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Due Process

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SoupNazzi

Is this taught to people anymore? Granted, yes, it is still recognized by the Courts and Government, but it seems as if in the Court of Public opinion, there is no such thing anymore if there ever was.

I wonder this, as in the past decade, possibly even longer, it seems as if public opinion holds more weight on a person's life then an actual court of law.

This of course relates to the current case of Michael "Ookie / Ron Mexico" Vick being indicted for charges related to dog fighting.

Now, in no way do I condone, applaud, or endorse dog fighting. I find it repulsive and a horrible "sport" (if you can call it that). That said, the media coverage locally about the case is appalling and sad.

In their eyes, Vick is guilty. They've tried, judged, and convicted him. What's appalling to me, is the man hasn't even stood trial in a real court yet. These are alleged crimes, and will be alleged until Vick is proven guilty in a court of law.

I'm disappointed in hearing about the charges against Vick, and it disappoints me that he is related to this case, but as an Independent / Libertarian, I'm a firm believer in the Constitution and Due Process. This forces me to put my personal feelings aside, and be patient to allow the legal process to take its course. Have I formed an opinion? Honestly? No, I haven't. I haven't read the indictment yet, and all I have heard and read, is from the Government's side of the story. I haven't heard or read one iota from Vick's side of the story. And neither has the local media or national media.

But that hasn't stopped them from convicting Vick.

The local radio shows are the worst. Demanding that if you have a poster of Vick, you should tear it down. That the Falcons should suspend him immediately. That the companies that he endorses drop him immediately. That the NFL should suspend him. Etc...

One of the local radio people compared this incident to what happened to Tank Johnson (Chicago Bears). He claimed that Tank was waived by the Bears because he had been pulled over on suspicion of DUI. While that is technically true, the last incident with Tank was the straw that broke the camel's back. Tank had been arrested and convicted for weapons charges twice, and had violated his probation once. There were also other "encounters" with the law, in which the charges were dropped. Anyways, Tank did a hell of a lot to get waived.

One caller referenced the Duke Rape Case that was resolved just in the last few months. But the Radio person said, "Oh no, that was different. That just felt wrong." Bullshit. You, like 99% of the rest of the country and media were all over the Duke LaCrosse players BIG TIME for probably the first 3 months or so after the story broke. It wasn't until the holes started appearing in the Duke case did people realize something was not right.

And now, even after the players were declared "INNOCENT" by the Attorney General of North Carolina, there are still people in the media and the country who still believe that something happened at that party. Why? The AG quite clearly stated that there was "no credible evidence that an attack occurred at that house on that night."

Blah. I could go on and on. Suffice to say, that I try to maintain an open mind in regards to charges brought against people and wait until they have had their day in court before rendering judgement on them.


If Vick is found guilty, then he deserves whatever punishment he receives.  But until that time comes.  "Innocent Until Proven Guilty"

Comments (14)

