In Massachusetts, It's Not Who You Know
It's whom you know.
More specifically, it's whom you know who happens to be an ex-state legislator and high ranking member of the Massachusetts State Police.
"Other crimes", huh?
Assault on a police officer?
Phew! For a minute there, I thought it was something serious, like trying to sell a can of cranberry sauce on Thanksgiving morning in Massachusetts.
Musta beat up a Ware cop.
So, he was found guilty, and sentenced in accordance with the laws that were in place at the time of his arrest and conviction. He's served his sentence, like thousands of other Bay State residents have, when ordered to do so by the courts. So, why the big push for a full pardon (hint: think Jane "Sign 'Em" Swifty)?
Golly gee, that sounds innocent enough. Is that all there is to the story?
Didn't think so.
Just a paltry little conviction for assaulting a police officer. Why, that'sjust a flesh wound nothing major.
Sorry, fuckface.
If those of us without friends in the upper echelons of the state police have to live by these rules, then, "Welcome to the party, pal!" I'm all broken up over your gun license renewal being denied, but maybe - just MAYBE - your ability to legally own a gun in Massachusetts, if it was that important to you, was something you should have taken into account before you assaulted a cop.
On the other hand, do I think someone should be permanently barred from owning a firearm based solely on a 24-year-old drunk driving conviction? Fuck no. But asking to be pardoned for assaulting a police officer in order to get your gun permit renewal approved? I don't think so. Can you believe Romney didn't whip out the pardon pen and sign that one on the spot? I'm shocked.
Multiple arrests for drunk driving and "other crimes", including assault on a police officer? Well, he's certainly qualified for the job. Don't give up the dream, Mitch ol' boy!
Now the question is, will Reed Hillman become Kerry Healey's "Marie St. Fleur" as a result of this story breaking? Maybe not. But, it sure makes him look like just another cheesedick hack politician in my book.
UPDATE: The Boston Globe is reporting that Mitchell's assault charge dates back to 1957 - nearly 50 years ago. Which raises the following question - do people convicted of violent crimes still have the right to protect their families from harm (in their homes) after serving their sentences and "paying their debt" to society?
The compassionate, liberal part of me that believes in rehabilitation of dangerous criminals says, "yes". Though, that opinion is not shared by the supposedly compassionate, liberal pols writing these laws 'round here.
But a bigger, and far more cynical, part of me says, "Screw you, pal. You've got to live by the same rules as the rest of us. Don't like the rules? Then lobby your politician buddies there to get them changed, so that we might all benefit equally. No special treatment!"
More specifically, it's whom you know who happens to be an ex-state legislator and high ranking member of the Massachusetts State Police.
While talking tough on drunken driving on Beacon Hill, gubernatorial hopeful Kerry Healey's running mate Reed Hillman went to bat for a political pal seeking a governor's pardon for three OUI busts, among other crimes, records show.
"Other crimes", huh?
Hillman, an ex-state representative and state police colonel, wrote a letter recommending a pardon for former state Senate candidate James W. Mitchell, whose rap sheet includs three OUI arrests, an assault on a cop and another minor driving offense. Mitchell, now 72, was hoping to wipe his record clean but was denied a pardon by Gov. Mitt Romney on May 24, 2004, state records show.
Assault on a police officer?
Phew! For a minute there, I thought it was something serious, like trying to sell a can of cranberry sauce on Thanksgiving morning in Massachusetts.
Hillman, who is running for lieutenant governor on the GOP ticket with Healey, admitted last night that he knew about the drunken driving arrests but still supported Mitchell's pardon bid. He said he wrote the letter recommending Mitchell's pardon after checking with the Palmer police chief who gave Mitchell "two thumbs up."
Musta beat up a Ware cop.
Mitchell's OUI arrests were in 1972, 1977 and 1982. The 1972 charge was dismissed, the 1977 charge was continued for six months and later dismissed, and he was found guilty on the 1982 charge and fined $100.
So, he was found guilty, and sentenced in accordance with the laws that were in place at the time of his arrest and conviction. He's served his sentence, like thousands of other Bay State residents have, when ordered to do so by the courts. So, why the big push for a full pardon (hint: think Jane "Sign 'Em" Swifty)?
"He had one conviction. If he had three convictions, I would have never done this," Hillman said. "One conviction, 20 years old. He was an elderly guy who essentially wanted to go to his grave with a clean record."
Golly gee, that sounds innocent enough. Is that all there is to the story?
Mitchell sought the pardon after he was denied a gun license renewal because of the assault conviction but said he wanted all the charges erased from his record.
Didn't think so.
"It was a few minute things I wanted to get off my record," Mitchell said last night from his Palmer home.
Just a paltry little conviction for assaulting a police officer. Why, that's
Sorry, fuckface.
If those of us without friends in the upper echelons of the state police have to live by these rules, then, "Welcome to the party, pal!" I'm all broken up over your gun license renewal being denied, but maybe - just MAYBE - your ability to legally own a gun in Massachusetts, if it was that important to you, was something you should have taken into account before you assaulted a cop.
On the other hand, do I think someone should be permanently barred from owning a firearm based solely on a 24-year-old drunk driving conviction? Fuck no. But asking to be pardoned for assaulting a police officer in order to get your gun permit renewal approved? I don't think so. Can you believe Romney didn't whip out the pardon pen and sign that one on the spot? I'm shocked.
Mitchell, who lost a 1976 bid for state Senate...
Multiple arrests for drunk driving and "other crimes", including assault on a police officer? Well, he's certainly qualified for the job. Don't give up the dream, Mitch ol' boy!
Now the question is, will Reed Hillman become Kerry Healey's "Marie St. Fleur" as a result of this story breaking? Maybe not. But, it sure makes him look like just another cheesedick hack politician in my book.
UPDATE: The Boston Globe is reporting that Mitchell's assault charge dates back to 1957 - nearly 50 years ago. Which raises the following question - do people convicted of violent crimes still have the right to protect their families from harm (in their homes) after serving their sentences and "paying their debt" to society?
The compassionate, liberal part of me that believes in rehabilitation of dangerous criminals says, "yes". Though, that opinion is not shared by the supposedly compassionate, liberal pols writing these laws 'round here.
But a bigger, and far more cynical, part of me says, "Screw you, pal. You've got to live by the same rules as the rest of us. Don't like the rules? Then lobby your politician buddies there to get them changed, so that we might all benefit equally. No special treatment!"
