All Roads Lead to California, Even From Florida
So the sheriff of Lee County, Florida, was warming up a Sarah Palin rally in the town of Estero the other day.
Mike Scott told the roaring multitude, "On November 4, let’s leave Barack Hussein Obama wondering what happened!"
Lee County ... does that ring any mission bells in the minds of Californians?
It should.
Lee County is where, nearly three years ago, California’s onetime insurance commissioner Chuck Quackenbush put on a lawman’s uniform and went to work as a sheriff’s deputy. Back here in the
Golden State, in 2000, he resigned rather than face impeachment over a scandal concerning money given by insurance companies to some of Quackenbush’s favorite charities, among them his kids’ sports camp and an education fund that paid for TV spots starring himself.
Earlier this year, in Lee County, Quackenbush shot a guy who got his Taser away from him during an arrest.
Quackenbush, as I said, wears the uniform of the Lee County Sheriff’s Department.
So does Mike Scott. Unfortunately for him, he wore it to the Palin rally. Now he’s being investigated for potential violations of the Hatch Act, that 1939 federal law that bans public officials like Scott from using their positions to influence elections – and that extends to wearing the official uniform at an unofficial political event.
Worse, maybe, from Scott’s point of view, the Palin campaign said it was displeased that Scott used Obama’s full name, the repetition of which is believed to be a deliberate means of raising red-herring questions about his religion and his Americanism: "We do not condone this inappropriate rhetoric."
Right after Scott’s speech, a local radio host declared that Obama "hangs around with terrorists." No Palin statement of disavowal coming there.
Los Angeles Times photo
Holy Cow ! I wondered what kind of third rate police depatment would hire that disgraced former politican. Now we all know. Are there ANY law enforcement standards in Florida???
Posted by: Don Keedic | October 09, 2008 at 11:45 PM
This is ridiculous, Mike Scott is beloved by this community (won the election by getting 91% of the vote).
Just another push by the Leftist media to protect the "golden boy" Barrack Hussein Obama.
Mike did nothing wrong and will be cleared of any wrongdoing.
Quackenbush: Is he a convicted Felon?
Have any of you been Tased? He was protecting his life, Had he been Tased and immobilized what makes you think he wouldn't have been shot with his own gun?
Put in that situation I'm sure you would have done the same.
Posted by: JeffFL | October 10, 2008 at 07:10 AM
This is the most ridiculous opinion piece I've ever read... and this is the best of what Southern California has to offer in editorials?
Quackenbush is completely unrelated to what Sheriff Mike Scott said. He's a damn good sheriff and honestly I was planning to vote for Obama but I'm confused as to why there is such an outcry over his middle name... is it now against the rules to say McCain's middle name? Does he have something to be ashamed of?
Scott is a beloved local figure here and the people of Lee County still support him. The local media has been after him for a while, and the national one seems more than willing to knock him down too. It's a shame to see that happen to such an effective public servant.
Posted by: DanielFL | October 10, 2008 at 08:50 AM
JeffFL: People like you are a reason I am becoming disillusioned with the Republican party and our poor excuse for a candidate.
You don't get it. Mike Scott broke a law, and he is the top man in the County whose job it is to enforce the law. It's abuse of power, pure and simple. He used his uniform to endorse a political candidate.
As for the "Hussein" issue, does that mean we should start referring to Mike Scott as "Michael Scott" to portray him as the idiot boss in the TV show The Office? No!
Posted by: Dave - Cape Coral | October 10, 2008 at 09:31 AM
The sheriff's comments were obviously meant to demean Obama and were un-American. McCain is desperate to win at any cost, and will say whatever his Rovian handlers tell him (and Sarah) to say. This is just another example of how STUPID and pathetic the Republicans have become. They spend their time making fun of the names of the people they don't like and label them with code words like "liberal" "muslim" "elitist". That's what Rove/Limbaugh says works.
As the Republicans spew their political HATE and lose all credibility, America will see through the bull and will vote for the true leader, Barack Hussein Obama.
Posted by: PhilZ | October 10, 2008 at 05:25 PM
Replublican Party Ticket:-
John Sidney McCain III- Candidate for President
Sarah Louise Palin - Candidate for Vice President
Democratic Party Ticket:
Barack Hussein Obama. - Candidate for President
Joseph Robinette Biden Jr. - Candidate for Vice President
All the MIDDLE names are named.
What is WRONG with that???
The constitution guarantees FREE Speech.
Posted by: reuel | October 11, 2008 at 02:04 PM
Not ALL people living in Lee County admire Sheriff Scott, to say so is ridiculous. The reason he won by such a big % to begin with isn't because he was "beloved", it is because he wasn't THAT well known, and the last sheriff was terrible. Personally, I am sick to death that ALL we have to vote for in SW FL is Republicans. But in any case, it is utterly moronic to think that Sheriff Scott didn't mean something negative by his usage of Obama's middle name? Should he be kicked out of office? Maybe not, but he should apologize. Just the fact that he won't even aplogize for this "misunderstanding" shows his character. His comment was meant to inflame and distract.
And for the person that posted ALL the middle names... nice try, a blog post on a site that over 99% of Americans will never see, isn't exactly "putting the middle names out there", do you think that Obama (who's mother is American, and father African) is an "Arab" too? Come on, get a clue... people are passionate about politics but this is ridiculous, people are really proving how uneducated this country is by these comments that have no basis in the truth. Until this happend by the way, whoever you are - not one person has bothered to look up the middle names of the other candidates until now. Elementary my dear Watson... ain't no coincidence.
Posted by: Flowerchica | October 11, 2008 at 10:49 PM