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Free Marion Jones, Mr. Bush. (Just Like Scooter.)

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Forums » washingtonpost.com forums » Mr. Robinson's Neighborhood » Free Marion Jones, Mr. Bush. (Just Like Scooter.)

Free Marion Jones, Mr. Bush. (Just Like Scooter.)

posted at 1/11/2008 9:15 PM EST

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Eugene_Robinson

First post: 5/23/2007
Last post: 7/24/2009
Total posts: 79

Marion Jones did wrong, and now she's been sentenced to six months in prison. Do you agree that logic and fairness compel President Bush to commute her sentence, just like he did for Scooter Libby?

Yes, there are differences between the two cases. Jones, the now-disgraced athlete, lied to investigators about having unwisely and unfairly abused her own body with performance-enhancing steroids. Libby lied to investigators and a grand jury about his role in disclosing the identity of a covert CIA agent -- as part of his role in selling an unprovoked, unjustified war that has led to the deaths of well over 3,000 American troops and at least 151,000 Iraqi civilians. Show of hands: Which one belongs behind bars?

Oh, and Jones admitted her transgression, showing deep and obviously heartfelt remorse. Libby was convicted by a jury of his peers; he admitted nothing and apologized for nothing. Show of hands: Which one deserves leniency?

Both have families. Both, through their mendacity, have ruined their professional lives. Only one, though, is surrounded by rich and powerful friends who (I'll wager) will find a way to make sure the mortgage gets paid. Guess which one?

George W. Bush took about three nanoseconds to decide that jailing Scooter Libby would be a miscarriage of justice. Surely he'll make the same call on behalf of Marion Jones.

For some reason, I'm not holding my breath.

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Blue blood vs 'them people'

posted at 1/11/2008 9:54 PM EST

wolfvorkian1

First post: 11/8/2007
Last post: 11/19/2009
Total posts: 410

Funny Robinson, funny. But Scooter is fine man, man of privilege. Those types don't need exhaust fans in their bathrooms.

But Jones is one of "them" people. Really has little to do with race, it is all about class.

Scooter wouldn't let me or Jones into his house unless we were fumigated first.

That is why the Decider let Scooter skate and what I've explained above is why Marian won't.

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Which one deserves leniency?

posted at 1/13/2008 12:55 PM EST

dgblues

First post: 8/20/2007
Last post: 8/20/2009
Total posts: 365

Neither.

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Toby, Please

posted at 1/14/2008 1:50 AM EST

HankTheCat

First post: 8/29/2007
Last post: 2/20/2008
Total posts: 6

Unprovoked and unjustified war? Have you been hitting the crack pipe again?

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Let the punishment fit the crime.

posted at 1/14/2008 10:03 AM EST

Donderro

First post: 1/14/2008
Last post: 1/14/2008
Total posts: 1

Six months for what? Using illegal drugs? Does anybody ever get that kind of sentence? Seems to me she should be sanctioned by whatever athletic body oversees track and field events, but that should be it. This is a joke. Are they going to lock up Barry Bonds and Roger Clemons next? Or Jose Canseco? If not, why Marion?

When Marion Jones lied, nobody died.

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Let's put everyone in jail

posted at 1/14/2008 10:06 AM EST

blund

First post: 1/11/2008
Last post: 11/5/2009
Total posts: 15

I will never argue that Marion Jones, Michael Vick, Scooter Libby or Martha Stewart didn't break the law. They probably did and deserve to be punished for their transgressions against society. However, when did jail become the default answer to punishment? Frankly, it just reeks of prosecutor's trying to make a name for themselves and seems to have little or nothing to do with justice.

In the Marion Jones case justice would seem to dictate banning her for life from the sport, fining her an amount of money that would basically force her to start over again and use her as a poster child for what can happen to people who cheat and use drugs. A 6 month sentence, some community service, a fine and a couple of years probation is just a waste of our resources. This is not a dangerous woman who would make me feel better or safer if she was locked up. She needs 6 months in jail (or whatever portion of that time she is required to serve) to reflect upon her misdeeds about as much as I need another hole in my head.

The Vick case is even sadder. This will probably get me in trouble with PITA, but outside of a specific breed of canines it's not going to change the sleeping patterns of anyone I know. Couple this with the negative economic impact on the NFL, the Atlanta Falcons and the City of Atlanta and one has to wonder if the punishment fits the crime. Obviously, Vick was brought up in a culture where dog fighting was accepted. Were it not for the fact he was a wealthy sports celebrity does anybody really think he'd be spending the next two to three years in jail? This sentence had nothing to do with justice, it had everything to do with punishment.

Martha Stewart is my favorite example. A woman who was a threat to no one is sent to jail for lying about insider information on a transaction that was a fractional piece of her net worth. The diva of designer sheets, pillow cases and home baked cookies locked up for what at best can be described as an offense that deserved a fine.

