Something to Be Proud Of
The votes are in and counted. Mike Nifong will continue to be Durham County District Attorney, at least until the bar complaints are followed through. To those of you who voted for Nifong so you could see the “privileged white boys” on trial (as the first comment on our blog rejoiced after the results were revealed), congratulations. You got your wish. To those of you disappointed that this amazing effort didn’t result in Nifong’s removal from office, turn off “There’s a tear in my beer.” Or as Jo Dee Messina might say, “There’s no time for tears.” Put in Montgomery Gentry’s “Something to be proud of” and turn it up as loud as it will go.
A group of Durham citizens organized an effort to state loud and clear that Nifong’s unethical and despicable conduct would not go unnoticed. An easy general election win quickly turned into a less than 50% escape. That’s something to be proud of. The Democratic Party in Durham offered up only a candidate who wouldn’t serve. The Republican Party in Durham offered up only a delusional fool interested in promoting himself and too vain to bow out when a graceful exit could not be made. Ordinary citizens picked up the slack and spoke in a loud unmistakable voice about the real values of justice and the conduct expected of our public officials. This was best summarized in the confrontation between DA Nifong and longtime Blue Devil announcer Bob Harris. Responding to Nifong’s comical statement, “This isn’t about Duke at all,” Harris stated succinctly, “No, it’s about honesty. You’re not honest.” Every single person who contributed to this incredible and historic grassroots efforts against public abuse of power deserves to be proud today.
The words “something to be proud of” should haunt many others as we move into the beginning of the substantive portion of DA Nifong’s persecution of Reade Seligmann, Collin Finnerty, and David Evans. Regardless of what the conspiracy theorists choose to believe, these three young men are obviously and demonstrably innocent. People like those who spew hatred in the comments on our blog may rejoice today believing they scored a victory, but in reality all such people do is support the prosecution of clearly innocent people and the profound denigration of our criminal justice system. The Group of 88 professors at Duke may hope that a future day will vindicate their April 6th assessment that “what happened to this young woman” was a social disaster. What the conspiracy theorists and “get the privileged white boys” people forget is that there is a ton of evidence proving the innocence of Seligmann, Finnerty, and Evans. A ll those that have supported and enabled this hoax will be soon exposed. The only thing the election results yesterday showed was that 49% of the Durham public wants to believe that DA Nifong has evidence and that the accuser has a credible claim. However, nothing is going to change the cold hard reality that this is clearly false. A courageous group of Durham citizens made a gallant effort to stop this train wreck. That it continues is nothing to be proud of.
As for Steve Monks and his supporters, most notably Charlotte Woods and Cliff Brandt, there is really nothing much to say. They undercut a citizens’ movement to remove an out of control public official from power. They are responsible for helping Nifong remain the District Attorney in Durham County. Perhaps this was their intention all along. Perhaps it was all a stunt to exercise political muscle. Monks, Woods, and Brandt should live in infamy as discredited, dishonest, and despicable individuals. The result of their efforts is nothing to be proud of.
Those with “something to be proud of” are those who stood against abuse of power and those who have vow to continue the fight. The justice of this cause will be determined by the truth and that truth has yet to be revealed in its full and dramatic glory. Innocence is only the beginning. Citizens of Durham did their best to avoid the painful process of exposing Nifong and the ugly details of this hoax. That process is now inevitable. While we are disappointed it could not be avoided, frankly, we are looking forward to it. When the hoax is over and the full truth known, we will all look back and judge our actions against the standards of “something to be proud of.” LieStoppers is comfortable where it stands.
47 comments:
I mentioned a few weeks back on KC's blog that Mike Nifong would win this election. So, part one of my prediction has come true (though much to my dismay).
My second prediction was that in a few weeks, or months, but almost certainly before trial, Nifong will drop the charges against the three innocent victims. Why? He will state that the accuser is too "traumatized" to testify. This gives Nifong an easy out, a way to avoid the light that a trial would shed on his unethical tactics.
