New York state assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver was arrested
Thursday, January 22nd, on charges of taking nearly $4 million in
payoffs and kickbacks. The 70-year old Democrat, considered one of New York’s
most powerful and savvy politicians, was taken into custody on federal
conspiracy and bribery charges that could lead to sentencing of up to 100 years
in prison and cost him his political seat.
The
arrest stunned New York’s Capitol,
coming, as it did, just a day after Silver took the stage with Democratic
Governor Andrew Cuomo during the latter’s State of the State address. In fact,
Cuomo joked that he, Silver, and the Senate majority leader were the “three
amigos” of the state’s government.
Silver
has the power to single-handedly decide the fate of legislation, and decides
whether a bill gets a vote. As if to prove his power, last spring he
helped convince Cuomo to disband a state anti-corruption commission that was investigating Silver’s own financial dealings!
The federal prosecutor said, “Speaker Silver
never did any legal work. He simply sat back and collected millions of dollars
by cashing in on his public office and political influence.”
Just
the type of ‘public servant’ we want, acting solely for the benefit of his
constituents, his state or his country. What sacrifice he’s shown on our
behalf!
If this
member of ‘the one percent’ were a Republican, you wouldn’t see or hear another
news story for a month, unless Jesus
Christ returned to shop at Costco.
Silver,
however, has long been a champion of liberal
causes, using his position as a power broker to support teachers, civil service
unions and trial lawyers. Therefore, incredibly, Assembly Majority Leader Joe
Morelle said Silver still has the backing
of an overwhelming number of the chamber’s Democrats and they are not seeking his resignation as speaker. “We
believe he can carry out his duties as speaker,” Morelle said. “We’re going to
stand with him…We have faith in the
speaker.”
So, a white-collar crime that could get him sentenced to 100 years in prison is not enough to persuade his fellow Democrats
to ask him to resign his office!! Think about that. This isn’t a banana
republic. This was America. Perhaps
his fellow Democrats have misplaced their faith.
I’m
going to Costco.