Opinions on the Duke Lacrosse Case
Re:
Following his sick performances for the camera early on, the Times published a column by North Carolina writer Allan Gurganus, who is best known for long and tedious tales such as the 1989 "Oldest Living Confederate Widow Tells All" -- a book whose length is eclipsed only by its countless historical inaccuracies.
Gurganus' premature tried-and-convicted column combined smarm with the requisite julep fever.
Stevensen sure goes as far as he can to slant the article to make it look like Elmo might really have been guilty, but just managed to get off.
He could just as easily have emphasized the unusual nature of the arrest, and then the fact that the first questions to Elmo were about the rape case.
Or he could have shown how the prosecution witness "erred" (to be charitable) about the car door being left open as Elmo "sped away";
Or he could have shown how the two police officers "erred" when they said that the taxi didn't stop at stop signs and raced away (the tape, alas, evidently shows differently)
He could have ended with a quote from the defense lawyer,
that Elmo was innocent in every detail.
Instead he ends with a quote from Ashley, who still believes in the case.
It's too bad the USSR is gone, because he could have applied for a great position with Pravda, the Soviet propaganda and truth-twisting organ, and given this as a great example of his abilities.