DryerBuzz: if wanda sykes can have a wife and tiger can have 10 women - dammit i want two (or three) husbands - pref one on opposite coasts
about 3 hours ago
putuporshutupxx: Coool! Researching photographers in photo. Hey @tarasmilex tom barnes or tom sykes?
about 6 hours ago
LizUK: Finished Savannah Grey this afternoon at lunch, now what to read on the way home tonight...? Alistair Reynolds or Sam Sykes?
about 7 hours ago
dejaktaylor: "Health-care should be a service not a privilege, like the police or fire-fighters" -Wanda Sykes
about 1 day ago
akafrecks: RT @dejaktaylor: "Listen, we're all adults here....or at least can be tried as adults..." -Wanda Sykes
about 1 day ago
Follow us on Twitter ...
| By OnMilwaukee.com Staff Writers |
| Published June 5, 2007 at 10:12 a.m. |
|
I am a constituent of Ald. Michael McGee, Jr.
I did not vote for Ald Mike McGee, Jr. in the recall election.
That being said, we all need to remember that McGee is innocent until proven guilty. It's tough to stomach nearly everyone passing judgment on McGee before he's even arraigned on his charges. Citizens from both sides of the political aisle have been extremely quick to cast judgment on McGee in light of some overwhelming evidence against him.
The federal and state charges that have been leveled are quite serious for an elected official and if convicted could send him to prison for a long time. He also has a long rap sheet of run-ins with local law enforcement as well as many notable public statements which have not endeared him to mainstream Milwaukee.
If I were a betting man, I would wager a great deal that these accusations will be proven true to some degree or another. But at the same time, if I were in his shoes for an equal crime, I would hope that I would be afforded the constitutionally protected assumption of innocence until proven guilty in a court of law.
Too often in our society we are far too quick to adjudicate in our mind's eye someone who is simply accused. This recent episode should remind us to exhibit patience until he has his day in court to prove or disprove the accusations. I know this is hard for anyone to do based on the initial reactions I have heard on talk radio as well as Sunday morning political pundit shows.
What's sad is that I have actually witnessed McGee's devotion to his biddable constituents first-hand and can actually understand why there are still those who believe in him and contend that he is a very able representative. Unfortunately, his alleged furtive and payola-esque dealings and apoplectic behavior leave little to be desired in the opinion of this writer, voter and constituent. I'm gung ho for new leadership in this extremely diverse district.
We, as constituents and citizens, can only hope that this episode does not come to represent Milwaukee politics. There are far too many fecund leaders who we ought to be championing instead of glamorizing the ineffective.
|
8 comments about this article. Post a comment / write a review. |
Recent Talkbacks ...
Posted by dpk on June 13, 2007 at 11:57 a.m. (report)
"presuming innocence" is a legal concept that does NOT mean you cannot have any opinion, bias, prejudice, or even "your mind made up" about a case. Naturally that's impossible, and only irresponsible law enforcement authorities who have gone outside the rule of law would arrest and file charges against people they are not very certain are guilty. The presumption of innocence simply means that, no matter what you think, as a judge, lawyer, or juror you must follow the procedures for trying a case which must be concluded according to rules and limitations regarding evidence, "reasonable doubt," etc. In the process of the case, each side will be doing its utmost to prove the relative accuracy of the charges as they see them. What each individual involved believes is very likely true from the outset is thus a necessary starting point that is subjected to a process that is likely, with honest and good-faith cooperation, to induce changes or confirmation of pre-existing views based on fact and law.
| Rate this: |
Posted by mkelover on June 5, 2007 at 7:56 p.m. (report)
I don't think the writer thinks that McGee is innocent, it's clear that in his mind that he's guilty. But he's simply trying point out that there's a difference between having an opinion that someone is guilty vs. stating it as fact.
| Rate this: |
Posted by mitchgat on June 5, 2007 at 1:50 p.m. (report)
Im also one of McGees constituents. I didnt vote for him in the recall election either. Your basic premise is correct. As soon as we start pre-judging people, for the crime theyre being accused of, well have opened up the floodgates for more abuse of an already problematic legal system. But thats not whats happening here, so we need not be nave. People have every right to have conversations about or express their opinions regarding the blatantly obvious: Michael McGee Jr. has done an extremely poor job of representing people in his brief time in office. The majority of his actions are unprofessional and his disregard for accountability and responsibility is unacceptable. I know that hes frustrated; I know hes got to get peoples attention somehow because he has a very difficult district to represent and a lot of times the 6th district is written off as unsalvageable. The need to shake things ups is sometimes warranted; acting a fool and setting a poor example for a largely uninformed, apathetic constituency looking for some sort of validation, is not the answer. Nor is trying to claim that accusations against him are racially motivated or entrapment please. So if I were to state that McGee Jr. IS guilty, its based on the fact that PRIOR to his current situation, he was already guilty (in my eyes) as being an unacceptable alderman. People shouldnt be afraid to call it like they see it. Nor should we be afraid to say this or thats wrong. I fear that are lack of knowing when to judge is in some ways just as bad as prejudging. NOTE: Its OK to judge people; this especially true when youve been where theyve been and you want to help them NOT make the same mistakes as you. I clearly understand what youre saying and on a very high level, I agree. But in my eyes, McGee was guilty long before these charges were brought against him and there is nothing wrong with saying that.
| Rate this: |
Posted by custom123 on June 5, 2007 at 12:45 p.m. (report)
I have a great idea, instead of crying about his poor situation and everyone picking on him while assuming he is guilty before being proved so; why don't you have a bake sale sell some cookies and bail him out with the cash you make. Or you can take the easy way and go down to your local gas station and shake down some hard working fellow constituents for the money like your Alderman did.
| Rate this: |
Posted by LegallyBlonde on June 5, 2007 at 12:29 p.m. (report)
Not a betting man? Winnah, Winnah, Chicken - Dinnah!!!
| Rate this: |
Show me the other 3 Talkbacks
Recent blogs/briefs by OnMilwaukee.com Staff Writers
|
Castelaz draws honors for Pablove efforts Nov. 27, 2009 Former Milwaukeean Jeff Castelaz is ABC's Person of the Week. |
|
Summerfest to alter beer operation for 2010 Nov. 24, 2009 Major Goolsby's will no longer run the beer operation at the Summerfest grounds. Sources ... |
|
Jennings gets comfortable at Turner Hall Ballroom Nov. 21, 2009 Mason Jennings made a stop Friday night at Turner Hall Ballroom. |
|
Fogerty riles 'em up at The Riverside Nov. 20, 2009 For Rock and Roll Hall of Fame singer John Fogerty, the world of music -- whether it be ... |
|
The Milwaukee Holiday Parade steps off Saturday Nov. 19, 2009 The Milwaukee Holiday Parade -- now in its 83rd year -- begins at 9:30 a.m. Saturday, ... |
| Top Clicks | Top Searches | Most Talkbacks |
- OnMedia: Stossel has a new myth-busting platform
- Campaign finance tool going unused by City Hall
- OnMedia: Do you fast-forward past the ads?
- Historical Society show traces City Hall restoration
- Celebrating work with Grand Avenue Club
- OnMedia: November sweeps isn't what it used to be
- Video of the Day: An upset for the ages
- Jack Kemp and me
- Guess who wants to tax your beer?
- Who should run MPS? The discussions continue...
