“With Impunity”

Posted on September 5, 2014 by annetbell
im·pu·ni·ty
imˈpyo͞onitē/
noun
  1. exemption from punishment or freedom from the injurious consequences of an action.
    “the impunity enjoyed by military officers implicated in civilian killings
    immunity, indemnity, exemption (from punishment), freedom from liability,nonliability, license5408cb8b01363.preview-600

    Yesterday, former Governor of Virginia, Bob McDonald left the Richmond Virginia courtroom, head bowed , a convicted felon. It was a dramatic and salacious fall from grace.  He had been a popular, pro-business, fiscal conservative as well as socially conservative governor.  A man of great faith and a possible candidate for higher office.

    But below the surface was a family in financial irresponsibility and  a crumbling marriage. The McDonald’s chose to  take money and gifts from Virginia businessman,  Johnny Williams to continue this facade.  Then the shocker was his  defense of  airing the details of a dysfunctional family to the lengths  of accusing Maureen, his wife, as a woman totally out of control. The essential question was whether there was a quid pro quo or exchange of influence as a result of the gifts and money.  The jury decided that there had been.  This is illegal  and corrupt.

    quid pro quo

    noun \ˌkwid-ˌprō-ˈkwō\

    : something that is given to you or done for you in return for something you have given to or done for someone else

    For me, because of my heritage and I have to admit curiosity , I read everything I could find on the case.  All was  stripped away after weeks of witnesses, and binders of papers to this one question:

    Would Johnnie Williams have given all those gifts and money unless he expected something in return from the Governor of Virginia?  I don’t think so.  As sad as it makes me, it appears the jury got it right. In January, the sentence of prison time will be announced for Governor and Mrs. McDonald.

    Though, this is the  first time a sitting governor or former Governor of Virginia was accused and convicted , there have been other politicians who  also acted with impunity.  Remember John Edwards who was running for President? Here he is with his wife, Elizabeth.

    John And Elizabeth Edwards Hold Press Conference On Her Health

    John Edwards was revealed to be philandering husband during the time his wife was dying with cancer and later was charged with financial corruption in his campaign  for the presidency.  He was convicted but avoided prison on a technicality.

    And do you remember Governor Spitzer from New York?

    download (1)

    As Attorney General in New York, he had worked to convict white collar crimes and called prostitution, “modern day slavery.”  He committed those crimes himself.  He violated his oath of office and broke moral and state laws.  He avoided a trial and conviction because he  voluntarily resigned.

    What causes these talented, intelligent, and well educated men to make such glaringly poor  choices? I think it is a feeling of impunity or entitlement and no fear of accountability because of a position of power.  There are other universal acts committed with impunity for another post.

    But this is not new to our time and place.  King David, the king after God’s own heart, the greatest king of Israel also committed crimes  with impunity.

    1-Samuel-11-2

    This was the first step of his fall from grace, that included adultery and planning the murder of Bathsheba’s husband so he could have her for his wife. King David, too, suffered as the results of his acts with  impunity.

    All these men are connected in their thoughts of superiority above the law, thinking  they could escape the results of breaking  moral, fiscal, and natural law.  They didn’t.  I believe there is a universal hope, longing, and even expectation  in the midst of this fallen world for:

    “Liberty and justice for all!”  — from the American Pledge of Alliance

    pledge-1

    I would love to hear your comments and thoughts.. . . . . .  

    images from public domain  

About annetbell

I am a retired elementary teacher, well seasoned world traveler,new blogger, grandmother, and a new enthusiastic discoverer of the wonderfully complex country of India. Anne
This entry was posted in Uncategorized, USA and tagged , , , , , , , , , , . Bookmark the permalink.

14 Responses to “With Impunity”

  1. Dr. Rex says:
    September 5, 2014 at 2:47 pm

    Reblogged this on It Is What It Is and commented:
    “dramatic and salacious fall from grace” ….. in my humble opinion, it was about time that one of “them” faced the music!! It’s his own doing!!

    Like

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  2. Dr. Rex says:
    September 5, 2014 at 2:53 pm

    I thank you for this post. It’s simple and to the point. The examples you have gathered only bring forth the recent ones. I can barely begin to imagine all of the ones we don’t know about when there was no internet!! Great post ….. “impunity” & “quid pro quo” … the new American way!!

    Like

    Reply

  3. Pingback: New cast members for “Orange it the New Black”?? | It Is What It Is

    • annetbell says:
      September 5, 2014 at 5:16 pm

      Oh course I don’t mind you using my post. It is a compliment. I just wanted to clarify that in my posting of this information, I was trying to show that this attitude of superiority is universal and not one political party or the other. . . .or none. To me it is a heart problem. I used politicians from both parties in the US without designating them as such. It is fine to use a different take on the information, after all you are my friend! Smiles. . . . .

      Like

      Reply
  5. shaunynews says:
    September 5, 2014 at 8:03 pm

    Half your politicians should be in jail…But rich people won’t see why…..

    Like

    Reply
  6. louis vuitton sunglasses holder clip says:
    September 11, 2014 at 3:58 am

    Fabulous, what a weblog it is! This website presents
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    Like

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