Andrew Sullivan’s Bust: The Real Issue
It seems that Andrew Sullivan’s application for US citizenship hangs in the balance — but not really, and that is the issue. Gawker and other sites report that this past summer, blogger and columnist Sullivan was arrested on national seashore in Cape Cod, Massachusetts, for illegal possession of marijuana, a misdemeanor that would incur a $125 for Sullivan, if he was found guilty. No big deal — it happens a lot in that area of our country.
The only stumbling block is Sullivan’s pending U.S. citizenship, which might have been adversely affected should he have been brought to court. Enter the office of the U.S. Attorney. The local court was ordered to drop the charges, so that Sullivan would be able to gain his citizenship without a problem. It was clearly special treatment afforded the illustrious pundit. Robert Collings, the magistrate who would have heard the case, was stunned.
One court report noted: “Collings says he expressed his concern that ‘a dismissal would result in persons in similar situations being treated unequally before the law. … persons charged with the same offense on the Cape Cod National Seashore were routinely given violation notices, and if they did not agree to [pay the fine] were prosecuted by the United States Attorney. … [T]here was no apparent reason for treating Mr. Sullivan differently from other persons charged with the same offense.’” You can read the entire court comment by Collings here .
The question, then is simple: Why did Andrew Sullivan get special treatment from the U.S. Attorney? As the Collings statement makes clear, other similar offenders have regularly been hauled before the court, and forced to pay the fine if found guilty. In Sullivan’s case, there are other far more important implications.
Andrew Sullivan has moved from the stance of a fierce conservative to that of a liberal supporter of the Obama administration. When Obama met after his election with liberal journalists, Sullivan was part of their group—not among those of the conservative journalists who met the President-elect. He regularly blasts conservatives, especially those having anything to do with the Bush administration, and stands among the group constantly demanding fierce punishment for Cheney and company for authorizing torture of Gitmo detainees.
Now, more than ever, it appears that the United States Attorney is repaying a debt to Sullivan for his support to the administration. Why else would he be singled out for exclusive treatment? And doesn’t it also mean that Sullivan now will be more careful than ever to continue giving the administration his approval, at least until after he becomes a citizen? A debt paid leads to a debt owed.
As one journalist commented, and I paraphrase him, Sullivan has backed the Obama stimulus, and universal health care, becoming what this man calls “a shameless publicist for the administration.” Another journalist spoke to a friend who works in the office of the U.S. Attorney, and got this response from one of the attorneys:
The judge is spot on. In fact, these sorts of misdemeanors are typically handled by 3rd yr. law students, detailees from main Justice, or the new guy on the totem pole, with no review by meaningful scrutiny by senior management. This sort of treatment is nothing short of extraordinary. All criminal charges go through screening by management, but misdemeanors don’t get attention, except to see if there’s a potential felony. This is paradigmatic of special pleading–and successful.
Finally, one journalist quipped: “As for the potential sentence: ‘The maximum penalty upon conviction of the offense is a fine of $5,000, six months imprisonment, a $25 processing fee and a $10 special assessment.’ The $25 processing fee strikes me as excessive.” I would add the $10 special assessment.
No, and hold the complaints — I don’t want Andrew Sullivan to face a problem gaining citizenship because he chose to smoke pot on a forbidden federal beach. I think the drug laws should be changed, and anyone found engaging in this “crime” should find the charges dismissed, if even the culprit is arrested. What the marijuana does to his body is between himself and his health.
But the implications of his special treatment are important. And Sullivan, who blogs about everything, to this moment (4:30 pm East Coast Time) has not said one word about the situation on his own blog, although it is all over the internet.
So come on Andrew. Fess up. Give us the backstory, before we hear it on Glenn Beck.
Sounds like the flip side of the Michael Savage imbroglio in England.
It’s rare that I can’t add anything, but you summarized it exquisitely in those final three paragraphs. There’s one thing worse than a bad law on the books, and that’s a law (good or bad) selectively enforced. I think we can expect to see more of this.
Dang. How long was da troll sitting there waiting for this thread to pop up?
