In Moran Case, Color Helps Block the Light

The Washington Post ^ | April 22, 2000 | Marc Fisher

[Scanian]

And now, a case of black and white that is anything but black and white.

A white congressman, Jim Moran of Alexandria, goes to pick up his kids at a recreation center where most of the children are black. Moran parks his Toyota Avalon and as he's getting out, he's approached by an 8-year-old boy, who is black. (The boy's parents don't mind if I use the child's name. I mind.)

The boy says something. That much everyone agrees on.

Moran says the boy said: "Give me your keys. I have a gun."

The boy says he said, "I like your car."

And we're off--downhill all the way. Moran grabs the boy, they tussle, the congressman ends up with his hand on the boy's throat. The boy's mother shows up at Cora Kelly Recreation Center and showers Moran with cusswords. Over the next two weeks come ugly accusations, threats of a lawsuit, accusations of racism--your classic post-O.J. slamdance of polarized perceptions.

Carjacker or car enthusiast? I spent a morning with the boy and his mother, Melanie Gaitwood. The boy showed me how he can watch traffic on Route 1 and name the make and model of every passing vehicle. The boy demonstrated how Moran yelled at him, held him at the throat (my neck still hurts) and carried him into the rec center, whereupon police were summoned.

This is a nice boy, the rec center director says. The boy's report cards are fine, no bad behavior noted. Gaitwood says her son would never do anything like what's alleged. "I know my child," she says. "He loves cars. He talks to people about cars all the time."

And yet.

Moran has no reason to make up this encounter. He's a liberal who's won broad black support for many years.

[Scanian]

I posted this to demonstrate his bullying which was on display at that townhall with the retired military guy.

[Scanian]

Supposedly, there are 80,000 government workers registered to vote in that district so all a creep like Moran has to do is keep bringing home the pork and vote for ever-expanding government.

[yefragetuwrabrumuy]

Benefit of the doubt to the child.

To start with, the average height of an eight year old boy is 3’9”, and average weight is 57 pounds. Second thing is that according to the journalist, the boy is very fond of cars.

Third, that unless he has exposure to either lots of adult violence movies, or members of his family are criminally violent, the typical third grader is not going to be a thug, and it would be pretty extraordinary if he acted as one.

Now look at the congressman. He is 66 years old.

Moran has been married three times. His second wife, Mary Howard Moran, filed for divorce in 1999 after an argument at the couple’s Alexandria home which resulted in a visit by the police. So he has a prior record of violence.

This was just one year before he assaulted the child.

[norge]

I don’t know about this particular incident, but I do know that Moran is a hothead, and a real jackass, to boot.

Therefore, my vote goes to the 8 year old.

[Doc Savage]

Has no reason????????????? He’s F*****g mental case! If this was a Republican they would have already lynched him and burned down the city!

[chris_bdba]

OMG he shoudd be imediately ejected from Congtress for an assault on a child. What does this say about democrats that when they see a young black child near them they automatically assume they are criminals and don’t even hear what they say?

[Scanian]

That they are liberals, mainly.

I.e. they are crude, rude, socially unacceptable and frequently intoxicated.

[Scanian]

You won’t get any argument from me.

I’ve always had him pegged as someone who is unfit to be in Congress.

People complain about the tone in DC and the low level of discourse. How could it NOT be a problem with people like Moran in the House?

[EDINVA]

Regrettably, I live in Moran’s district that is classically gerrymandered to include all the most liberal precincts in Northern VA.

After this episode, and a few others, like his domestic issues, where I believe he treated his wife like this kid, and some other issues relating to favorable financing from a company upon whose legislation he was soon to vote, Moran drew a credible challenger in the Dem primary. IIRC, it was close, but Moran won and no has successfully taken him on ever since.

Moran also managed to get his brother elected Mayor of Alexandria (a post I believe he held) and then a state legislator, and to run (unsuccessfully) for the Dem nomination for governor of VA. All this with a heavy Boston accent while they made fun of a GOP gubernatorial candidate who had a SW VA accent. The man is total slime. They should send him back to Boston.