"To see what's in front of one's nose," wrote George Orwell, "needs a constant struggle,"
True. Very true. But sometimes, to not see it is even more of a struggle.
Today's Opinion section of the Chicago Tribune (which some masochistic urge on my part leads me to read fairly regularly) has two editorials concerning the sentencing of politicians for crimes they've been convicted of.
First, the Tribune expresses its outrage over the possibility that convicted ex-Senator Bob "Gold Bar" Menendez might get a "slap on the wrist" for his crimes of bribery (see editorial). Just like former Chicago Alderman Edward Burke, Menendez, thanks to a Supreme Court ruling on an Indiana mayor receiving "gratuities" rather than "bribes," might only get two years instead of the 30 years called for by Federal guidelines.
Two years? That's "kid gloves." He should get thirty. So says the Editorial Board.
Got that? Good. Now, right below that piece is one lauding Justice Juan Merchan on how he handled the sentencing of convicted felon Donald Trump, who's less than a week away from taking the oath of office (see other editorial).
Trump, let us remember, is a felon, just like Menendez and Burke. He received 34 convictions last summer for covering up $130,000 in payments to Stormy Daniels in order to conceal his affair with her during the 2016 election. The minimum sentencing for such crimes is four years in prison, according to CBS News; Michael Cohen, let us remember, got 13 months. But since the Supreme Court essentially gave Trump immunity last summer, New York Justice Juan Merchan gave Trump no sentencing at all and wished him "Godspeed" on his second term.
"Merchan and the justices reminded both citizen Trump and President-elect Trump that the laws of the land apply to him as they do every other American," the Board wrote without an apparent hint of irony. "No, they don't always apply equally, as the pragmatic Merchan clearly recognized when he declined to punish Trump for his crimes. But they do apply."
No punishment at all? That's "just right." He shouldn't have gotten the four years. So says the Editorial Board.
To be fair, the dollar amount in Menendez's case is considerably higher than the payout Trump was convicted of handing Daniels, and also involved favors to Egypt. But to be even fairer, a U.S. Senator ain't the President of the United States.
So, to recap, job well done to a justice system that lets the most powerful politician off the hook entirely, and how dare the justice system not throw the book at anyone else? How could anyone think we've got different standards for justice in this country? Absurd.
It's unnecessary to comment, but given the contrarian, Republican-defense-playing the Tribune and its readership engage in, further comment is undoubtedly to come.
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