My final thought is this. As incompently as Nifong has handled this case so far, what do you think he'd do in an actual trial? If not for the pain caused to the three victims' families, it would almost be worth watching this clown.
Mark my words here. The case will be dropped because the accuser will not be able to testify. Of course, the revenge of the just will come with a devastating civil suit that will destroy Nifong and his family.
I agree with the 7:45 post. Now that Nifungus is over the election, he must find a way to dispose of the case. The best way is to put it on the accuser. I only hope that the falsely accused don't let it end there. I hope that the NC Bar takes action.
As far as the Durham citizens, who cares. They have to live with him now. Best of luck. You'll need it.
I agree with 7:45 AM. Now the only way to exact justice is by attacking the purse strings of the evildoers.
With the current situation in Durham, I definitely would not send my son or daughter to Duke. The Duke President better wake up!
Excellent post Liestoppers. With the election over, we are al now ever more united in our convictions.
Remember, there are 27,000 registered Republicans in Durham County. Monks only got 6,193 votes!
President Bonehead isn't capable of waking up.
I want Woods, Monk, et al. OUT of the Republican Party leadership. Now. I will do what I can to see that happen. Unfortunately, the party mucky-mucks are arrogant self-promoters. That was the trouble with Monks, who was just as stuck-on-himself as Nifong. A terrible representative of the Republican party. Terrible.
Beautiful post. LieStoppers is comfortable where it stands and I am comfortable standing with them.
hckychx
Talk about sore losers!
Listen, you can't change the results of the election. The voters have spoken. period. You were waaaay out of your league for trying to oust Mike Nifong. It was simply too much for you.
As for the whiny little **** that had a confrontation with Mike is surely an immature little jerk. How big of him?? You people must realize that the voters wasn't falling for your BS. Let this be a lesson for you. Don't play dumb games with the lives of rape victims?? The public doesn't like it when victims are trashed. You made your bed now lie in it.
Take a deep breath, sit back and look over the election results and:
READ IT AND WEEP!
To Justice 58:
Most of Durham (51%) is laughing. Nifong had everything in this election in his favor (except his integrity)--he should have easily won 90% of the vote...This election was a referendum on his integrity and he (and you) lost!!!
To Justice 58: Remember, you now have made it possible for more blacks to be wrongfully convicted of rape. You think you are "getting back at whites" but in reality, you are making sure that more wrongful convictions occur.
Furthermore, you know that the accuser was not raped, and you know she has been lying. You choose to "believe" a lie.
I'll make my stand with Joan, K.C. and LAX friends and family. Truth will out and we are on the side of truth. Lumpen such as 9:28, will never care. Values, justice, truth are merely abstract concepts. These folks are permanent underclass, always looking for free health care and government money, and the occasional public hanging. They lack the cultural respect for work and education that would help improve their station, so our children's children will be supporting their children's children. They don't know any better and don't want to know any better. I have different standards for the Nifongs, the Despicable 88, Broadhead, Ashley, and other supposedly educated people who wish ill of the boys. They know better, or should, and their willingness to hurt these kids in order to advance their careers or to justify their conceptions is a chilling reminder to the rest of us that things have gotten very ugly in our society. These people are somewhere on the other side of cynical. They really don't believe in democracy, in the republic, in the rule of law, in standards of any sort. Scary, really that these people walk among us, may live next door; who knew things were so far gone? The new realization does make me appreciate those good folks who share with me a recognizable picture of reality: a key marker being the absolute knowledge that these boys are innocent and that there were no grounds for indictment or any legal action against them at all. Thank for the good Duke people who are angry about this situation and all the other good people who are determined not to let the boys be crushed by the forces of darkness. And thank God that these boys have good families and good counsel. This is not over by a long shot and I am certain they will prevail. sic semper tyrannis
I honestly thanked God last night in my prayers that I no longer live in Durham. I would hate to consider myself a part of that demographic enlight of the ignorance a portion of the community showed at the polls yesterday. It says a lot about the lack of values and dignity they have.
