NYT: “…Doesn’t Seem To Rise To The Level Of A Criminal Act. . .” .
[guest post by Dana]
I realize I’m late to this and that a number of you are already caught up, but I’m going to post it anyway.
The New York Times joined in the chorus of liberals who are not supportive of the indictment against Rick Perry. Amusingly, from the get-go, they felt compelled to reassure readers they still do not like nor approve of Perry one little bit before casting doubt on the proceedings against him:
Gov. Rick Perry of Texas is one of the least thoughtful and most damaging state leaders in America, having done great harm to immigrants, abortion clinics and people without health insurance during his 14 years in office. But bad political judgment is not necessarily a felony, and the indictment handed up against him on Friday — given the facts so far — appears to be the product of an overzealous prosecution.
The editorial then moves on to the indictment:
Mr. Perry should have left the matter [of Lehmberg’s resignation] to the courts, where both a criminal and a civil attempt to have her removed failed, or to the voters.
But his ill-advised veto still doesn’t seem to rise to the level of a criminal act. . . .
Governors and presidents threaten vetoes and engage in horse-trading all the time to get what they want, but for that kind of political activity to become criminal requires far more evidence than has been revealed in the Perry case so far.
Also today, Perry turned himself in, and looking rather dapper, had his mug shot taken.
“I’m going to fight this injustice with every fiber of my being. And we will prevail,” Perry said before walking inside the building, where he set off a metal detector but didn’t break stride, heading straight to a first-floor office to have his fingerprints taken and stand for the mug shot.
I’ve got to say, the man wears defiance well.
(h/t elissa for mug shot)
–Dana