Scooter Libby. A man with an agenda. Not a particulary moral or good agenda, but an agenda all the same. He lied to Fitzgerald to impede the investigation and got caught. He was tried and convicted for those lies. Granted these were important lies he engaged in if you live inside the beltway. However, in the City of Atlanta I'm sure Vick's dog fighting case has had a greater impact. Hence, I wasn't in favor of putting Libby in jail either. Banning him from any government office or security clearance for the rest of his life I was in favor of. Fining him a huge amount of money to help defray the cost of the investigation and prosecution I was in favor of. Placing him on a couple years probation I was in favor of. Community service in his case I was not in favor.

I really do understand the concept of equality under the law. The issue at hand is how we define the word equal. Since no two people commit the exact same crime with the same circumstances equality is ambiguous at best. As much as prosecutors would like to be able to lump everyone into a single box and delve out justice accordingly it's impossible to do. No judge in their right mind would fine an indigent person a half of million dollars. However, they do fine people who can afford it on a regular basis. That's not equal. Judge's and the ABA argue all the time judge's need latitude in sentencing guidelines for this exact reason. The punishment ought to fit the crime based on the circumstances. My argument is we have better ways of punishing people that are more productive to our society then throw them in jail when you basically have victimless crimes.

Should George Bush pardon or commute Marion Jones's sentence? Absolutey. Will he? Absolutely not. Unlike Scooter Libby, Marion Jones didn't lie to protect his administration. How's that for equality under the law?

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Re: Free Marion Jones, Mr. Bush. (Just Like Scooter.)

posted at 1/14/2008 10:21 AM EST

skramsv

First post: 7/12/2007
Last post: 8/16/2009
Total posts: 24

[QUOTE]Marion Jones did wrong, and now she's been sentenced to six months in prison. Do you agree that logic and fairness compel President Bush to commute her sentence, just like he did for Scooter Libby?

It would all depend upon how much money and power Ms Jones can bring to the Bush/GOP masters. Or if she had enough dirt on a Bushie.

Bush has refused to lift a finger for 2 border guards who are in prison for firing at an armed drug runner in the process of trying to apprehend him for crimes he committed in the US. So I hate to say it, Ms Jones will just have to hope for early release or produce the money or other political capital to pay for her justice.

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It's funny....

posted at 1/14/2008 10:39 AM EST

LittleBirdie

First post: 1/14/2008
Last post: 1/14/2008
Total posts: 1

When I was watching Marion Jones on television Saturday tell reporters and the world that she will serve a 6 month prision sentence, I had to wonder if this was, spiritually, her finest moment. She was so honest, remorseful, and obviously just wanting to do the right thing after doing the wrong things for so long, I just found new respect for her on a whole other level.

And despite the fact that she has 2 children, one of whom is still nursing, she said that she "respected" the judge's choice to hand down a sentence that, apparently, was on the more severe side of the spectrum of the possible choices.

It also seemed that her situation was part of a trend that when the legal system wants to make an "example" of someone, they do so with a woman. (I'm thinking of Martha Stewart here.) I am the last person in Washington to call myself a feminist, but even I "went there". Yet, if anyone can take this just punishment "like a man" it looks like it's Marion. God bless her.

If Scooter wants false mercy, let him have it. I have a feeling that Marion is going to come out the other side of this stronger and better than ever.

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Re: Blue blood vs 'them people'

posted at 1/14/2008 11:27 AM EST

norcor7

First post: 1/14/2008
Last post: 1/14/2008
Total posts: 2

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Marion Jones

posted at 1/14/2008 11:32 AM EST

norcor7

First post: 1/14/2008
Last post: 1/14/2008
Total posts: 2

Robinson conveiently left out of his article the fact that Jones was also involved in check fraud. This is journalism ? A previous responder was right, it's not a case of "white" blood or "black blood," it's all about BLUE BLOOD. Don't due the crime if you can't do the time.

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Re: Free Marion Jones

posted at 1/14/2008 11:51 AM EST

ita8111

First post: 8/31/2007
Last post: 1/31/2008
Total posts: 19

Mr. Robinson:

I hope he does not for the following reasons.

1. Marion was a role model for millions of under privileged kids and she made fools of them all.

2. She won medals while cheating and that itself deserves many many years in prison.

3. She disgraced her race and America and gave the sport a black eye.

3. And on a different note, you are asking a supposedly compassionate conservative administration that only understands brute force when to comes to making friends to pardon her.....

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Re: Free Marion Jones

posted at 1/14/2008 11:52 AM EST

ita8111

First post: 8/31/2007
Last post: 1/31/2008
Total posts: 19

Mr. Robinson:

I hope he does not for the following reasons.

