Manny Aragon got what he deserved when he was sent to prison for corruption. His multi million dollar kickbacks from the construction of the metro court in Albuquerque was extreme. But somehow, as we discussed at coffee the other day, it seems less serious than former Senator Pete Domenici abandoning a child he fathered, keeping it a secret from the public, his children and his wife for decades. A child who grew up with out a father because of political protection for a republican known as St. Pete who the GOP needed to keep in place.
The rush to eradicate the name of Manny Aragon from the Hispanic Cultural Center was quick and decisive. Any thought of doing the same to the Domenici name who threw away a child hasn't even been brought up. His name graces the US Federal Court House. A supposed place of Justice. Except when it comes to his name. Why the different treatment? Most probably it is because of race. That is all I can come up with.
I started thinking about this again today when I saw that formerly disgraced republican Governor Sanford of South Carolina won his primary for congress. The fact that those GOP voters wanted him back shows a different standard from the one they espouse on family values. Maybe when all the women vote in the general election he will get handed his Appalachian hiking hat.
The rush to eradicate the name of Manny Aragon from the Hispanic Cultural Center was quick and decisive. Any thought of doing the same to the Domenici name who threw away a child hasn't even been brought up. His name graces the US Federal Court House. A supposed place of Justice. Except when it comes to his name. Why the different treatment? Most probably it is because of race. That is all I can come up with.
I started thinking about this again today when I saw that formerly disgraced republican Governor Sanford of South Carolina won his primary for congress. The fact that those GOP voters wanted him back shows a different standard from the one they espouse on family values. Maybe when all the women vote in the general election he will get handed his Appalachian hiking hat.
9 comments:
Manny betrayed and fleeced his constituents and the people of New Mexico for the almighty dollar. Domenici betrayed his wife, kids and lived a moral lie. Dollars vs morals. Manny has paid back society with prison time, while Domenici has a life sentence of guilt and a tarnished legacy.
Come on, mayor. You're a fiercely intelligent and thoughtful man (which is why I hit your page every day), but postulating that the difference in treatment between Manny and Pete is race-based is shockingly beneath you. How about the difference being that the actions of one were immoral while the other's were illegal? That one was a betrayal of his responsibilities to his son while the other betrayed his responsibilities to the entire community. Bad as Pete's behavior was, it's actions like Manny's that undermines everyone's confidence in their public servants.
I cant believe someone couldn't see the horrendous abandonment of a child as worse than political corruption. There is no greater responsibility than caring for a child. Yes, St. Pete is disgraced as is Manny. But Baca is right, I can garuntee you if there were an hispanic name involved it would be off the buildings.
Ol Pete's legacy will be the legacy of decades of working for the powerful; big money, big oil, big war, at the expense of the rest of us. His personal life simply reflects who he was.
Somewhere David Iglesias is laughing and saying "I told you so"
Domenici did a lot for New Mexico that he should be given credit for. Nevertheless, abandoning his child to save his political standing is unforgivable. And yes, renaming buildings to honor more deserving public servants should be done.
Interesting fact. Saint Pete lives fulltime in Washington DC. Wonder why.
Domenici has NOT lived in New Mexico for sometime. He has a Washington three story "row house" within walking distance of the US Capitol he has lived in since at least 1987. He always bragged about the purchase and remodel. When visiting New Mexico he stayed with his sister and other relatives always claiming New Mexico residence, but never really living here. The Journal and the TV stations never reported his true residence and no one running against him ever made it an issue. So much for St. Pete the Washington insider with his out of wed lock child.
Marty Chavez moved to DC after he lost reelection. Then the moved back when he lost the state rep election. No one ever brought that up either. Now that his ex-wife is in the running for Mayor, I have to wonder if she is going to be asked about her real estate commission for the sale of the land where the courthouses now stand.
Post a Comment