George Zimmerman case could hit 2012 presidential race

The Politico ^ | April 13, 2012 | M.J. Lee

[2ndDivisionVet]

Could George Zimmerman be the October surprise?

Depending on the timing of legal developments in Florida, the court proceedings and possible trial of Trayvon Martin’s killer - one of the highest-profile and most racially charged cases in years - could be thrust into the middle of the 2012 presidential election.

Legal experts and political consultants disagree over what that would mean for President Barack Obama and the presumptive Republican nominee Mitt Romney.

In recent press appearances, Zimmerman’s attorney, Mark O’Mara, predicted that it would be at least six months and possibly as long as a year before his client faces a trial. The short end of that would put the case smack in the homestretch of the White House contest, while the long end would make the trial a non-factor in the presidential contest.

But there’s another scenario that makes it more likely that the case could play into the 2012 race.

Under the so-called “Stand Your Ground” law in Florida — the controversial measure that until this week had allowed Zimmerman to avoid an arrest after the Feb.26 shooting in Sanford – the accused can ask for an “evidentiary hearing” to try to have their case tossed out. That hearing could take place within a matter of months...

[toldyou]

Now that he is incarcerated, all of a sudden he does not look “white” in the photos the media are producing. Hmmm...

Photo:
http://news.yahoo.com/blogs/lookout/judge-george-zimmerman-case-offers-recuse-herself-175152933.html

[jiggyboy]

Not today. No way.

[2ndDivisionVet]

Yes, I believe she is.

[AEMILIUS PAULUS]

Agreed. The benefit of this case to the left is incalculable. All necessary steps will be taken to keep this matter before the public eye. Very few judges will have the courage to rule in Zimmerman's favor irrespective of the law and/or facts.

[Truth29]

Well, you have a lot of faith in the legal system. I think it is more likely that a judge will hold Zimmerman over for trial and a jury will convict, all under the threat that either a dismissal of charges or an acquittal would assure that the judge and jurors would be in imminent danger and would never be able to live normal lives again.

[zeestephen]

Re: “Democratic Hispanic mortgage employee George Zimmerman.”

Wow.

“Black Predator” George Zimmerman is also a “Predatory Lender!”

[Cementjungle]

Team Obama, which will include the prosecution team and judge, won’t allow this trial to begin until after the election.

[DallasDeb]

This case can only hurt Obama, no matter what the outcome. He already has the black vote, except for very few black conservatives. And those black conservatives will vote Republican no matter what—if they do think Zimmerman outright killed Martin, there are so few, I don’t think they would be an essential loss to republican votes. If Zimmerman is found guilty, I think more independents will be pi$$ed and vote republican—especially in Florida. I think Obama will sink in Florida because of the railroading of Zimmerman.

[goseminoles]

He looks skinny too!!

[toldyou]

Yes...wasn’t he described as being big...capable of overpowering that “little” innocent boy?

[hoosiermama]

...won't let the trial begin before the election.

the evidentuary hearing will happen before however. It SHOULD end the entire process.

[Verginius Rufus]

My guess is the prosecutor went for second-degree murder because that was the highest level she could ask for without going to a grand jury. She wants Zimmerman found guilty and locked up for the rest of his life. She may or may not care about the legalities, but she feels empathy for Trayvon's "sweet mother."

After the O.J. trial and the Scooter Libby trial, I don't have a lot of confidence in juries coming to an honest verdict--if the jury selection is done with a view to getting a particular verdict.

I was a juror once for a criminal trial which was settled by a plea bargain before it went to the jury, and was an alternate for another case but was dismissed before the deliberations, so I have no first-hand knowledge of how juries reach their conclusions.

[Verginius Rufus]

The civil rights hustlers, the black racists, and the white liberal elite are on the same page with this case. It may not occur to the mainsteam media that not all white people will approve if Zimmerman is railroaded and given a long prison term, and that not all white people are happy with the antics of Mikhail Muhammad or Al Sharpton or Eric Holder. That could hurt Obama.

Having Zimmerman charged with murder but not brought to trial before the election serves Obama best--if Zimmerman is acquitted there will be riots which will not benefit Obama, but that will probably be after the election. Anyway the fix may be in where Zimmerman walking free is not an option.

[TheBattman]

one of the highest-profile and most racially charged cases

Only high-profile because of racists and the media... who also made it "racially charged".

AS we have found out - there was nothing race-related in this case until the media blew up. Zimmerman made no racists comments or statements (though Trayvon's supposed Twitter account is filled with it).

[joe.fralick]

I agree with you that the special prosecutor is not all that sharp. She probably thinks that her pathetic affidavit actually is sufficient to establish probable cause. She also is corrupted by her own political ambitions.

Her press conference was very telling. She seemed energized by the spotlight, downright giddy. Look at me! seemed to be the whole message.

As an attorney in practice for 36 years, I've seen the type.

[ConservativeDude]

What a difference a few days make.

obama is now losing in national polls. State by state he is still ahead, but nationally he is now running behind Romney.

What will next week bring? Who knows. But this has not been a good polling week finish for obama.....

[stephenjohnbanker]

Zimmerman’s atty has already stated that any trial would be next year(unless a judge dismisses the case)

[Joe Boucher]

I believe riots in the streets is exactly what the marxist punk wants.
Declare martial law, send out the national guard and cancel the elections if it looks like Anerica has come to its senses and is about to toss the magic negro and his shelf ass angry wife out.

[Lazlo in PA]

It is always about gun grabbing all the time with the Left. To bad no one wants it. Do you see any politicians running on gun control in this election season? Even Rats up for reelection are not. We knocked these idiots down and now they are forced to pretend they are gun totting 2nd Amendment types. The voting public wants nothing to do with gun control anymore. I bet a dollar that we see Obummer carrying a gun somewhere this election cycle in a swing state.

[WilliamofCarmichael]

Maybe race riots will help Obama.. it depends entirely upon the MSM. IMO.

In November 2000 I kept asking where are the race riots? -- that would give the election to Gore. During the contested election results the MSM were talking 24/7 about "the will of the people." All it would take would be "the people" rioting then the MSM could go 24/7 demanding that Bush obey "the will of the people."

The Dems were trying to stir up race riots; to wit, a Gore daughter stated that the Party was trying to stir up the rioting but her father got them to stop. "There were people who wanted to fan the … the flames of the racial issue and have real unrest. And he was on the phone asking them not to, because of what was best for the country not because of what was best for him politically." Frum's "Gore Speaks" 19 Nov., 2002 column.