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Contemplating Corbett, the day after
There’s a great deal of political pontificating in print and on the blogosphere, in the wake of the first major guilty verdicts for Attorney General and gubernatorial hopeful Tom Corbett’s Bonusgate investigation. The general— albeit very early—consensus, is that’s the mixed verdict was a win for Corbett, in that it wasn’t a loss.
We’ve pulled together some of the highlights below. But what do you think? Make your voice heard by posting a comment.
The Inquirer says it’s a “relief” for Corbett supporters.
It was a setback for Corbett’s Democratic detractors who had suggested that his ambition to become governor in November had spurred his zeal in pursuing criminal charges against two dozen Bonusgate defendants.
Intimations that he was mismanaging the probe had bubbled up after the first of the defendants to go to trial in December was found not guilty.
“I think there was a lot of baited breath, and I think now you’re hearing an exhale on the part of the Corbett campaign,” said Chris Borick, a political science professor at Muhlenberg College, who closely follows state politics.
PoliticsPA says the “imperfect” verdict is still “likely a boost” for Corbett.
The bottom line, according to GOP officials: The gubernatorial front-runner secured enough convictions against the criminal trial’s big fish—14 against Veon—to justify his reputation as a Harrisburg reformer. Whatever else happened Monday, they said, will be boiled away in campaign soundbites that emphasize the successful prosecution of a former Harrisburg power broker.
“(Veon) just got convicted of 14 felonies. I am not sure who would need to spin that,” said Republican strategist Ray Zaborney. “Veon will be playing basketball with a different group of people thanks to Tom Corbett, and Harrisburg is on notice that if you break the law and cheat the taxpayers you are going to go to jail for a long time.” … Said another Republican strategist, who wished to remain anonymous: “It’s enough to proclaim victory.”
It will be forgotten by tomorrow, as the Tom Corbett Gubernatorial Campaign spins his less-than-16% conviction rate as an enormous victory, but let’s pause for a moment and imagine how it felt for Team Corbett to hear the words “not guilty” 117 times in a row.
Three years, millions of taxpayer dollars, countless state staff man-hours ….only to hear again and again, “not guilty….not guilty … not guilty.”
And just think: he still has to try a dozen more defendants on similar charges … with similar evidence and similar witnesses.
March 23, 2010 at 9:49 am
Tags: Bonusgate, Tom Corbett
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Red Pin Pete
Mar 23rd, 2010
Corbett has dropped the ball too many times during this whole investigation. He seems more interested in getting elected to the nest office than actually doing the job he already has. 16% is horrible. Tom, get back to work
Chris
Mar 23rd, 2010
I’m a Democrat, and I can see the 16% thing is bogus. As Democrats, we’re going to base his success in these cases by each charge? I hope party officials think about it long and hard before going that route. They will make their candidates look like fools. People aren’t that stupid.
In sports, it’s not how many points you win by that’s important, it whether you win- period. He’s 10 and 2 so far. Give credit, where credit is due.
pablue
Mar 23rd, 2010
Corrupt Corbett is a partisan hack.
Where are the Republican Bonusgate EMAILS — oops – Corbett’s AG office tipped off the PA Republicans just in time for them to REPLACE ALL COMPUTERS for Republican Staffers – how convenient. – How Corrupt.
Red Pin Pete
Mar 23rd, 2010
Actually Chris, he is 22 of 165, but if you want to count people then lets do so. He has 3 contested convictions and 2 acquittals. The 7 who plead guilty did so because he would not get jail time. What about the 25+ that he did not charge so they would testify? So 3 will get jail time, 2 acquitted and 32+ no jail time. Stellar success. You’re right he deserves credit for completely mishandling this case. Get back to work Tom!!! We pay your salary to be the State’s Attorney, not to run for Governor.
BB
Mar 23rd, 2010
The fact that he did not appoint a federal prosecutor to take over the entire state-wide, two party investigation, and rescue himself and his office in a year that he’s running for governor is simply unforgivable. I’m glad to see those that broke the law be punished, but not happy that it was done by the state’s AG office in an election year. This should have been prosecuted by the Feds to insure impartiality. Totally bogus on Corbett’s part and he should now do right to the taxpayers of Pa. and end his quest for governor.
Chris
Mar 24th, 2010
Red Pin, I have to say it’s hard to refute information when you make it up. Unless you were working on the case itself, it’s pretty doubtful you know how many people they have, that legitimate charges can be brought against; If they are planning to bring any more charges against these individuals; and if they even exist. Of course, if he brought charges against them, you would say he’s only doing it to become Govenor.
So basically, if he does nothing, he’s spending too much time running for Govenor and should earn his salary. If he does something, it’s only for his political aspirations, and should earn his salary.
Sounds to me like he’s doing his job. And well I might add. I vote for the party not spreading misinformation, and that’s what the Democrats are doing with this whole thing right now. This is one Dem voting for him.
PATaxpayerAlert
Mar 25th, 2010
How about this Shocker? Ralph Naders lawyer Oliver Hall uncovered the fact that Corbett, 6 weeks after implicating the Pittsburgh Law firm of Reed Smith for their invlovement in the BonusGate mess, accepted a $15,900 Campaign donation from the same. Then he stopped investigating them despite the fact evidence pointed many fingers at this firm. Friends of His?
Hall smacked Corbett with a request to recuse himself from his investigating this firm in their Bonus Gate Dealings since there was a definate Conflict if Interest on his part. I’ll say! Once agsin he accepts donations from people he is investigating or do the jus need special favors?
There was Louis Denaples who donated $55,000 and who got a Casino License. Why did Corbett not not investigate him? Later it surfaces Denaples has ties to the Buffino crime family. He just passed the license to his daughter ( yeah he can’t incluence it now!)
Then there was Ec Speaker John Perzell who while under suspicion and then investigation for using millions in taxpayer money for his own political gains had his people do a fund raiser for Corbett. Our Attorney General accepted the money.