Cape Cod National Seashore is a notorious gay cruise spot… also, at the time of the incident a person resembling Van Jones was seen running to a car, then vanishing… hmmm… looks like mister Sullivan was attending an spiritual, enviromental gathering there…
Happened on July 13th…. since then, because Sullivan is a paroxistical blogger, he has published at least 200 articles all over the blogosphere… and nothing yet about his environmental studies at Cape Cod…
… Friday is a good day for such news, it can gather pressure over the weeek-end… I’ll check Monday with Michael Savage (and Frank Rich, for decency’s sake)… nice…
Government works for those who govern. Get used to it.
@2
And yet, not so inconsequential that you’ll skip it.
Let me see if I understand the U.S. Attorney’s point: a record of criminal activity is a deterrent to a person’s immigration status. And… well, there is no “and”. That’s reason they’re dropping the case.
But really, is this a surprise? It’s just another example of the Obama Administration’s policy that criminal activity will not be prosecuted if the criminal is an Obama supporter.
All “justice” from the Dept. of Justice is put through a ringer first to distill its political implications. If they are strong enough, the case will be handled ‘specially’ (meaning, suitable to its political overtones).
I could cite the handling of the cases of Patrick Kennedy, Cynthia McKinney, the New Black Panther Party, and even the Duke lacrosse player who was blatantly framed in DC because that’s what the public demanded.
“That Justice is a blind goddess
Is a thing to which we now are wise:
Her bandage hides two festering sores
That once perhaps were eyes. ”
(Langston Hughes, a bit modernized)
My, how the right turns on its own when they step out of line. Shades of the Looney Left and Christopher Hitchens.
The Justice Department intervening on behalf of an Obama supporter in what should have been the business of the local office? This administration is proving once more that only Democrats can set the bar for corruption.
In six months, Obama has shredded our Constitution and made a mockery out of every campaign promise he made. “Liar?” I fear Representative Joe Wilson should be censured for understatement.
The whole dang Republican caucus should have strongly and loudly applauded him, then stood up and walked out on the President. It was he who gave the gravest offense to our nation by spouting the lies he did.
bibio, the right turned on Sully? Seems like the other way around. Try again.
Sullivan has not been one of ours since he became obsessed first with alleged torture and then with Trig Palin.
It is a wonderful irony that without the Supreme Court’s decision in New York Times v. Sullivan , Andrew would be up to his ears in libel suits, as Andrew’ mendacity knows no bounds these days. In his own twisted way, Andrew is proving to be every bit as dull, bigoted and intellectually dishonest as his namesake, Montgomery Alabama Commissioner L.B. Sullivan.
LOL!!!!
Yeah, every cop on the Cape loves gay guys and is in the tank for Obama. OF COOOUUUURRRRSE the administration waved a wand and got Sullivan off witha slap!
What did I just say-insane paranoia, ROFLMAO!!!!
Andrew Sullivan smokes marihuana? Oh my goodness, I would have never suspected that in a million years. Sullivan is normally so balanced and rational. He never appears to be under the influence of any mind-altering substance. I will have to find a new hero. The late Timothy Leary seems like a decent candidate.
5. misanthopicus:
Cape Cod National Seashore is a notorious gay cruise spot…
Hmnn. Maybe Andrew is obama’s Crack buddy… in more ways than one.
I used to read Andrew’s blog before the Iraq War. I supported the Invasion, felt it was necessary. But Sullivan’s vampiric blood lust for the Iraq war, his craven cheerleading really unnerved me.
I don’t see how anyone can take his writing seriously, anymore.
Is it possible for a private citizen to mount an objection to the naturalization of an immigrant?
I’m an immigrant (the other way, to the UK) and I have to get character references from persons of professional standing and have an absolutely SQUEAKY clean record if I apply for citizenship. I understand this is why even this minor charge was a problem for him.
I’m asking not from mere spiteful partisan hackery. Sullivan’s repulsive, psychotic, persistent and ongoing mistreatment of the Palins make him entirely unsuitable to be an American citizen.
That’s nothing, how about this:
Posted by Dave McKenna on Sep. 11, 2009, at 2:22 pm
Newt Gingrich knows from stimulus. American Solutions for Winning the Future, Gingrich’s D.C.-based PAC, has named a porn purveyor its “Entrepreneur of the Year” for 2009
Newt has proclivities.
Well, I’m glad to see that this isn’t going to adversely affect his attempt to become a U.S. citizen, because we’re really short on borderline-psycho, pot-smoking, HIV infected, Obama-loving, whack jobs.
