Pettiness
I’ve got no soft spot for Utah’s Republican machine but the piling on of Mark Walker seems way too petty to me.
There is some talk that pursuing Walker will bring other legislative unethical behavior into the light but it really seems to me that Utah’s Democrats and their allies are in danger of serious overreach in their pursuit/persecution of Walker.
UPDATE: It has been pointed out to me that Utah’s Democrats are the wrong target for derision in this particular case. It was a group of individual legislators from both parties who pushed the ethics complaint, not the Democratic Party. The criminal investigation of Mr. Walker that is currently underway does seem to be warranted. My link to Utah Amicus labelled their efforts to push the AG to conduct a criminal investigation into the bribery charges as petty. That label seems now to be wrong and stupid. Sorry about that.
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Jeremy, how can this be considered petty or irrelevant? I’ve read the ethics complaint and it looks like there is more than enough to warrant a review.
A copy is on the Tribune’s site:
http://www.sltrib.com/utahpolitics/ci_9697250
If such alleged behaviors do not justify a hearing then we should just dissolve the ethics committee now.
It is also unfair to say this is being driven from the Democrats. You have ethics-minded representatives from both parties who are sick of the corrupt power network having their way in this state. Of course Walker’s friends and donors (of which Steve Urquhart is one) are trying to minimize this as cheap electioneering. What else are they going to say? Walker’s alleged actions are very bad for their image. They are about to launch an expensive ad campaign touting their successes and trying to convince us that they are all honorable folk just looking out for our best interests. This Walker debable is bad press for them at a very bad time.
And I simply do not understand how filing an ethics complaint amounts to “persecution” (especially given the seriousness of the allegations). We’ve heard from Walker’s buddies that we should excuse his behavior because he lost the election. We’ve seen them try to manipulate our emotions by suggesting that those who are levying these complaints are just “kicking him while he’s down.”
Are Utahns really going to buy this bullies-masquerading-as-victims baloney?
Thanks…Craig.
Comment by CraigJ — June 27, 2008 @ 12:06 pm
Craig,
This whole thing is purely political and it is ugly. Utahns aren’t any better off because of this ethics investigation.
The. Guy. Lost. The. Election.
He’s gone. We’re all better off for it because he was a terrible candidate. Lets move on. Over-reaching on this one isn’t going to benefit anyone.
Comment by Jeremy Manning — June 27, 2008 @ 5:10 pm
Jeremy, I disagree. If Walker was a puppet, and someone in leadership encouraged or supported his illegal behavior, we have a right to know. It is time for some people to learn that the ends don’t justify the means, there are consequences for bad actions, and that Utah deserves more.
Comment by natalie — June 27, 2008 @ 9:53 pm
This investigation would have undoubtedly linked Curtis and others, but go ahead and fall for Walker’s propaganda Jeremy.
I would have never thought you would say that the process doesn’t matter.
Comment by Anonymous — July 9, 2008 @ 1:09 am
Anon,
It is exactly because I respect the process that I was opposed to this fishing expedition in the first place.
If you have evidence that someone else has done something wrong then do an ethics inquiry aimed at them…not Mr. Walker. Using the ethics process for purely political purposes (as you and others advocate) taints the whole system.
Our system of ethics enforcement is weak enough as it is. We don’t need to give politicians more reasons to not want to strengthen it in the future.
Comment by Jeremy Manning — July 9, 2008 @ 8:44 am
Jer,
Its hard to imagine how one can simply overlook bribery and corruption in politics as you suggest.
I guess you won’t be running for public office anytime soon.
Comment by Cliff — July 23, 2008 @ 12:24 pm
Cliff,
Welcome and thanks for your comment. You’re being more than a bit obtuse if you’re assuming from my post that I’d overlook bribery and corruption.
No plans to run right now…but thanks for the input!
Comment by Jeremy Manning — July 23, 2008 @ 5:15 pm
Ooops,
Perhaps we understood what you wrote differently than you meant when you wrote it.
What do you mean by “in danger of serious overreach”.
Comment by Cliff — July 23, 2008 @ 7:12 pm