Is Cindy McCain a Felon?

[Bluerthanblue]

She admitted forging prescriptions for her drug habit- more than once.

Isn't that a felony? Her father was a convicted felon. He forged papers on his liquor business.


Anyone know?


thanks.

[Liberal Veteran]

1. Oh, sweetie...in the justice system of the very rich, forging prescriptions is like jaywalking...

...or getting a speeding ticket.

We certainly don't label our precious rich with the title of "felon" over something like this.

That's for the common folk.

[DevonRex]

2. And heavens to Betsy, we couldn't arrest the little dear. I mean

she would get that goopy fingerprint mess on her pretty little manicured hands, now wouldn't she? And we wouldn't want THAT.

[Liberal Veteran]

5. Of course. Besides everyone knows when the well-to-do get hooked on drugs...

...they are simply stressed and need tender loving and some rehab at a nice "spa", unlike the little folk who are just filthy junkies that should be locked away from society forever.

Besides.....they almost NEVER let the makeup artists come in to prepare you for a mug shot and we couldn't have them looking less than respectable.

[Hugabear]

3. Ask yourself three questions...

1. Is she rich?
2. Is she white?
3. Is she a Republican?

If you can answer "yes" to all three of these, then it's okay. :sarcasm:

[babylonsister]

4. She's a rethug. Don't they get to admit their mistakes and move on

without sullying their record?

http://www.republicanoffenders.com/

Well, maybe not all of them!

[NYC_SKP]

6. I don't know, but...

???

http://www.salon.com/news/feature/1999/10/18/drugs/

Whatever happened, it's got to be out there.

[johnlal]

7. No. Not unless she was convicted.

The US Attorney allowed her to go into a diversion program, which means that she would not be prosecuted if she complies with certain conditions. The conditions possibly included completion of drug rehab and making financial restitution. In return for going into the diversion program, she had to give up her right to defend herself, her right to trial by jury, and her right to confront witnesses against her.
So no. Unless she was convicted of a felony, she's not a felon.

[Bluerthanblue]

14. rich white privlidge at work?

Sure would be interested to hear about ANY similar cases the DEA has settled like this on, which involved low-middle income people who didn't have her connections.

Maybe she's never really had to live in the America where life isn't always the fairy-tale fantasy land that she grew up in- a land where peoples entire lives are forever destroyed for doing what she did- admitted to doing, and payed no REAL concequences for.

Thanks for the info.

:hi:

[johnlal]

19. This is the proper outcome of a case like this...

...but it should be used fairly across the board.
I think more was accomplished by sending Mrs. McCain to rehab than would have been accomplished by having a costly, public, adversarial trial. I think more people could benefit from being treated the way Mrs. McCain was treated, and I think society would benefit from it. Not everybody can afford the same type of treatment Ms. McCain underwent. Some states have programs to send offenders to, but this could be a strain on state budgets. Unfortunately, it's easier just to throw people in jail without treating the real problem. And that doesn't help anybody.

[Bluerthanblue]

22. I completely agree- but the very people who would fight

showing this kind of appropriate response to substance abuse toward ALL similar offenders, are Republicans.

The people who comment on Bill's "I didn't inhale" or Obama's admitted use of drugs during his youth, and his acknowledgment that it was a bad choice, and try and make that a basis to disqualify them from any 'credibility' as a result.

Cindy took the position of attacking Michelle when she said "I don't know about you, but I've never not been proud of MY country"- She was willing to stand there like little miss purity all dressed in white, and infer that Michelle had crap that she she should have been ashamed of.

Back to the issue though- If we aren't willing to put funds into rehab for our citizens who struggle with substance abuse, we're going to pay through the nose for more and more prisons, police, and DEA officers- crime will continue to rise, and we will have contributed to the waste of who knows how many lives and futures. I believe that neither party really sees this clearly, but the Republicans almost pride themselves on being blind.

thanks~

[johnlal]

24. I agree completely

The Republicans want to get tough on crime. Treatment is coddling. Jail is the only answer. Unless it happens to be Cindy McCain. Then rehab is the best solution (and it probably means going to one of those expensive spa-like exclusive rehabs where the rich go to get away from the pressures of life-- a place that most people would never see and could never afford).

Republicans fight to deny gay couples the right to adopt children. But when John and Cindy adopted a child, Cindy was a drug addict. I'm sure at some point in time, somebody from family services asked Cindy if she was a drug addict.

I know that her wealth and her position got her some advantages that most people would not enjoy. And that sucks.

[Bluerthanblue]

25. and again we

agree. Geez- that feels good!

I went through a grueling adoption process as a result of some difficult life issues- and am happy to say that we made it- My biggest struggle was a pretty closed minded, ....."conservative" Judge- who held our family's future in his black robed hands.
Thanks to many wonderful people at several agencies, and Pro Bono representation by outstanding people from the Franklin Pierce Law School- after almost 5 years of struggle, we became 'legal'. My son had been with us from the time he was 6days old.-

People who go through the adoption process, (average peeps) do so with a lot of effort, forethought and love for the child they are hoping to become family to- And the home-study should look for obvious issues and seek to help minimize them. Whether the parents are the same sex or opposite sex, and even if there is only one parent- shouldn't even enter into the decision- as long as they can demonstrate that they are committed to parenthood, and prepared (as best one can be) and love each other.
IM long-winded Opinion.

