By Robert Field
As is so often the situation, the last third of a news article or column often contains information that belies the headings and the introduction. Perhaps the sensational first portion is to obtain viewer (and editor) interest. The latter part is to protect the writer’s reputation when public opinion reverses itself.
In all three cases below, prominent columnists acknowledge or imply that the actual charges against Pennsylvania Attorney General are bogus:
Respected pollster and columnist Terry Madonna’s LNP article “Dissecting the speedy and sad demise of Kathleen Kane’s career” serves to exculpates his succumbing to the momentary Zeitgeist by stating:
“While there is little evidence of a conspiracy against her, one still has to ask if a male in the office, especially one tied to the old boys’ network, would be in this kind of trouble. The charge that first unhorsed her – leaking testimony from a grand jury- is common and rarely prosecuted. Former Gov. Ed Rendell pointed out the farcical nature of the charges against her, noting that the grand jury recommendation to indict her was itself leaked.”
Dick Miller, whose We.Connect.Dots column is especially read by his fellow politicos throughout the state and is posted on Real Reporting, observes:
“Grand jury actions are supposed to be secret to protect the innocent (humor intended). Rather, grand juries have become the political tools of corrupt prosecutors and judges. An indictment by a grand jury is a powerful pre-trial condemnation of the accused. Then there are the leaks that seem to accompany every grand jury investigation of a public figure. However, eventual prosecution of a leaker is rare…”
“Kane, not charged with personal enrichment, is incompetent to defend against a cabal of Republican prosecutors, judges and public officials. In Central PA, this group is so closely entwined that judges address prosecutors by first names in court. Kane discovered in another investigation that 4,000 pornographic emails had been exchanged by some of the same people who scheme to get her out of office. Democrats deserting Kane helps make GOP efforts appear legitimate.”
And Tony May in the Patriot News says:
“Wednesday underscores why she should stay the course or – at the most – take an unprecedented leave of absence while her perjury, official oppression and violation of grand jury secrecy case moves forward.
“This position revolves around the one over-arching issue Kane ignored in her news conference. This entire debacle isn’t simply about her.”
“Yet unnamed or shadowy authorities come after her. And, in the process of building a crescendo of pressure on Montgomery County DA Risa Vetri Ferman to file charges against Kane, prejudicial information about the proceedings of that Grand Jury are leaked to the very same media at the center of the case against Kane.”
Everyone seems to agree that Kane was not prepared to be attorney general and has demonstrate poor management skills, perhaps because her limited experience as an assistant district attorney and years on leave to raise her family did not provide supervisory experience.
But this is not an issue of ‘Re-call of an elected official’ and Pennsylvania, unlike nineteen other states, does not even allow for such. This issue is whether she broke a significant law.
At the same time, right wing Republican columnists are calling for Hillary Clinton to be indicted over her handling of e-mails. Here is a woman who served with merit and distinction as First Lady, as a U. S. Senator and as Secretary of State. Buy instead of facing the public in her presidential run she may be facing a jury!
In both cases we see the latest implement in the Right Wing Republican tool case is to bring indictments on minor and technical transgressions. It amounts to inquisition by indictment. Run against Republicans for office and it isn’t just your reputation that will be soiled, you may see prison time. What quality people will have the courage to be a Democrat candidate? How long will it be before the Democrats respond in kind?
We repeat from the umpteenth time that our Republic is on the same slippery slope as that which over took and destroyed the Roman Republic. Political decency and comity were at first set aside; vicious attacks followed, then assassinations, and finally civil wars which paved the road for the fall of the Republic and the onset of the Empire.
God help the United States of America if “inquisition by indictment” is not rejected by the media and the public.
I personally believe that the due process of law should hold precedence and she should be allowed to defend herself in court presenting all tenable arguments. It suddenly seems now (even more than had happened before), she is not only being ‘vilified’ publicly- but many decisions are continuing to be made behind ‘closed’ doors. In other words, she has essentially already been tried, found guilty, and condemned -in absentia.
The POWER players (the good ‘old’ boy network ) are upset that she did not resign or take a Leave of Absence. She must not be allowed to fully present her arguments, as ‘the POWERS ‘that be’ have already made a determination that she must go.
I never thought that this would actually carry over to the PRESS, and the Governor’s Office. Our nation, our state, needs ‘transparency’ in government; not JUSTICE ISSUES continuing to be decided behind ‘CLOSED’ doors.
Of course the Governor would love to cooperate with the Republicans to get a budget passed, and the PRESS ( now more concerned with ‘leaks’ and ‘reputations’ affecting both political parties, and how it might also conceivably ‘affect’ or pertain to them)- might also want Attorney General Kane to defend herself “from her home”, especially as her resignation truly would tend to imply an admission of guilt.
I think it is very ‘prudent’ that ‘certain’ columnists hedge their stances. Truth will eventually make itself known, and those that are being hypocritical will one day be exposed.
Since when has Terry Madonna’s opinion been respected? Pennsylvania is a joke and he is one of the punch lines.
It’s not surprising that Kane’s attacks are from the same people that pulled Joe Paterno and Penn State into the Jerry Sandusky scandal. Funny that no victim testified under oath that their abused occured on Penn State Property and the prosecution couldn’t even get a conviction on the rape charge were there was an eye-witness. The judicial system in Pennsylvania is pathetic and should be ashamed of itself. Kane appears to be the only one trying to do something about. You go girl!
It was disappointing that the Governor called for her resignation so quickly. A grand jury only hears one side…there is no opportunity to defend oneself in the proceedings. If Kathleen Kane goes down she needs to take a whole bunch of with her.