You won't see any lawsuit against Nufungu, he has immunity. I do see him getting his law licensed suspended, either for a period of time or permanently. AKA Disbarred.
Duke needs to figure out a new student judical review system. The gulity before trial thing is not working.
10:44
What about malicious prosecution? In North Carolina, can Nifong be sued for that?
To justice58 (the blowhard). No one trashed a rape victim in this case, idiot. There is no rape victim in this case only a pole dancing drugie making false accusations.
We have several nominations for Hag of the Hoax. May I suggest we have nominations for "Gutless Wonder of the Hoax" and the first candidate: Cash Michaels.
I agree with justice 58. Mike is surely an immature little jerk.
I also agree that the public doesn't like it when victims are trashed. Those guys are innocent but in the beginning they were trashed/vilified, etc. Good insight!
Now the country has taken the blinders off and vilification is aimed elsewhere.
It isn't over. I wonder if the gloating supporters of Nifong will be around when he has to answer to the Bar and the Feds. Perhaps a bake sale so he can buy milk without being harassed. That civil suit is going to be nasty. Maybe pole-dancing to help pay for the necessities? Now that's a visual....Nifong pole-dancing...
To Justice 58:
I see that Asata has suspended operations on her web site, Justice 4 Two Sisters. Apparently, even she has come to realize that the accuser is lying and that the three white boys are innocent. Now, it is only the racists and those who are too stupid to follow the evidence who still want to see this travesty of justice go forward.
10:13 you are right on the money.
All sore losers:
You played a game and you lost. Your trick didn't work. Don't attack Justice 4 Two Sisters because she took a stand for the victim? Look at yourself! Have you no dignity? Have you no shame? You lost. Now, its time to move on.
Attacking people like Justice 4 Two Sisters is immature, ignorant,and just shows your character. Sad and pathetic just about sums it up for you.
Justice 58:
I so look forward to Mike Nifong being your DA!!! You certainly deserve each other.
"Listen, you can't change the results of the election."
A disbarred attorney can't be DA, can he?
LTC8K9
To Justice 58 at 1:13 PM.
I think you are misguided. You need to direct those questions you posed to the accuser. Tell her to look at herself. Has she no dignity? Has she no shame? Sad and pathetic just about sums it up for her. She's a disgrace to herself, her family, her peers, and especially to her children. If her parents and friends really cared about her they would not condone what she is doing. The truth hurts doesn't it?
justice58- what do you think we lost, exactly? or more importantly, what did you win? a chance for durham to lose this case in embarrassing fashion on a national stage?
any group of idiotic and illiterate voters can re-elect someone. unfortunately for you, winning a conviction requires actual evidence.
To 2:04;
Justice 58 does not care about the truth as long as some rich-ass white boys get nailed for something they didn't do!
Asata probably discontinued Justice 4 Two Sisters because the government check has not come in yet.
This whole situation is so sad. As a woman, I want women to be able to come forward and report a sexual assault and feel that they will be believed, BUT as a mother of two boys I am frightened at how easily this woman can point her finger and turn the lifes of these boys and their families upside down. Shouldn't there be more evidence before we get this far in the system? I have heard people say "let a jury figure it out".... what about the financial costs to the families and the City of Durham, not to mention the damage to peoples reputations and the wasted manhours.
And my final thought is the impact a single false accusastion has on all "real" victims, one false accusation can undo so much work that women's groups have done to protect women.
Justice58,
How's it feel to be USED by Nifong? He's your new slavemaster, you're just too dumb to know it!
The election results just show how racist blacks actually are. No one ever says that blacks are, or can, be racist, but the reality is that this case has just uncovered and hung for all to see the racism of blacks. We should all see this event for what it is: pure racism on the part of blacks.
