Why is CBS covering up the Siegelman case?

As readers of this blog know, Alabama just may be the most corrupt state in the union. In that state, a network of good old boys has used every underhanded tactic in the book to criminalize membership in the Democratic party.

And they have done so with the enthusiastic help of the Rove-influenced, ultra-politicized Justice Department. Their motto: "Left eye open; right eye blind." Republican pols may behave in any corrupt way they choose. Democrats, on the other hand, are all-too-likely to see the inside of a kangaroo court on trumped-up charges.

The most famous victim of this Injustice System is former Alabama governor Don Siegelman, a true-blue Democrat who managed the not-inconsiderable trick of making himself liked in a crimson red part of the country. He's in jail now on ersatz corruption charges.

Mr. Siegelman was convicted of appointing the businessman Richard Scrushy to a state hospital board in exchange for a contribution to a campaign for a state lottery to fund education. Elected officials, from the president down, appoint people who contribute directly to their campaigns without facing criminal charges.

A one-time Republican operative named Dana Jill Simpson has testified that state GOP bigwigs plotted to use an all-too-compliant U.S. Attorney's office to rid themselves of this annoying Democratic pest.

Why don't more people know about this story? Because it ain't on the damned teevee.

CBS News knows all about this tale, and they've put together a 60 Minutes segment on the Siegelman scandal. But they won't broadcast it. Larisa Alexandrovna explains the rest...

Well folks, seems that 60 Minutes is postponing (read "killing") its Siegelman story. The excuse I am told for this lapse in ethics is that the network needs more time to vet the whistle-blower, Dana Jill Simpson. You see, the reason the network suddenly needs more time to vet Simpson is that the White House has launched a direct campaign inside CBS to discredit her and just to make sure the dirt sticks, they have called in some favors too. I am told that Senator Jeff Sessions has been instructed to help the White House discredit Simpson as part of his "Senatorial" duties. Nice system of government we have here, eh?

So, two things are going to happen now. The first is, we will be including what 60 Minutes did not report as part of the Raw Story series on the case. Instead of 5 installments, we will now have 6. Second, all of you as citizens of this nation must voice your concerns about this situation to CBS. You want a free press? Then fight for it!

ADDRESS:
60 Minutes
524 West 57th St.
New York, NY 10019

EMAIL: 60m@cbsnews.com
PHONE: (212) 975-3247

I would tell you to call Congress, but as we all now know, they will not do a damn thing. But if you feel this would help, then by all means do contact Congress, the FCC, and every advertiser giving money to CBS. If money talks, scream with your wallet. You may also wish to contact Senator Jeff Sessions and ask him who John Price is, you know, just for shits and giggles;)

Larisa is more cynical about Congress than I am. (She and I do not always agree...!) So I would heartily advise you to contact your Senators and Representatives.

I should explain Larisa's parting shot. Jeff Sessions is a Senator from Alabama -- Republican, natch -- and he's just about as bad as it gets. He supports torture, he thinks the ACLU is a bunch of commies, he considers "civil libertarian" a dirty term, and he has cuddled up with the Klan. You get the picture. John Price, who made millions in Utah real estate, raised a ton of money for Dubya and was rewarded with an ambassador's post -- in Mauritius, Seychelles, and Comoros. (In 2001, Price's company was found guilty of swindling two partners out of millions of dollars.) Price was also a contributor to Senator Sessions.

Larisa is hinting that she knows more about the ties that bind the two men. We shall see. In the meantime, I hope you noticed the obvious hypocrisy at work here: The sinecure bestowed on Mr. Price far exceeds the favors allegedly granted to Mr. Scrushy (who helped to raise money for education, not to advance Siegelman's political career).

Left eye open; right eye blind.