1. Marion was a role model for millions of under privileged kids and she made fools of them all.

2. She won medals while cheating and that itself deserves many many years in prison.

3. She disgraced her race and America and gave the sport a black eye.

4. And on a different note, you are asking a supposedly compassionate conservative administration that only understands brute force when to comes to making friends to pardon her.....

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Free Marion Jones, Mr. Bush. (Just Like Scooter.) Watch this discussion

posted at 1/14/2008 12:18 PM EST

beefchop423

First post: 1/14/2008
Last post: 4/17/2009
Total posts: 6

She deserves to go to jail (I wish Mr. Libby had, too, and for a lot longer). In addition to the crimes and the betrayal of her fans, I wonder if Ms. Jones will endeavour to repay all those athletes who came second to her, a cheater. Their chances of good income from endorsements were significantly reduced by their silver (only) medals. They should sue, and recover what they can from the inevitable book.

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I've got a better idea...

posted at 1/14/2008 1:12 PM EST

mobedda

First post: 9/6/2007
Last post: 6/13/2009
Total posts: 272

Why doesn't Bush just join her in prison instead?

Yeah... I like that!

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Re: Toby, Please

posted at 1/14/2008 1:13 PM EST

mobedda

First post: 9/6/2007
Last post: 6/13/2009
Total posts: 272

Replying to:

Unprovoked and unjustified war? Have you been hitting the crack pipe again?
Posted by HankTheCat

No, it's the truth. If you don't know by now... Oh, never mind; go back to sleep.

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The real problem...

posted at 1/14/2008 1:25 PM EST

csox1

First post: 1/14/2008
Last post: 1/14/2008
Total posts: 1

The real problem with Libby's pardon is the fact that such pardons even exist at all, a flagrant and outrageous inconsistency in the founding fathers' design to have granted the president the right to legally forgive criminal offense; by blurring the boundaries between personal forgiveness and legal exculpation, the framers created the unfair and abusive system in place. If you're going to forgive Libby, then yes, of course, forgive Jones--and every other white-collar criminal doing time.

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yes, free Marion Jones

posted at 1/14/2008 1:34 PM EST

Pragmatix

First post: 1/14/2008
Last post: 1/14/2008
Total posts: 1

I agree with "Mr Robinson", and would happily sign on to a direct petition to Pres. Bush. We do not have to debate the similarities / differences vis a vis Scooter Libby too intensively. Is it not simply excessively cruel of our society to do this to a nursing mother and an innocent nursing baby? And isn't Pres. Bush on record as being compassionate? Compassion confined to one's friends is not compassion in the eyes of society.

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No...

posted at 1/14/2008 1:38 PM EST

infojust4me

First post: 10/27/2007
Last post: 5/9/2009
Total posts: 15

ita811,

>>
1. Marion was a role model for millions of under privileged kids and she made fools of them all.

2. She won medals while cheating and that itself deserves many many years in prison.

3. She disgraced her race and America and gave the sport a black eye.<<

I'm sorry...but you have got to be kidding me. Please tell me how any of the three things justifies a jail sentence or somehow DISQUALIFIES her for a pardon? You are missing the direct issue of what she did.

She lied under oath AND the results she obtained from cheating literally defrauded numerous companies and consumers of millions that she received in endorsements and sales.

Nobody talks about the other athletes who lost out on millions because of her cheated victories. I am surprised that the other athletes have not sued her. Its probably because she has squandered her millions and has nothing of value left.

In regard to her "disgracing her race"...I beg to differ. She is a disgrace to HERSELF, but she by no means disgraces me as an African American. People need to take responsibility for their own actions while at the same time, other people need to place the blame where it belongs. On the perpetrator. Trying to link a person's wrong actions to me just because they are the same color I am is flawed thinking.

To Mr. Robinson...

While I understand your point about pardoning Jones because Libby was, I don't think that EITHER of them should be pardoned or should have been pardoned. In my eyes, there are people who are in FAR worse prisons for FAR less severe crimes and are serving sentences for FAR longer.

I think that Bush was dead wrong in his decision to pardon Libby and it is just one more issue (too many to list) that shows his corrupt and inept character. However, I am not willing to play the "tit-for-tat" game when it comes to things like this because it erodes what little consistency we have left in the justice system.

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Free Marion Jones, Mr. Bush, Just like Scooter Libby

posted at 1/14/2008 1:39 PM EST

roynunoo

First post: 1/14/2008
Last post: 1/14/2008
Total posts: 1

The ultimate super human endurance for Olympic Gold Medal vis-a-vis treason committed by exposing a CIA covert operative agent. The magnitude of Marion Jones' perjury crime is of little significance compared to that of Scooter Libby's which encroaches National Security. Free Marion Jones, Mr. Bush, just like Scooter Libby.

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Re: Free Marion Jones, Mr. Bush. (Just Like Scooter.)

posted at 1/14/2008 2:17 PM EST

ddnfla

First post: 1/14/2008
Last post: 7/13/2009
Total posts: 15

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