
Maybe when Cy is out of the picture, he and Victoria can run over to Duke for some classes on hooking up. And other stuff.
He he.
Anonymous 10:31
You fired THREE of [your] employees due to perscription drug abuse?
They need perscription drugs to make it through the day?
They also have a political base that was crumbling?
GP
10:31 Bit so, I am an Rn a lot about drug use and reactions. BTW, I am for all firms having mandatory drug testing - that will help cut out the drugies.
Gary, the prescription drugs being abused were probably all necessary against acid reflux, I know I'd need extra protonix if I worked for 10:31
For any thinking supporter of Nifong, this case must instill a crisis of identity. Their disillusioned might best be summed up by a favorite Pogo quote, "We have met the enemy, and he is us".
Imagine thinking for a lifetime that you are better than the vile perpetrators of racism, prejudice, and the abuse of the justice system to effect injustice. Suddenly, when the chance arises, you find that you are no better than the lowest, most vile of those whom you have come to hate.
No wonder there is such a reluctance to see the truth. My God, what a catharsis! No wonder there are so many who have not yet realized the depth of their own hypocrisy.
Mike in Nevada
Another case of a man convicted on a misidentification. But here's what the DA recently said:
"I truly regret that this had to happen, everybody trying to do the right thing and going through all the right steps and coming out with the wrong result," said District Attorney Frank Clark. "I think a simple 'I'm sorry' would never be enough," the prosecutor said.
After 22 years in prison, man exonerated
Wonder if Mike Nifong is man enough to apologize.
Mike from the Silver State - no worries - Nifong is not the introspective sort. He sleeps well at night. A conscience or some amount of empathy would be required for him to have a crisis over his behavior in this case. Not going to happen...
11:52 Anonymous said...
I am an Rn a lot about drug use and reactions. BTW, I am for all firms having mandatory drug testing - that will help cut out the drugies.
Honestly,I have had enough of 'guilty until proven innocent.'
People who don't do drugs or drink excessively don't care if the firm does testing. Just like the team didn't care that the DNA order was to inclusive, They knew the results would be negative to them.
Anon 12:55 People who don't do drugs or drink excessively don't care if the firm does testing. Just like the team didn't care that the DNA order was to inclusive, They knew the results would be negative to them.
Judge Stephens ordered that 46 suspects submit to DNA testing.
McKissick should put up or shut up. Let's see him file one of those petitions with Hudson to have Nifong removed as DA NOW. Until then, he's just another hustler blowing smoke.
12:55-"Just like the team didn't care that the DNA order was to inclusive, They knew the results would be negative to them."
Just LOOK at what happened as a result of those sweeping DNA tests! Three innocent young men INDICTED! This is why *even* innocent people should care, and should resist, giving up their rights...you can say, "If one is innocent, one shouldn't mind submitting."...that would be true in a perfect world, where the people in charge are honest, ethical, and DECENT...but when you're dealing with scum like Mike Nifong, well, look where being innocent gets you...precisely NOWHERE!
Ha! you all actually believe because a Newsday reporter talked to, maybe 3 black people and Mckissack, that all the black support in Durham for Nifong has eroded? Wow, you all are stupider than I thought. You believe the report of 3 people is representative and one of them a janitor! You should have gone the the funeral of Jeanne Lucas last week of so and seen the real black political leadership of Durham and you would have seen McKissack and many other prominent blacks shaking hands with Mr. Nifong.
The majority of Blacks here have not changed their opinion very much and they view the persecution of Nifong by the Bar as politically motivated and the result of the defense's political power with the Bar, period. Many black preachers in the area were asking their congregations to pray for Nifong and the accuser as of this Sunday. Others preached about how man can buy justice but he cannot buy God and have used Ed Bradley and Kirk Osborn as examples of that.
Keep on your wishful thinking.
The value of reports like these is that it can undermine group think. These reports permit those folks who have been convinced by the groupthink against the players to start accepting the fact of the frame. If other groupthink victims can break out then many more can.
As to the blanket drug testing theory:
"People who don't do drugs or drink excessively don't care if the firm does testing. Just like the team didn't care that the DNA order was to inclusive, They knew the results would be negative to them."
That sounds a lot like the justifications for warrantless searches. After all, people innocent of crime have nothing to fear from the police searching their houses indiscriminently, do they?
That way lies danger. "Those who would give up essential liberty to purchase a little temporary safety, deserve neither liberty nor safety." --attributed to Benjamin Franklin, but authorship unclear.
I'm not surprised that preachers were asking the congregation to pray for Nifong or continue to support him. After all, some of them even welcomed the NBBP into their church. Unsavory.
KC Please excuse the somewhat off topic response, but it is an error to confuse necessary restraints on the state and restraints on private contract rights.
@ Duke09Parent
I always accord your views respect, but I must admit I strongly disagree with you about drug tests, particularly in jobs that demand discretion, honesty, or attention.
I have no legal obligation to employ anyone, and if I choose to make drug testing a condition of employment by me, no one is compelled to accept my offer.
Personally, I do not want to get on an airplane piloted by someone with a drug habit, depend for hospital care from someone with a drug habit, or turn my money over to someone with a drug habit. Why do you equate that with warrantless searches?
The only argument in favor of criminalizing drugs that has any validity for me is that, if they were legalized, the next step would be a prohibition of conditioning employment on being drug free.
JeffM
JeffM--
I think I agree with this of yours:
"I have no legal obligation to employ anyone, and if I choose to make drug testing a condition of employment by me, no one is compelled to accept my offer."
I still have some ambivalent feelings toward it, though. Suppose your condition for employment was giving a blood sample for whatever test you want to run. Could you deny employment for finding a medical condition or evidence of a behavior which has nothing to do with illegality or day to day ability to perform the job? Say, high cholesterol or nicotine levels?
My comment was more toward the attitude that only lawbreakers have anything to fear from testing. Your point about government actions vs. private actions is valid.
Yet I am still troubled by the idea that a person may be discriminated against in private employment for behaviors which are completely legal and are done off the job--smoking, eating fat-laden hamburgers, having hereditary risk for heart disease and early death.
We are not too far removed from a society envisioned by the film "Gattica".
@ Duke09Parent
We are intruding on KC's patience by going so far off topic.
The distinction I am making is between the public sphere and the private sphere. The government has a monopoly on legitimate physical force and legal rule making. In consequence, severe restraints on the power of government are, in my view, necessary. It does not follow that equivalent restraints on private parties are warranted, let alone necessary.
If I refuse to hire people who wrongly think Victor Hugo was a good poet, then the consequences of such a bad decision, if in fact it be one, fall on me.
I recognize that my position opens the door to very immoral types of invidious discrimination. So reasonable people of good will may disagree with my position. But I have considerable faith in people's ability to distinguish right from wrong (not that they necessarily act in accordance,) and I have no problem with private sanctions against those who do wrong. We as a country seem to be deciding that the state is the only entity that can distinguish right from wrong and that the private individual has neither a right nor a duty to follow his or her own conscience regardless of the judgments of the state. We publically criminalize too much and privately judge too little.
These of course are mere value judgments on my part.
JeffM
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