Posted on 10/07/2004 3:55:55 PM PDT by Nasty McPhilthy
John Kerry's long lost relative?
From everything I've ever heard about this, Johnson truly was the victim of racism in these charges. I hope they give him a pardon. He was the original breaker of the color barrier . . . not Jackie Robinson.
Don't insult LT Flipper by comparing him to Kerry.
from what I read of jack johnson he seemed like a pretty interesting guy (then again I haven't read that much about jack johnson)
Clinton and his stupid precedents. This nonsense could go on forever. The dead are all innocent, they're certainly beyond the reach of law. Let this dumb idea die with Clinton.
Thought you'd be interested in this.
You connected the dots on the second post!
Some of these people truly were innocent though and just victims of a less-tolerant time. Why shouldn't the situation be rectified, if possible, to give dignity back to the convicted's family? It's not like it takes a lot of effort.
Bush should pardon him and get some decent press for once. I read up on Johnson at one point and he was a remarkable guy.
It's not like the guy died in prison (unless I read the article wrong). This is profoundly stupid. What's next? Overturning 70-year-old jaywalking convictions?
Of course they were.
Why shouldn't the situation be rectified, if possible, to give dignity back to the convicted's family?
OK, what if the guy is guilty? Some president gives a posthumous pardon under pressure from a convict's family and it's discovered later that the guy was guilty as sin and a monster. What then?
It's not like it takes a lot of effort.
You are exactly right. It takes nothing. It means nothing. It is an empty, useless gesture. It trivializes the awesome power of presidential pardons and I would much rather have the president overturn real injustice than give his stamp of approval to a family who is, apparently, not sufficiently convinced of their dead relative's innocence that they need an official imprimatur.
It's not stupid to Johnson's descendents. How would you like it if your grandfather was one of the most famous boxers ever. Part of his fame, however, wasn't because of his ability but because of some trumped-up conviction just because of his race. I have NO problems with them pardoning this "crime".
I would imagine Johnson is up in heaven wondering why a bunch of poverty pimps and jabba the hut lookalikes want to use his name. Heaven is the ultimate pardon and those democrats to include hatch are a bunch of morons. They are just doing feel good politics at the most. Johnson was guilty of no crime. Only the democrats created this law to hinder any person of color. I think the great Jack Johnson would not accept any help from these hypocrites. Maybe he would have knocked jesse's and jabba kennedy's running lights out for good. Bush/Cheney 2004
But it has become quite clear that Johnson was not a monster and that he was the clear vicim of racism.
Pure B.S.
Reagan posthumously pardoned Sacco & Vanzetti.
(If memory serves, there have been some few others. I don't have time to do a search just now. Feel free to correct me if I'm wrong.)
I agree that it's an easy plus. Harms no one and again reminds people that this President and his party are not the racists the haters paint us to be.
I await the list from you.
Nawww, no conflict of interest there.
I'm willing to grant an immediate pardon for Johnson for the instant arrest and incarceration of Mohammed Ali (Casus Clay), an unrepentant coward, and shameless draft dodger.
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