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biorod·
You're right, dog fighting is disgusting and he should be suspended immediately from the NFL.
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SoupNazzi·
Guess someone doesn't beleive in \"Due Process\".\r \r Let's all be communists and just convict without a trial.\r \r Screw the legal process. Anarchy for all!
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d0od·
Trial by media is all that matters anymore, due process be dammed.
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SPEEDBYRD·
While they were not perfect, the men who were the \"Fathers\" off these United States were brilliant. The left in room to grow. There was no way that the damage and speed that rumors can be started now could have been forseen by the framers. But they saw that innocent until proven guilty was the right way to go. A lesson they learned by what happened to them in English courts. I sometimes wish the code of Hamorabbi was still around. basically those accusing a person of a crime better be sure it would stick, or they faced dire consiquences if the charges were dropped/ proven false. People are not accountable anymore. Unless it fits what is PC, then you can say anything it seems. Free speech does not mean you can ruin peoples good names with sound bytes.... Good blog by the way.
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NorthernPlato·
Excellently written, Soup, and I agree completely.\r \r When did the media become the source of information, instead of the distributor? Do people even look for the source anymore? Do they care?\r \r \"well, I heard it on the news, so he must be guilt of ____\". Makes me want to start punching random people.
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KingDrewsky·
Due process went out the window with right to a swift trial. It may be years before this goes to court and a decision is passed down. Until then, we know enough of the facts to make our conclusions. Vick is a dick.
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Azuredreams·
Crying out due process is all well and good, however in some instances it is just plain obvious that the person is guilty.It is much more likely that a sports star/celeb will get off with a slap on the wrist by our judicial system than be the subject of a witch hunt. Poor wittle \"Ookie\" as he is known in the dog fighting circut is surely not worthy of your support and pity. \r \r Why? Because of the media and the court of public opinion of course! Any DA knows full well that before they bring up charges on any one who is remotely famous, they had better be damn sure that they have the goods on them or else they will be roasted over the coals. No one is going to go after this guy without a freaking MOUNTAIN of evidence against him. The Federal agents on this case had secured a warrant to search Vick's property after a tip of over 30 dog carcasses being buried on the property. However they didn't execute it because the prosecutor questioned how it was obtained......do you think they would give a shit about how they obtained the warrant if this asshole wasn't famous ?\r \r Did you read the whole story about his arrest ? This has been a on going investigation since early 2001 and the evidence against this guy is mind boggling. Personally, I hope that when they find this jerkoff guilty, they strap his ass to his \"Rape Stands\" and let the pit bulls forciably breed him for a few weeks. \r \r
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Azuredreams·
After rereading this blog I see that you mention the fact that the Bears player did a hell of a lot to be waived and not just one incident.\r \r Ever hear of Mike Mexico ?? Or how about the double dirty bird? Yeah...you ask what ever happened to due process ? I say whatever happened to the NFL's morality clause? What ever happened to the players who realized that being given the privilage of making millions of dollars to PLAY A FUCKING GAME for a living was something that was special. There are thousands of young players out there who wouldn't give random women herpies, flash your fans the finger and run illegal dog fighting rings who would give their right arms for the chance just to step out onto the field.\r \r Just being indited should be enough for him never to be allowed onto a NFL field again. All of his records and accomplishments should be stricken from the rolls and his name completely and utterly forgotten. He was given the brass ring, and he melted it down for some new grillz. Keep it real mike mexico, hope you rot.
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darth_chibius·
my pitbull is 8-0 against Ookie's dogs, 2 more wins and we make the playoffs, woot
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SoupNazzi·
I never said I supported him.\r \r I support the mantra: \"Innocent until proven guilty.\"\r \r Supporting that mantra does not mean I support Michael Vick. And I thought I clearly stated that in the blog.\r \r As for:\r \r \"Just being indited should be enough for him never to be allowed onto a NFL field again.\"\r \r Well, you would probably have to kick out over half the NFL on those grounds..\r \r And it's \"Ron Mexico\" not Mike Mexico.\r \r
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KingDrewsky·
I believe Mike Mexico is the name that Midway used in NFL Blitz for a player that represented Mike Vick.
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hamboy·
\"Innocent until proven guilty\" is a legal concept and has nothing to do with public opinion. What you are arguing for is giving the guy \"the benefit of the doubt\", which I'll do unless I hear some sort of damning \"evidence\". And when I hear that \"evidence\", I'll form my opinion and, thank god for the legal system, that opinion won't mean squat.
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Sacrelicious·
I don't know if this is true... but people have been saying that when the federal government brings down and indictment, they are pretty sure they got the guy, and it sticks a lot more often than in local cases. *shrug*\r Also, who would have thought that having the dogs fight wasn't the worst thing people do to those poor dogs?
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biorod·
Azuredreams wrote:\r \"The media and the court of public opinion of course! Any DA knows full well that before they bring up charges on any one who is remotely famous, they had better be damn sure that they have the goods\"\r \r You mean like Mike Nifong? You trust the system a little too much, friend.