Another example of “someone special” skirting the law because of their political conncections. I guess it really is all about who you know and who you b**w.
That’s nature for ya!
20. Dave Surls:
Right you are! We should clsoe the border to such people and keep pure our population as exemplified by cigar-smoking, deafened-by-hillbilly-heroin, whore-chasing, prescription-faking, doctor-shopping, fact-challenged thrice-married gasbags.
“Right you are! We should clsoe the border to such people”
Yes, we should.
23. Dave Surls:
Yes! Yes! Deport Rush and slam the door behind him. I’m glad you agree. Spread the word.
His dope smoking explains his support for Obama.
Kaus pegged him long ago as Emotional Andrew.
21. n&tOh, how spitefully the trolls squeak when their feelings are hurt. Lord Sullivan must be defended from the nasties at all costs, else he might suddenly discover how to think for himself once more. And that would not please the “messiah minions”.
@24
Yeah, yeah, I know your type… you’re one of those libs that celebrated every American death in Iraq during the Bush presidency.
Hey, when you blog for GOD, you can do anything you want !!! After all, the Chosen One, supports his supporters……..nothing wrong here, just a little Presidential influence.
Normally, I would agree that what Mr. Sullivan inhales or anything else he does, is between him and his body. But insofar as he is an advocate for me paying his health bills, any risky behavior he would engage in is a subject of my concern. It’s really pretty hard to argue that people should be allowed to voluntarily incur costs for which others will have to pay. There are a lot of behaviors that would fit this concern and which I’m sure Mr. Sullivan would insist are none of my business.
Re #9/bibio44: [...] My, how the right turns on its own when they step out of line. [...]
Translated: My peyote good good good.
I love Rush..
#24… you can suck wind,
and continue to love the acorn pimp and drug addict that’s in the white house now..
he will be impeached soon enough.
and you will be still SUCKING WIND!
I thought that this was one of the most egregious displays of favoritism that I have read this month, so far. It really is outrageous.
We hear, from Sullivan, endless lectures on the rule of law. We hear, from Sullivan, endless carping about being discriminated against.
Well, the squeaky wheel gets the grease, and it is for thee not for me, apparently.
I’m no fan of Sullivan but the issue is so petty there’s no need to even discuss it.
Setting aside one’s opinion about whether marijuana should be legalized, this case is emblematic of the corruption of the Obama administration. If you are a friend of the former Chicago pol the “fix” is in.
For example:
1.) the immigration and naturalization authorities just cannot seem to get around to deporting Obama’s aunt.
2.) the auto workers’ union is handed a large piece of General Motors at the expense of general and secured creditors and in contravention of our existing bankruptcy laws.
3.) A couple of Black Panther-like thugs stand outside of a polling place barring whites from voting—a clear civil rights violation, but no prosecution.
We once were a nation of laws. We are fast becoming a third world nation where one’s livelihood, liberty, and personal safety depend upon who you know and if you are still valuable to them.
As soon as Obama’s narcissistic and malignant grip on our country ends, we may once again become a nation of laws rather than men.
God save our republic.
#29 Harry:
Is that how you really think? If so, let’s ask some of the folks who were prosecuted how they feel about someone else getting special treatment.
Subverting the law is becoming a pattern in the 0bama administration.
“I’m no fan of Sullivan but the issue is so petty there’s no need to even discuss it.”
The issue may be per se petty—but that’s not the point. Andrew Sullivan is receiving special treatment. Other immigrants are treated far more harshly for committing the same offense. Does his support for Obama have something to do with this peculiar leniency? This is a very fair question. More importantly, it is not going to go away.
Radosh is exactly right here…this is a piddling charge (for a crime that shouldn’t exist, IMHO), but the consequences for Sullivan were potentially large, namely the denial of his naturalization. Now that the US Attorney has ridden to Sully’s rescue, there’s an enormous conflict of interest that can’t help but tarnish Sullivan’s future (and recent) goaltending for Obama.
Let’s see if I can offer a different reason for the disparate treatment. The US Attorney seeing that an influential columnist and blogger will lose something valuable if he pleads to a misdemeanor. So being an ambitious sort, he applies some prosecutorial discretion to make the issue go away knowing that having the goodwill of an influential columnist and blogger can benefit him/her in the future. So this may not be payback to a administration supporter, it could be just a plain ole
corruptambitious prosecutor.Of course, it has all been undone by a magistrate who actually has some respect for the Law and legal ethics.
