Former Rep Joe Sestak (D-PA) just compared treatment of Paterno to death of Gaddafi

[Amerigo Vespucci]

On MSNBC, "Weekends With Alex Witt," so no link. He's on right now. Mentioned Paterno, compared the situation to Gaddafi's death, and said "This is not the way we do things. This is not the way we mete out justice."

I'm sorry, Joe...I missed the part where the mob beat the shit out of Paterno and shoved a lead pipe up his ass right before they murdered him.

:silly:

[DURHAM D]

1. Paterno donated $1000 to Sestak's campaign.

eos

[roody]

2. Gaddafi accepted the rape of children also? Not surprised.

[TheWraith]

3. Fuck you, Sestak.

I'm afraid I can't expect better from any of the elected officials in PA, but still, better to shut up entirely.

[crusader484]

21. NOT DEFENDING PATERNO

watch the full video!
he wasn't defending paterno...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PmzgxNTUmJE

[BanzaiBonnie]

4. So, what does HE know about all of this?

His sentiment is disgusting. But really now, what does he know about this?

[JackintheGreen]

5. This is what I just emailed him

Dear Joe,

Did I just hear that right? Did you just compare the dismissal of Joe Paterno to the death of Gaddafi on Alex Witt's show? Really, Joe?

Joe Paterno was the most powerful man at Penn State. He worked closely with Mr. Sandusky for years, and he was made personally aware of accusations made against the man many years ago. Mr. Sandusky was not accused of stealing from petty cash, or of violating NCAA recruitment rules, or of assaulting his own students in violent anger. He was accused of raping children, and it seems pretty clear that he did so, repeatedly, using a charity that he started to provide his victims.

The crimes of which Mr. Sandusky is accused are abhorrent and of extended duration. The possibility of a man as powerful as Joe Paterno being wholly unaware of the rumors of years worth of crimes against children beggars belief. And what did Coach Paterno do? The absolute minimum to avoid future prosecution. Meanwhile, Mr. Sandusky was given silent leave to continue his crimes.

As far as I can tell, Mr. Paterno did not break any laws, nor am I accusing him of such. But he presided over what may turn out to be one of the biggest cover-ups of my adult life. Evil prevails when good men do nothing, and such is the case here. Joe Paterno did nothing while Jerry Sandusky abused children on the Penn State campus. Joe Paterno needed to go. He should have stepped down voluntarilty, but his own pride was his undoing.

You were right. This is not how we do things in America. This is not how we meet out justice. Indeed, the wealthy and the powerful and the influential have long lived by a different set of rules, and my fellow Americans have grown tired of it, as the thousands of 99%s demonstrating across this country are demonstrating.

This is not how we do things in America, holding the powerful to the same standard as the rest of us, but perhaps it's time we start.

SIncerely,
Aaron Mulvany

[coalition_unwilling]

6. Good letter -- explains why I will no longer vote Dem, at least until the

Dems clean up their act and start representing the working class and not the 1%.

[emulatorloo]

7. Sestak has a 90% liberal rating from the ADA

http://www.adaction.org/pages/publications/voting-records.php

Americans for Democratic Action is a liberal group that ranks the voting records of members of congress.

In 2010, Sestak's rating was 90%.

Sestak would have made an excellent liberal Senator, instead Pennsylvania gave us Pat Toomey.

What Sestak said about Paterno was beyond stupid, but to try to claim that Sestak is a bad Democrat doesn't square with the reality of his record.

It almost sounds as if you are looking for excuses not to vote for good Democrats.

[TBF]

8. Oh for gods sake - he is not saying not to vote for "good" democrats -

he is writing to one particular democrat about specific actions.

Maybe instead of beating the crap out of folks you think won't vote (because I can't think anyone would vote for the line up of repubs we've been handed - they'll just sit it out), why not figure out what you need to do as an activist to get them excited about dems again? Just a tip ...

[emulatorloo]

20. I am not " beating the crap" out of anybody. Sestak's voting record is a verifiable fact.

There is nothing wrong with pointing out that Sestak is a liberal Democrat to someone erroneously using Sestak as an example of bad Democrats.

[coalition_unwilling]

9. Well, I don't live in Sestak's district, so I can't vote for or against him. That said,

my Democratic Rep, Karen Bass, has remained completely silent on the question of the Oakland Police Department's recent police riots and Occupy Oakland, despite numerous emails by me to her on the question. I'll bet Bass would get a similarly high rating from ADA. The point is, though, that when push comes to shove, even supposedly 'good Dems' take the side of the 1% over the side of the 99%. Only 2 Dems (Barbara Lee and Dennis Kucinich0 have spoken out about the OPD's jack-bootery. Kind of makes you go 'Hmm.' Or it should and would unless you've lost your soul.

[emulatorloo]

18. So I am "soulless" because I pointed out Sestak's liberal voting record?

Why not acknowledge you were wrong about your characterization of Sestak and move on. No one would think less of you for saying you made a mistake.

It would be better to do that than doubling down and trying to make me t he bad guy.

[Name removed]

24. Deleted message

Sub-thread removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[JackintheGreen]

10. I agree with you on Sestak

I supported him, campaigned for him, obviously voted for him. But as you say, what Joe said about Joe Pa was "beyond stupid." That's why I contacted him. He at least listens to us. But it is easy to get swept up in the We are//Penn State insanity around here.

Toomey, to his credit (and gods! I dislike the man), rescinded his support of Paterno being given the Presidential Medal of whatever (Freedom, maybe?). The one thing he's done that I agree with.

[libinnyandia]

11. Let the GOP control everything and everything will work out

just fine. The 1% forever.

[coalition_unwilling]

15. As though the Dems aren't also in the back pocket of the 1%. Talk

about your naive, jeesh, your post has to take the cake.

[libinnyandia]

17. Some may be but not most. Talk about your Bush = Gore.

I guess we will never know how completely evil republicans can be unless we give them one more chance to run everything: White House, House, 48 Senators , maybe a 6 to 3 SCOTUS.

[coalition_unwilling]

23. Only 2 House Dems (Kucinich and Barbara Lee) have spoken out about the police riots against

peaceful, unarmed demonstrators exercising their first amendment rights at Occupy Oakland. One can only assume from the deafening silence of the rest of the Dems (including California's Dem Governor Jerry Brown) that the Democratic Party (as a party) is just fine with the current concentration of wealth and with brutally repressing anyone so bold as to question that concentration.

The Democratic Party (as a party) is totally and completely bankrupt of purpose and no longer represents the working class.

[emulatorloo]

22. Tell that to the people of Wisconsin, Ohio, and so on

[Rowdyboy]

12. God I wish I had a chance to vote for someone as liberal as Joe Sestak....

instead I live in Mississippi where our option is "bad" or "worse". Wish I had your problems.

[ellisonz]

13. Dumb thing to say.

[ProgressiveProfessor]

14. Sestak is infamous for that

He basically was told to retire due to his behavior towards others while in uniform.

[ellisonz]

16. Leave it to Beaver...

[crusader484]

19. WHAT?!?!?!

AMERIGO......

Great job chopping up Joe's quotes to make it seem like he's defending Paterno. HE WASN'T.

WATCH THE THE FULL VIDEO: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PmzgxNTUmJE&feature=channel_video_title

He said there needed to be "swift, deliberate justice."

[TBF]

25. Lots of new posters in this thread jumping on board to defend Rep Joe Sestak.

Did a memo go out or something?