Rape case's gaps? - Raleigh News & Observer editorial:
A prosecutor's take on evidence in the Duke lacrosse team rape case doesn't always jibe with what the record seems to show...Shifting the Goalposts, at History News Network, by Robert KC Johnson:
Yet it's in the interest of justice to hold the prosecution to high standards of conduct. Nifong may have conspicuously staked himself out as believing in the three Duke students' guilt, but his duty has to be to continue to evaluate the strength of his case against the three, all of whom say they are innocent. If at any point he concludes that the evidence is unlikely to convince a jury beyond a reasonable doubt that crimes were committed, his only responsible course would be to drop the charges.
As the presumed “facts” initially associated with the Duke lacrosse case have melted away, those on campus who aggressively condemned the lacrosse players have found themselves in an uncomfortable position...Duke Rape Case: Concerned Americans, Let NC Hear From You! by Michael J.Gaynor:
It will surprise no one who’s followed the case that the faction impervious to new facts is oriented around Houston Baker. In late March, Baker penned an inflammatory open letter that seemed to demand the immediate expulsion of all the lacrosse players (Ralph Luker has disagreed on this point); Duke provost Peter Lange deemed Baker’s remarks as based on prejudice. Tuesday’s Durham Herald-Sun revealed that 15 professors of African-American Studies have rallied to Baker’s defense.
It wasn't obvious at the beginning. Indeed, "Dukie" Dan Abrams of MSNBC publicly stated that he considered the charge conceivable, based on his own Duke experience. But, it became obvious that THE CHARGE was the outrage.Suggestion to Crystal: pray, learn from Cynthia, apologize now by by Michael J. Gaynor:
America's top legal commentator, Stuart Taylor, looked carefully into the matter and identified Durham County District Attorney Mike Nifong as a rogue, NOT any of the wrongly indicted Duke lacrosse players...
Crystal, there's a life-changing lesson there for you to learn, if you are willing. Rep. McKinney, a controversial black Democrat from Georgia, was in big trouble, but managed to avoid indictment. How? She stopped playing the race card and apologized. Initially, Rep. McKinney described the encounter as "racial profiling" and insisted that she had been assaulted and had done nothing wrong.Duke Rape Scandal Exposes the Racism of Blacks, Says Rev. Jesse Lee Peterson:
"This case has exposed the sad and pathetic condition of the black community. Most blacks are so race conscious that they’ve already convicted these white players. This is a sad commentary about the state of blacks and their outlook on race. Until blacks acknowledge their own racism toward whites, they’ll continue to side with evil—just as they did in the Tawana Brawley fiasco and the O.J. Simpson case.Pressure is on Nifong to Drop Duke Case by Cash Michaels:
'The DA in this case misled the public about the evidence and exploited the anger and racist sentiments of some of Durham’s black population for political gain. It’s a shame that black people have once again allowed themselves to be used by a liberal Democrat. This DA has no case and should withdraw the charges immediately."
Another indication that there’s more to Nifong’s case than meets the eye is the absolute failure of any leaked information from either the DA’s Office or the police department designed to scuttle the case. Normally, as proven in the state and federal government, when things are going badly and lower rung agency employees feel a particular policy or practice is wrong, they call the press in an effort to secretly stop it.Brodhead can't handle it - letter to the editor, Herald-Sun, by Joe Di Bona, Duke University Associate Professor(?):
For months he said we should await the outcome of the judicial process before determining what should be the next step, and here he suddenly chooses to ignore the forthcoming jury trial. In other words, it no longer matters whether the team will be found guilty or innocent. Presidents must be made of sterner stuff...
The question I would put to President Brodhead is, Why are you still clinging to a job you obviously cannot handle?
