Mumia Abu-Jamal: Of Cronies and Kings

[col. writ. 7/5/07] (c) '07 by Mumia Abu-Jamal

The recent presidential commutation of Vice-Presidential aide, Lewis "Scooter" Libby, has demonstrated how deeply politics and cronyism invades the realm of law.

In commuting Libby's 30-month prison sentence, the president has made it clear that, while he made his political career on being 'tough on crime' (especially when it comes to the death penalty), in the cases of his homies, the regular rules don't matter.

This is a politician who, when governor of the Republic of Texas, only granted one commutation to a man on Death Row (to Henry Lee Lucas), while denying every other request, even one advocated by the Pope, for Christian convert Karla Faye Tucker.

As a rule, this is not the guy who even grudgingly gives up either pardons or commutations until, that is, it came to his homie, 'Scooter.'

The power to pardon actually has it roots in the "royal prerogative of the kings and queens of England.

Yet, this act owes more to simple cronyism than to the English precedents.

"Scooter" held the keys to the kingdom. Faced with prison, his lips might have loosened as to the real roots of the Valerie Plame affair. He had it potentially within his power to threaten not just the Vice President, but the White House entire.

Thus, this commutation (pending a full pardon) is as much an act of self-defense, as it is of grace.

The power, under U.S. law and precedents, is virtually total.

The president can pardon or commute any sentence of any person serving (or having already served) a federal criminal sentence or sanction.

Yet, when have we heard of a commutation without someone actually filing for it?

This is an act of power, or politics, and cronyism.

For Bush, this was a freebie.

He never has to face another vote in his life.

With a 27% approval rating in the polls, he as much as told the American people to kiss his ass.

He could care less what you think.

'Scooter' was his homie.

Nor does this 'tough on crime' politician give a fig about what happens to hundreds and thousands of other Americans, every day.

For the statute governing perjury to a federal grand jury, and the range of sentences available under the law, doesn't change a bit.

The White House hasn't, and won't, send a recommendation to the U.S. Sentencing Commission to change the range of sanctions.

'Scooter' got a break because of who he knew in the White House.

The rest of us are on our own.

Cronyism. Homieism.

There is one law for the privileged and the powerful: another law for the rest of us.

'Equal Justice under the law?'

Yeah, right.

--(c) '07 maj

Mumia Abu-Jamal is a political prisoner in the United States, with what could be the final decision on his legal appeals possibly coming down this summer. That decision could give Mumia his freedom, life in prison, or execution. It is time to turn up the heat against this injustice. Free Mumia Abu-Jamal!