Bob Riley has a dilemma. He has one major objective to achieve to conclude his term as governor of Alabama, and that is to put the state’s legislature in Republican hands. And he has two key allies in this struggle, determined to facilitate his struggle. The first are two key Newhouse newspapers, the Mobile Press-Register and the Birmingham News. The publishers of both are fully committed to the success of his campaign for a Republican legislature. The second is Alice Martin, the U.S. Attorney in Birmingham who figures high on the list of what Kyle Sampson called the “loyal Bushies” and who has a well-documented penchant for political prosecutions and a well-articulated desire for elected office or a judgeship.
Horton gives a short history how the 2 year Alabama college system and its employees who also serve in state government have become the path for the Republicans to take back control of the legislature and, eventually, where Sue Schmitz fits into all of this. Apparently there are 33 employees of the 2 year college system serving in the state legislature, but 30 of them are Democrats. If Rove, Riley and cronies (sounds like a law firm, doesn't it?)can hound some or all of these out of office then there is a good chance that the legislature would once again be in Republican hands. Complicit in their plans are the Newhouse owned newspapers here in Alabama, specifically The Birmingham News.
Riley and his team reason, if they can take out this group, they will accomplish their objective of crafting a new G.O.P. legislature. Hence the hew and cry of “double dipping” pursued in perfect concert between Riley, the Birmingham News and Alice Martin. Of course, legislators who teach in universities and 4-year colleges arguably face the same issues. And indeed, so do doctors, lawyers, accountants, insurance men–professionals who may regularly sell their services to the state–or even car dealers, like Bob Riley. Why aren’t we discussing them as well? There’s a simple answer to that undeniably logical question: run the numbers and look at the party affiliations of those involved. You’ll see that it wouldn’t serve the objective of creating a Republican legislature to push the question so far. So two-year colleges is just fine, thank you.
Here's a portion of an editorial as published by the Birmingham News and reproduced in the Harpers article:
State Rep. Sue Schmitz faces criminal charges in connection with a paycheck she collected for more than three years in Alabama’s two-year college system. State Rep. Sue Schmitz’s arrest in the two-year college scandal may or may not end in a criminal conviction. But even at this early stage in the process, Schmitz’s legal problems should serve as notice to current and future members of the Legislature: A legislative seat is not a license to steal.
So, just who is this master criminal deserving of federal prosecution?
Sue Schmitz is a 63-year-old retired social studies teacher. She was dragged from her home before the break of dawn. Her husband was forced to stand outside shirtless in the cold while a team of federal agents drags this woman, a respected member of the community, from her bathroom, tearing her flesh in the process so that she left her home dripping blood. All of this was done as part of a conscious attempt to humiliate and shame her, steps directed by Alice Martin. And steps in which the News now joins cause.
What are the charges against her? That she did not adequately perform on a contract she had with a non-governmental organization to support a civics education project.
[snip]
This woman is viewed as a pillar of her community, is the recipient of a long list of awards and distinctions for her selfless and outstanding teaching work. You won’t read any of that in the News, either. And they don’t tell you that this woman, whom they would have you believe is a parasite and a leach, in fact worked her heart out on programs for disadvantaged kids for no compensation whatsoever over a period of many years.
This article follows on the heels of CBS's 60 minutes delaying, at best, airing its story on the Siegelman prosecution. There are differing opinions on whether or not the Siegalman story was merely delayed or killed, but the prosecution of both Siegelman and Sue Schmitz are getting some national play on the blogs, at least.
The Left Coaster has a blurb up this morning on the Harpers article I have quoted from. Left In Alabama has more, and Glynn Wilson over at The Locust Fork Journal adds to the 60 Minutes story.
[update] Oops,I forgot The Legal Schnauzer. He's all over this story also! Sorry!
I look forward to seeing how The Huntsville Times, also a Newhouse daily newspaper, chooses to report this story, but I think the editors will do what they do best and bury it as much as possible letting the Birmingham News lead the way.
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