A NATIONAL LAUGHINGSTOCK ONCE MORE

A NATIONAL LAUGHINGSTOCK ONCE MORE
by Timothy Rollins, Editor and Publisher

January 23, 2006

For many Americans, Milwaukee is best known for Hall-of-Famer Bob Uecker, homosexual pedophile and cannibal-turned-serial-killer Jeffrey Dahmer, and most recently, voter fraud on a larger scale than any other major U.S. city, with the exception of Philadelphia, where in all likelihood, Democrats there are probably still casting Benjamin Franklin's ballot every two years.

In a news story that broke nationwide 14 months ago when it happened, five operatives with the Wisconsin Democratic Party were arrested for slashing tires on a fleet of vans rented by the Wisconsin GOP for the purpose of shuttling voters to the polls.

These five men, who were working on the failed presidential campaign of John Kerry, were later granted bail and a trial date was set. Included among the five were two rather big fish by local standards; one was Michael Pratt, the son of former Acting Mayor Marvin Pratt, and the other was Sowande Omokunde, the son of Congresswoman Gwen Moore (D-WI). Suffice it to say, in the desperate and pathetic attempt of some Democrats to once again steal a national election, the tire slashing was done to not only prevent those needing rides from voting, but also to disenfranchise the votes of everyone else in the process by preventing those needing rides from exercising both their constitutional right and civic responsibility.

People can call it what they want; the law calls it vandalism. However, it goes much deeper than that; this was a direct frontal assault on the integrity of the election. It was not only intimidation of voters, it could also be considered in some quarters as voter fraud and even possibly, vote tampering.

Suffice it to say, Milwaukee County District Attorney E. Michael McCann - known locally by many as E. Michael Milquetoast for his legendary inaction - once again lacked the integrity to prosecute this to the fullest extent of the law. By accepting a plea deal against four of the five defendants, he sent a message that serious crimes in Milwaukee can be committed with impunity. After all, his office is much like NFL quarterback Peyton Manning of the Indianapolis Colts; neither can win the 'big one' when it really counts.

Keep in mind that McCann has been in office 38 years, and until his fairly recent announcement that he would not seek a 20th two-year term, many felt he was the district-attorney-for-life here. That's how little things in this city change when it comes to politicians. Even the old Supreme Soviet Politburo had a higher turnover rate than elected Milwaukee officials.

Had national attention not focused on this case the way it did, McCann would have done whatever it took to sweep this under the rug. This he would have done because he is so deep in the pocket of corrupt Democratic cronies, that he long ago lost the ability to make a fair call involving a case of this magnitude. Dollars to donuts says that if Jeffrey Dahmer's parents had been major Democratic Party donors, McCann would have done his level best to convince the public that Dahmer had nothing wrong with him other than a mild eating disorder, and seen to it that Dahmer got nothing more than probation and medical treatment - all on the taxpayers' dime, of course.

Because the charges originally amounted to a felony - having exceeded the $2500 threshold under Wisconsin law - McCann was not able to get away with making them disappear. However, it remains an indictment of and a major stain against the Milwaukee County District Attorney's Office. With McCann leaving office and finally retiring at year's end, it is hoped that his successor, whoever that may be, will be fair and even-handed as well as open-minded in consistently applying and evenly enforcing the law.

Whereas most Americans think of Bill Clinton's legacy as nothing more than the stain on Monica Lewinsky's dress, with McCann's departure, his legacy will be one not of benign ignorance, but rather one of willful and deliberate servitude to special interests in addition to his own, that he placed greater importance on, than in serving the people for whom he swore to protect, uphold and enforce the law.

Let's hope the next District Attorney can change that. ***

A veteran writer, Timothy Rollins brings a wealth of political experience dating back more than 30 years, and military experience going back more than 25. He is a freelance writer and policy analyst living here in Milwaukee who has been featured on both television and radio. He has appeared both in online publications as well as in print newspapers such as the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, USA TODAY, the Deseret News in Salt Lake City and the Daily Herald in Halifax, Nova Scotia. He can be reached by e-mail at rollins@american-partisan.com. ***

Photo of Timothy Rollins courtesy of staff files