THS ComMedia

This Blog has been specifically created for Mr. MacArthur's ComMedia Class at Tolland High School for the Spring Semester, 2006. We will be following the big stories of the next few months and how they're covered (or not covered) in the media (MsM and Alt!).

Name:
Location: Tolland, Connecticut, United States

A child of the 60's, graduate of Tolland High School, the University of Connecticut, and Wesleyan University, ready to begin his 34th year teaching -- all at Tolland High.

Monday, February 06, 2006

Corruption in Connecticut

This is from last Friday's Courant. (Well, we have more important stuff -- like Super Bowl commercials to worry about.) Another politican going to jail. ('Bout time.)

BRIDGEPORT, Conn. -- Former state Sen. Ernest Newton, the self-proclaimed champion of the poor in this wealthy state, was sentenced Thursday to five years in prison for corruption at the expense of his needy constituents.

U.S. District Court Judge Alan Nevas, a former lawmaker, said he was offended and wanted to send a strong message after a wave of corruption in Connecticut that sent former Gov. John G. Rowland and other officials to prison.


Prosecutors said Newton solicited bribes from nonprofit agencies trying to help his constituents. They also accused Newton in court papers of accepting numerous other bribes and taking campaign cash for favors to a reputed mobster, though he was not charged with those crimes.

"We're talking about a long, pervasive, extensive pattern of corrupt conduct," said prosecutor James Finnerty. "He sold his office as a state senator. It was Newton Inc., open for business 24-7."


At least he seems repentent.

"I apologize to this court, to the federal government, to my family, to my community and to members of the legislature," Newton said. "Not only have I let you down but I've let myself down."

And he's pledging to become a new man.

"I made a decision today that I'm gonna start helping people that helped me," Newton said in one conversation. "I wasted a lot of time on helping people that don't give a (expletive) about me, only what they can get from me. All the people I done helped I should be way ahead of the (expletive) game and so that's how I'm looking at life today. I want to be around winners. I don't want to be around (expletive) losers."

Time will tell.

Perhaps, like Peter Kurimay of West Hartford, you're wondering. . .

So let me get this straight:

Former state Sen. Ernest Newton gets five years in prison and former Gov. John G. Rowland gets one? Hmm.


Wait. I know what you're thinking. Newton is a black man, and Rowland is white. Well, Newton intimated the same thing in the past, but is not saying that now.

"This is not about black and white," Newton replied. "It's about wrong and right, and I was wrong."

He's talking the talk. Time for him to walk the (perp)walk, now.


6 Comments:

Anonymous Anonymous said...

wow, what a surprise. Corruption never seems to end. I wonder if our government could actually function without it.

Emily

6:10 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

I think that when the rat race gets going, that anyone is willing to do whatever it takes to come out ahead, and corruption is an easy way to do that. As long as people are competing with each other, they will also be trying to cheat and take shortcuts to come out on top, and it usually works really well, so people will just keep doing it.

7:28 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

that last one was Aïcha.

7:29 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Yeah, honesty seems to be something very hard to come by these days.

7:31 PM  
Blogger Mr. Mac said...

Son
Was my father a traitor, mother?

LADY MACDUFF
Ay, that he was.

Son
What is a traitor?

LADY MACDUFF
Why, one that swears and lies.

Son
And be all traitors that do so?

LADY MACDUFF
Every one that does so is a traitor, and must be hanged.

Son
And must they all be hanged that swear and lie?

LADY MACDUFF
Every one.

Son
Who must hang them?

LADY MACDUFF
Why, the honest men.

Son
Then the liars and swearers are fools,
for there are liars and swearers enow to beat
the honest men and hang up them.

Didn't I tell you this long ago?
~Shakespeare

10:01 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Well atleast our society is improving and learning how to tell the truth- its a really ensuring feeling when you know that the people around you, especially those heading our government are able to tell you the "honest" facts that happen behind the scenes. - and you think they would have learned from Shakespeare-

-Jeni.

5:44 PM  

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