Comments on: The Marc Dann Uproar is NOT About Sex!

By: Eric

Eric — Fri, 09 May 2008 20:55:39 +0000

@5: politicians draft legislation that would remove them from office if they betray the public trust? LOL.

I agree with you, but LOL!

By: Jill

Jill — Fri, 09 May 2008 20:47:43 +0000

By the way, my comment gave me an idea: so what if the GA doesn’t want to impeach because he hasn’t done anything impeachable?

Why not draft legislation that makes actions which demonstrate a betrayal of the public trust vested in an elected official an impeachable offense? Or just an offense?

How draconian is that? Brought on only by the hubris of Dann’s refusal to resign.

By: Michael Berger

Michael Berger — Fri, 09 May 2008 20:10:15 +0000

To me, it’s not the betrayal of trust or moral issues.

It’s not so much about fostering a hostile work environment, but it is part and parcel with THE PROBLEM.

It’s certainly not about cheating on his wife. That’s their business to sort out.

It’s also not exclusively what he may have done to obstruct the process when Espy got involved (the operative word being “may”).

It’s about the way Dann went about running the AG’s Office regardless of what effect his buddies were having on the staff, which seems to be reflected in the way he’s going about staying on.

He acts like he’s above it all – above enforcing the laws he’s charged with overseeing when it comes to himself or his friends.

He’s not, they’re not, nor should they be. If he’s allowed to stay on that sends a bad signal to not only we who live in this state, but to whomever comes after him in the AG’s Office.

Which would likely be a Republican in 2010.

By: Ben Keeler

Ben Keeler — Fri, 09 May 2008 19:51:41 +0000

I agree with your post as well as the comments already posted.

By: Jill

Jill — Fri, 09 May 2008 19:41:15 +0000

Before I saw Bill’s comment I’d already formed mine in my head: it’s the betrayal of trust. If anyone has every personally experienced what that’s like with a friend, a significant other or in any other close setting that RELIES on trust, you know how nearly impossible it is to ever have it again.

Abuse and betrayal of trust isn’t a crime because politicians do it all the time – they’d never criminalize it.

But given all the hubbub over making so many other moral values illicit, maybe we need to re-think this.

By: Eric

Eric — Fri, 09 May 2008 18:33:28 +0000

Thanks, Bill!

By: Bill Sloat

Bill Sloat — Fri, 09 May 2008 17:32:22 +0000

Great job, Eric. It is real news when a political party excommunicates one of its top officeholders — and tries to dislodge him — for betraying the public’s trust. It is important news, too. Years ago, I covered a trial. And part of the defense was that the guy who was facing time had done several good deeds in his life. He had even helped little old ladies cross the street. But the little old lady defense did not work. He was convicted and sent away for his miscreant behavior. In other words, he did something he should not have done.