Yada Yada Yada
Yo, Justice 58:
That's a rich white girl you're quoting......OOPS!
Just in case you think Durham is the only bastion of Race Baiting. The following happened this week in Atlanta (info from Neal Bortz website).
RACE BAITING LAST MINUTE SCARE AD IN ATLANTA
OK ... so this is nothing new, but you would think that sooner or later Democrats would grow tired of the race-baiting last-minute ads trying to frighten black voters into thinking that Republicans will be coming for them with a noose in the dark of night. Well .. it has happened again .. right here in Atlanta.
Georgia Democrat Congressman John Lewis, former Atlanta Mayor and U.N. Ambassador Andy Young and current Atlanta mayor Shirley Franklin have teamed up to produce a campaign ad for John Eaves, a black Democrat running for the position of Fulton County Commission Chairman. (Atlanta lies almost exclusively inside Fulton County). The ad suggests ---- hell, it doesn't just suggest, if flat-out says that if the Fulton County voters let those Republicans get control of the Fulton County Commission it will be like setting the dogs and water hoses on blacks again. In fact, it will be worse!
Here ... read the text of the ad for yourself:
"This is Congressman John Lewis."
"And I'm Mayor Shirley Franklin"
"And I'm Andy Young"
(John Lewis) "On November 7th we face the most dangerous situation we ever have. If you think fighting off dogs and water hoses in the sixties was bad, imagine if we sit idly by and let the right-wing Republicans take control of the Fulton County Commission."
(Shirley Franklin) "The efforts of Martin and Coretta King, Hosea Williams, Maynard Jackson and many others will be lost. That's why we must stand up and we must turn out the vote for the Democrats on Election Day."
(Andy Young) "And especially for John Eaves for Fulton County Commission Chairman. Unless you want them to turn back the clock on equal rights and human rights and economic opportunity for all of us, vote for John Eaves as Fulton County Chairman"
(Lewis) "Your very life may depend on it."
(John Eaves) "This message paid for by the committee to elect John Eaves."
You can listen to the ad right here. Well, they've gone and replaced the audio. So if you missed it when I played it on the air today, you'll just have to go with my transcript above.
I'm not surprised that John Lewis made this ad. He's never been one to avoid a little race-baiting in a campaign. He rather loves playing the black victimization card. Andrew Young? No surprise there either. Young has a history of playing the race card in his political efforts. Young is just the type of bigot you would expect to tell black voters that Republicans would "turn back the clock on equal rights and human rights" if they get control of the commission. By the way --- a Republican has been in control of the commission for years now ... and thus far no blacks have been lynched.
But Shirley Franklin? Now that's a disappointment. A huge disappointment. I've had dinner with Shirley Franklin a few times, and frankly I was impressed. Thus far she's done an admirable job for the City of Atlanta. Now she allows herself to be used by John Eaves in a cheap, crass attempt to scare black voters into thinking that if he doesn't win this race all of the work of Martin Luther King Jr. will have been lost. Mayor Franklin should be ashamed, and she should offer a public apology to the black voters of Fulton County for her implication that they are dumb and ignorant enough to buy this load of crap.
And just why do Democrats like to resort to race-baiting advertisements at the last minute during a campaign. Because it works, that's why. Perhaps that's why you won't hear an apology from the mayor. John Eaves won by a wide margin.
To Justice58:
“At times one remains faithful to a cause only because its opponents do not cease to be insipid.” Nietzsche
26,116 people in Durham voted for Mike Nifong without the slightest ambivalence to the decision they were making.
26,116 people in Durham have souls black as the night.
This girl was not raped. In case you weren’t paying attention, this girl was not raped.
Even though Mike Nifong’s lies and deceit have been vociferously exposed, they do not care as long as they have their target, the white boys head on a plate. It’s very sad to see this type of misplaced anger that only typifies their mind-set, that world owes them something. They would rather see innocent people punished because they are white, perceived to be privileged and they consider them to be racist. If this is the mind-set that the juries are going to have if this case makes it to trial, then God help us all. I have never really felt safe in Durham because of the gang and the senseless acts of violence that I see on the news, but now I really feel unsafe for another reason.
