Misquote Generates Racism Charge

According to the NW Indiana Times, The Winchester (IN) News-Gazette misquoted Indiana Attorney General Steve Carter when he joked to a group of republicans at a fundraiser, and that caused one lawmaker to accuse Carter of racism.

Carter was talking about his vigorous pursuit of public corruption when he quoted as saying that, "A member of the Gary City Council doesn't know whether to answer 'present' or 'guilty.'"

That really upset state rep Charlie Brown of Gary, who wrote a letter to Carter demanding an apology and a meeting to discuss his "ignorant comment." The Times also reported that the letter said that the comment is based on the assumption that corruption is rampant in Gary because the majority of residents are black.

The problem is, Carter didn't say "Gary." He said "East Chicago."

That didn't change Brown's feelings about the comment because most E.C. residents are minorities.

Brown is one of those "leaders" who assumes any slight against any minority person or group is racist, which is unfortunate, because people like him make real racism (and there's plenty of that) harder to distinguish.

He is particularly wrong in this case. Brown says a joke about the East Chicago's city council's problem with corruption is racist because the residents of E.C. are mostly minorities. However, Carter wasn't talking about the residents of East Chicago. He was talking about the city council.

As the old saying goes, "it ain't lyin' if it's true." It's also not racist if it's true. East Chicago is the standard-bearer in the field of government corruption, and those involved span the rainbow of skin colors. What goes on in East Chicago makes the government of it's namesake to the west look like an elementary school student council.

Prosecutors are finally catching on, as it seems like just about everybody who has ever been in a room with former mayor/ringleader Robert Pastrick (who is white) is has been indicted on corruption charges.

The current scandal involves a sidewalks-for-votes plan, in which city contractors did free sidewalk pouring and tree trimming for residents right before the 1999 election. Documents were then changed later to make the plan appear legitimate.

Thirteen people were indicted, including three city councilmen. I don't know off the top of my head how all those cases turned out, but at least two of the councilmen were found guilty. One, Frank Kollintzas (who is white), fled the country right before he was to be sentenced.

Fifteen other city officials, including Pastrick, were named as unindicted co-conspirators in court documents. Also, Pastrick and 26 others are facing a civil suit to seek restitution for the scheme.

Ironically, Pastrick is no longer mayor after 33 years because his 2003 election victory over George Pabey was thrown out by a judge because a number of absentee ballots cast for Pastrick were either forged or coerced. Pabey defeated Pastrick in the special election that was called to replace the corrupted one.

Sorry, Charlie, but if anyone should be apologizing for anything, it’s Pastrick. You’ll pardon me if I don’t hold my breath waiting for that to happen.