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Time for another Gooberhead Award [Beanie-Cap Breakdown], presented periodically to those in the news who have their tongues moving 100 miles-per-hour… but forgot to put their brains in gear.
Today we have a rare Double Goober! Charles Stimson, is the Pentagon official in charge of handling the “detainees” that George W has locked away in Guantanamo prison. It seems that Charles got his knickers in a knot over the fact that some of these prisoners of war (many of whom are proving to be innocent of any terrorist connections) have lawyers trying to represent them. Well – yes, Charlie, a basic tenet of the American way is that every accused person deserves legal representation. Even Saddam Hussein got lawyers.
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Nonetheless, in a radio interview, Stimson said it is “shocking” that lawyers from major law firms are handling some of the Guantanamo cases, and he called on corporate clients of these law firms to quit doing business with them. Fortunately, his appalling attempt to rain down punishment on lawyers who’re merely doing their jobs brought such a barrage of denunciation that Stimson had to march out quickly with an apology. Unfortunately, it was a “Washington apology” – one that appears to apologize without actually doing so. He doubled his Gooberness by declaring: “Regrettably, my comments left the impression that I question the integrity of those [lawyers.]”
Come on, Charles, it was not an “impression,” it was a flat-out attack. On the radio show, Stimson even read out the names of more than a dozen of the law firms that he wanted to whack with a financial club.
This is Jim Hightower saying… Bear in mind that this guy is not ignorant of he law – he’s a lawyer who’s legally and morally responsible for overseeing justice in these cases. Yet here he is trying to impose his own right-wing political vengeance. Where is Pentagon chief Robert Gates? A mealy-mouthed non-apology doesn’t cut it – Stimson should be fired.
Sources:
“Pentagon Aide Regrets Stance On Law Firms For Detainees,” New York Times, January 18, 2007.
“Apology Not Accepted,” New York Times, January 19, 2007.
“Law Firms Defending Detainees Criticized,” Austin American-Statesman, January 13, 2007.