Justice 58,
The problem Assata had was that she took a very hard-line, in-your-face stand for the "victim" the day the story broke and without the benefit of any evidence to support her position, other than the accusation by sister number one. However, during the past seven months, a mountain of evidence has come to light ALL of which shows that the "victim" is a liar and that the three white boys are innocent. Based on this, Assata finally woke up and suspended operations on her web site. She realizes that this case is a crock, and unlike you, she has the honesty to admit it. As I said in my prior posts, the only people who are supporting the "victim" at this point are racists and people who are too stupid to follow the evidence. By the way, who is the second sister that Assata was seeking justice for? Would that be Kim Pittman? What is your opinion of Kim right now?
Fact is:
1. Mike Nifong is elected DA
2. The duke 3 are charged with Rape, Kidnapping, and Sexual Assault
3. The case is headed to trial
4. Mike Nifong will get a conviction
5. A jury will find them guilty.
6. Prison terms for all 3
There you have it. Any questions???
justice is right. you are all mad your little trick in trying to buy the election and get nifong dismissed did not work. i have one thing to say to all your "no evidence" bull shit. you do not know all the evidence, just the evidence the defense leaked out so stop saying that. if there is no evidence, the duke 3 will walk, if there is some they will go to jail and that is simple. the facts of the case are simple, too. a woman in durham county brought a complaint of rape at a location the accused were documented to be, he belongings were found in her possession and she was examined at Duke hospital for rape and a grand jury indicted. the normal course of things in this situation is the men stand trial, not have the case dismissed because they find it inconvenient and in the opinion of their highly paid defense team and their families they are innocent without hearing the state's case.
i have news for all of you on here. they are charged with 3 separate felonies. all a jury would have to do is find them guilty of even one felony and they are going to serve serious jail time. maybe you all need to think about your claims of no evidence and think about all the discovery being handed in lately, including dvds. emails and un published photos before making that assertion. word here in durham is that some explosive stuff is in the new emails and there is a photo of them restraining the victim. that is only a rumor though.
To Justice 58 and Anon 11:24 AM: Read my lips. No evidence. Enuf said. By the way, you never responded to my question regarding Kim Pittman. Why was that? Do you find that situation a bit awkward? Perhaps you could do us all a favor and tell us exactly what sort of justice you have in mind for Kim. Maybe we should invite the New Black Panther Party to come back to Durham to "question" Kim about her testimony and make sure everyone is on the same page, like Patrick Baker did with the Durham police a couple of months ago.
If there is all this "evidence" of a crime, why didn't you push Nifong to have the trial last April?
There are no notes from any police officer since about July.
Why the delay?
Bring it on!
11:24..there is no evidence. As for your "word in durham" about photos restraining the victim you need to do something called THINK. There was no restraining of anybody on the ATM photos but maybe the bank tampered with the photos. We all heard the DNA results were tampered with at Duke. Spare me. Maybe we'll hear about space aliens tampering with evidence.
Your comment "i have news for you" is not news. We know what they have been charged with so it is not news. As for your comments about discovery: You're kidding, right??? Do you have ANY opinions that are your own or do you just parrot what you hear?
justice 58: come now. You can argue better than that. Or can you?
just when I think humanity may be catching up in fairness and critical thinking I read crap from people who wear blinders.
Will they be here when it all falls apart? No way...not a prayer.
