As Predicted

It’s a media blackout for the Black Panthers and the (In)Justice Department.

[Update a few minutes later]

Well, at least the Al Gore sexual assault allegations have gone mainstream. As some have pointed out, part of his problem was his hubris in making himself a celebrity, which opened him up as fair game for the entertainment rags.

I wonder if he’s past his media sell-by date? Or they’re happy to toss him under the bus to give them a distraction from having to report corruption at the Justice Department?

[Afternoon update]

Well the Philadelphia EInquirer is finally covering a local story.

15 thoughts on “As Predicted”

  1. Where is the New York Times? Where is The Washington Post? Where are CBS and NBC?

    They just didn’t want to have a fight in the middle of a black panther party.

  2. So Bill Clinton got one free grope and Al Gore (and Obama) one free Nobel Peace Prize. I wonder if Gore still feels the Nobel was the bigger prize.

  3. The New Black Panthers story has been covered by the largest cable news channel, the largest daily newspaper and the AP. If that’s a media blackout it’s pretty porous.

  4. “If that’s a media blackout it’s pretty porous.”

    Sarah Palin’s fee to speak at a college got more airtime. This is government corruption.

  5. Reality check, please. Assume for sake of argument that a different administration won the election, and decided to be as hard as they possibly could on the New Black Panthers. How much harder could they be, within the limits of existing law?

    Not much, I suspect.

  6. Assume for sake of argument that a different administration won the election, and decided to be as hard as they possibly could on the New Black Panthers. How much harder could they be, within the limits of existing law?

    I can only conclude from that question that you are completely unaware of the facts of the case.

  7. How much harder could they be, within the limits of existing law?

    Such a tough question… IDK, perhaps they could have allowed a slam dunk case to continue? Rather than letting the lawyers quit in disgust?

  8. Rand and Ken, most of the coverage of the story doesn’t explain the practical consequences of the dropped charges, which were civil complaints. As far as I can tell, the main effect of dropping charges against the other parties, if there was no appeal, would be that any of the New Black Panthers that hadn’t brought weapons to polling places would be in contempt if they brought them to polling places in the future.

  9. Will, it’s not just about weapons. You can be removed from voting for wearing a T-shirt, but black panthers can wear a uniform and intimidate? Contempt only applies for an existing case, not new cases.

    The practical effect of dropped charges is to encourage the behavior because there is no punishment… other than to the lawyers that were just doing their jobs.

  10. “May 13 (a key date):

    In an unusual move, department officials had asked the department’s Appellate Division to weigh in on the case. Memos from section chief Diana K. Flynn and Marie K. McElderry support the Coates team’s contention that the case should be fully pursued. ”

    But that isn’t really what the memos say. While they generally agree that the case *can* go forward, they call the case against the nationals “a very close call” and “the most difficult case to make at this stage” and “a bit of a reach”

  11. You’re cherry picky Will, the point is the admin was involved in squashing it, so it’s no surprise they write about it being ‘difficult to make the case’ or whatever.

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