Saturday, February 23, 2008

John Ford justice

Former Tennessee state senator John Ford, uncle of US Senate candidate and former Fox News contributor Harold Ford, Jr, is still not in prison.

He was sentenced on August 27, 2007 to 5 1/2 years in prison for his role in the Tennessee Waltz sting operation, and faces other charges in Nashville. He received a postponement on November 27th, 2007, keeping him out of the pokey until his wife serves a full one year term for drunk driving after being released from the same jail in September 2007 for the same charge.

There are certainly mitigating circumstances involving Ford's children but most people sentenced to prison have mitigating circumstances. Besides, listen to Mrs Ford herself on the issue:
She says she's greatful the children will be with their father for the holidays, but she says it's convenient for him now to want to be with them.

"I think I have the right to be out also to try and raise my children. I always have," said Mitchell Ford.
Recently Barack Obama visited the Ebenezer Baptist Church and talked about injustice, eloquently saying the following:
We have a deficit in this country when there is Scooter Libby justice for some and Jena justice for others
The question is, did Ford get "Scooter Libby Justice" or "Jena justice"?

MORE 2/23/08

One might ask the same question about Congressman Jefferson. Obama would probably answer by insisting the issue isn't necessarily about race but about class, yet using his chosen examples in a black church doesn't really help to make the distinction.

MORE 2/29/08

Epilogue?

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