Anon 11:24 AM, you seem to be conveniently forgetting that the "victim" has actually given the police multiple conflicting versions of events. At various times, she has told the police that she was not raped, that she was raped by 20 guys, 5 guys, 3 guys with the assistance of Kim Pittman, 3 guys without the assistance of Kim Pittman, etc. Also, during one of the many unconstitutional photo line ups, she identified 4 guys as her attackers with 100 percent certainty. However, it turned out that one of the guys she identified was not even in Durham at the time, which is why the Minister of Injustice only indicted 3 guys. I guess even he had qualms about indicting a guy who could prove that he was hundreds of miles away at the time.
Anon 11:24 AM:
You say that the "victim" was examined at Duke Hospital and that a grand jury indicted, as if to suggest that this constitutes powerful proof that a rape occurred. So what? The examination at Duke Hospital showed no evidence of rape, just some minor swelling consistent with her sexual escapades with multiple partners and devices during the days prior to the party. Also, the grand jury basically consists of some local dummies who would indict a ham sandwich if the DA asked them to. Bottom line: no evidence. Any questions?
I thought it was great when the bouncer at the Platinum Club told reporters that sister number one was telling everybody at the club that she was going to get money from the white boys but that everyone ignored her because they all think she is wacky.
Justice...
The substantial evidence we've seen thus far came from the prosecution... are you silly enough to believe that the defense doesn't have substantial evidence yet to be revealed? The defense has not yet begun...
the defense is afraid to go to trial. if they had such an airtight case why did they go through so much to try to get it dismissed? why not sit tight, collect evidence, send colin and reade and dave off to europe to ski or whatever and then go to court this spring and decimate nifong? but no. they chose to mount a huge pr campaign and hired an expensive new york pr firm for this purpose, paid for a push poll, arranged to be on 60 minutes, helped support a recall campaign, etc all to avoid going to trial. ask yourself why. there is a lot of stuff going to come out on the victim because of her lifestyle but you need to think that there is some stuff coming out on the duke 3 as well and you know that past history shows the durham da office does not hesitate to use lifestyle issues like what may be in their computers. word is that there are racially embarassing emails and some photos that have never been published anywhere coming out in the latest discovery. there may be a reason the defense was so reluctant to take this to trial.
I think you assume the defense has no evidence of their own -- most of the 'evidence' seen to date is the prosecution's.
I think we're all going to find out Nifong is dirtier than we could have imagined.
Afraid of trial? I don't think so. Charges were brought before the investigation was complete (in fact it is quite apparent now the investigation is still not complete).
One question, why do you think Nifong lied to Victoria Peterson at the NCCU forum on 4/11 when he told her that her information was wrong (about the accuser being able to identify her 3 attackers)?
personally, I would be afraid to go to trial under any circumstances. why? because people are stupid. jury members are stupid. they all come in with preconceived ideas and biases, and are often too stubborn and irrational to really analyze the evidence.
one of my friends works for a company that did a mock jury trial, with real people, to test out one of their cases. they presented a case that obviously favored them (the defense) and then listened to the jury deliberate. suffice to say, they heard comments like "well, I don't care what the science says, this is how I think it should be." with people like that on juries, you can't even count on them for a fair verdict.
Wow justice58, for all your ranting and misguided opinions it turns out you were wrong.That's right, wrong.
could it be that your stereotypes led you to the wrong conclusions? Could it be that you are in fact a bigot?
Oh sorry, I just have to have a nother laugh at the expense of justice58, she's so incredibly stoooopid! She quotes the facts as being:
1. Mike Nifong is elected DA
2. The duke 3 are charged with Rape, Kidnapping, and Sexual Assault
3. The case is headed to trial
4. Mike Nifong will get a conviction
5. A jury will find them guilty.
6. Prison terms for all 3
So yes, 1 and 2 were facts at the time, but 3-6 were her misguided opinions and so tragically wrong (actually comically wrong, she's such a blowhard). No 'fact' number 2 is also no longer right since all the charges have been dropped. Soon I would suggest fact number 1 will also be wrong since Nofing is headed for disbarment.
Well I'm off to google her again and try and find some more of her posts to respond too. She just set herself up so badly this should keep me entertained for days
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