Alabama Corruption Obscured by Racism

Alabama Senator Scott Beason appeared to be the anti-corruption, moral hero in a vote-buying scheme has revealed himself to be a racist lacking conviction that obscures the crimes and reveals the Republican gambling opposition as little more than political opportunism.

Beason's comments distract from the widespread moral decay that was tolerated.

From: Alabama Republican Called Black Casino Customers 'Aborigines'


The transcripts also showed Beason and other Republicans talking about what would happen if the legislation to protect electronic bingo casinos were approved by the Legislature and placed before voters in the election in November 2010. They speculated that casino owners would offer free meals and free bus rides to get black voters to the polls.

Under questioning, Beason said they were concerned that a large black turnout would hurt Republican candidates.



Beason's defender obscures the point
The Daily Home

Alabama Sen. Scott Beason is not on trial, not in the literal sense, but he is truly being tried in the court of public opinion — partly for what some see as betraying his fellow legislators by wearing a wire to provide evidence in the current gambling corruption trial in Montgomery, but mostly for the disgusting racist jokes he made while recording his conversations.

State Republican Party Chairman Bill Armistead defended Beason Friday in an e-mailed statement as an honorable and brave man who “will be remembered as one who helped bring down corruption in Alabama.”

That may be, but Armistead was intentionally obscuring the point. He listed a number of Democrats who have been accused or convicted of crimes, whining that their party did not call for their resignations. All but one, who is now on trial, are no longer in office, in several instances because they went to prison. Why demand resignations?

Of the four legislators now on trial, only two remain in office. If convicted, they will lose their seats. If they are acquitted, it will be up to the voters to decide whether they stay or go.

Calls for Beason’s resignation are based on his own words — words that he, unlike the other people on the tape, knew were being recorded.

Racism such as Beason and his cronies engaged in may not be a crime for the courts, but public opinion has brought down greater men for lesser offenses.