(sorry- personal peeve)


Thanks for listening.

peace~

[johnlal]

26. Good to hear about you and your family.

We went through the adoption process as well, but it didn't turn out as well. I'm happy for you and your family. Best wishes.

[cboy4]

8. I couldn't care less about her criminal history of forging

prescriptions.

Addicts go to desperate measures, and I would feel the exact same way if we were discussing a Democrat.

She didn't rob anyone.

And by the way, Cindy McCain is not the political enemy.

John McCain is.

Maybe we should get some perspective.


edit....typo

[Liberal Veteran]

9. My perspective is that there appears to be a double-standard in our justice system.

If her name had been Cindy Rodriguez from the projects, doing the same thing would have invoked a mandatory sentence.

[Born_A_Truman]

10. Or Rush! n/t

[cboy4]

11. Oh there's no question......but you don't think that works both

ways with Democrats getting off because of their wealth and influence?

You don't agree with that?

I personally believe addicts forging prescriptions is a very low priority crime --- especially if they've been caught and they've gone into treatment to turn their lives around.

[Liberal Veteran]

12. I agree that the focus should be on rehab, no incarceration and a permanent criminal record.

What I can't abide and shouldn't have to abide is the slap in the face to "equal justice for all", particularly not from the party that preaches mandatory sentences and criminal prosecution of drug addicts who break the law.

[Bluerthanblue]

20. McCain is touting his "HONOR" and "DUTY" and the concept

of being so willing to do what is right despite the pain and sacrifice it causes the individual to lure voters.

He didn't even know about his wife's problem, and when he found out, he knew it could damage him politically so he worked a sweet deal.

THAT kind of "character" is what this incident brings to light.

Cindy may not have physically 'robbed' anyone, but the facts around her drug problem aren't as benign as you'd think. She put several MD's licenses on the line, had employees of the charity go and pick up the prescriptions that she had used THEIR names on to acquire the drugs, and brought 2 babies home from an orphanage in India while she was heavily addicted.

The picture isn't pretty- they aren't the story book family they like to make themselves out to be. It isn't her 'drug-use' that I find worth talking about, as much as it is the misrepresentation, lies, and denials that they have cropped out of their well scripted image- the image they are selling the American people- that I think needs to be seen for what it is, and judged individually- on the facts, not the spin.

The Republican party is ruthless when it comes to "drug crimes"- Which makes them a bit more responsible to show that they treat 'their own' with equal justice.


:hi:

thanks

[cboy4]

21. No, I get the hypocrisy. And maybe it's worth discussing here.

But the bottom line is none of her problems are relevant to her husband's views on Iraq and potential Supreme Court judges.

Is she a low level drug felon?

I don't care.

[Bluerthanblue]

23. and I understand what

you are saying. The way this involves McCain imo- is how he likes to present himself to his base, and who he really is.

I'm against his policies- on more than just SC judges, and Iraq- at least the ones he's wearing today ;).

His actions in relation to covering up and sanitizing his spouses criminal activities does reflect on him- and many people don't know anything about this, or believe it is all made up.


It's fine that you don't see her actions as a big deal- I didn't mean to say you need to, or should.
:hi:


peace~

[Bluerthanblue]

16. and a criminal record that would follow her for life- "I've never not been proud of my country"

spoken in soft, demure voice dressed in finery.

No, somehow I think Cindy Rodriguez would have a very different experience of what life in these United States can really be like.
And what's WORSE.- she'd likely not receive the pass, and compassion that Ms.McCain engenders.

When we treat her differently- when we avoid speaking out about the injustice of the leniency shown for consequences of her actions, in contrast with millions of others from less attractive backgrounds, we reinforce that "entitlement". IMO

:hi:

[AngryAmish]

13. Cannibalism is a felony.

[grantcart]

15. no she is white

[faithfulcitizen]

17. Sorry, but I know a lot of white people who wouldn't/didn't get a pass. Rich, however, is colorblind

[liberal N proud]

18. Rich and Republican

You and I wouldn't get a free pass on that.

[barb162]

27. You might want to take a look at the New York Times today

Maureen Dowd's column, specifically, about who might have been using "blow." It could get to be a real pissing contest.

[Bluerthanblue]

28. not sure what you are saying- Obama has been up front with

his past, and has admitted it was 'stupid'.

I went and read Dowd's column- she gets paid to write that? What was the point? Looking back over her recent columns, there really isn't much substance in what she says, or maybe I'm just so far out of her 'sphere' I don't get it.


I see columns on Hillary, Obama, Bush- but absolutely NONE on McCain- interesting omission IMO-

If I've totally missed what you were pointing me toward- could you help me understand better?

thanks~

[barb162]

29. I just googled McCain and got 75million hits

I've seen plenty of columns about him. I'm not explaining Dowd's column...it's pretty clear.
(And she has done columns on McCain too.) http://www.nytimes.com/2008/04/06/opinion/06dowd.html?_r=1&oref=slogin