Move along….nothing to see here. Just a little Quid Pro Quo
If it were Felony possession or Felony possesion with intent to distribute, then it might be worthy of our time. However, considering the facts: I don’t blame the guy for trying to bury it and for not commenting on it publicly. Wouldn’t you, Mr. Radosh, or you, Mr. Thomson?
Examples of famous people getting out of trouble for smoking pot because they’re famous or rich abounds, even recently. Consider, if you will, Michael Phelps caught on candid camera (and who is now competing professionally) or Joe Biden’s daughter’s recent filmed escapades. Consider, if you will, Snoop Dog or Bill Maher ( http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bill_Maher ).
When is this country going to come to the —correct— conclusion that many of its citizens use drugs? When the laws concerning drugs end up doing more harm than good, then the laws should be changed. They are not going to influence people’s behavior. It costs ~$25,000 to lock somebody up for a year in jail. Too expensive, I say! Let ‘em do it!
I recommend this article, from Slate: http://www.slate.com/id/2227962/
regards
I have served in several countries during my professional career(and still do). Everyone knows tht if you break the laws of the host country, then you risk being deported and/or denied residence or citizenship. So if this guy broke the law and is deported or denied citizenship, so be it.
Some drugs could lead the user to potentially harm others. The “high” and the health risk is on a different level compared to cigs and booze. Libertarians are terrific, but I’m skeptical about their drug legalization cause.
There’s almost zero chance that Obama will legalize drugs. John Stossel’s reported that he’s already not following up on his campaign promise to stop raids on legal drug shops. Probably to the dismay of Sullivan, his administrations reluctantly supports traditional marriage. Obama might lean left, but there’s a limit to how far he can go. His black base will vote against gay marriage, and many moderate liberals won’t support outright amnesty.
I am tempted to write to Andrew Sullivan directly: “Congratulations from the Department of Homeland Security/USCIS. It looks as if your request to become a Kennedy has been accepted.”
“I don’t want Andrew Sullivan to face a problem gaining citizenship because he chose to smoke pot on a forbidden federal beach. ”
Why not? He is exactly the kind of undesirable dope smoking tinkerbell that we don’t need another one of in this country.
And, in fact, maybe it’s the dope that has caused him to be so irrational. Is there a way to check whether Sully and the Federal Attorney are doing each other? Maybe, that’s why the non-political Justice Department is doing what all these anti-Americans accused Bush of doing!
I’m glad to hear that we are all support of the rule of law and equal application of the law. I’ll admit I don’t care much about a little pot, but it’s he principle that matters here, right? As a law and order type myself, I strongly agree that position, power and influence should not allow one to violate the law with impunity.
I am sure we all agree that a Harvard professor and friend of the President who interferes with police work should be investigated and prosecuted. And that a influential pundit caught with a baggie a of weed should be investigated and prosecuted. And that a President who lies under oath about an affair with an intern should be investigated and prosecuted.
I am delighted that so many of you will undoubtedly join me in calling on the Attorney General to investigate and prosecute the high government officials who allegedly violated federal laws against unwarranted wiretapping. As well as the officials who allegedly violated federal laws and international treaties against torture. And the officials who allegedly ordered the arrest and detention American citizens without charges or access to the courts.
It’s the principle that matters, right?
32. elvis:
“I love Rush..”
Who said anything about Rush?
All I mentioned was “cigar-smoking, deafened-by-hillbilly-heroin, whore-chasing, prescription-faking, doctor-shopping, fact-challenged thrice-married gasbags”
How you got Rush out of that is beyond me.
Notice the deliberate omission of what actual beach Andrew was on? Andrew is openly gay and owns a house in Provincetown. Rest assured the arrest occurred on Herring Cove beach notoriously known, not only as a gay mans (nude beach) but for the rampant sex. The police watch it because there’s a family
beach a short distance away and people often wonder onto when walking down the beach. So although the arrest was for pot smoking – that’s not why the officers patrol it. One has to wonder what actually caught the officers attention and why? The men not only walk around naked, but lets just says it’s a very rousing environment. This is not only about preferential treatment but what really transpired versus what is being reported by our ever illustrious media. http://www.somanymen.com/PtownNudeBeach/
Just for reference, here’s a Sullivan post from the day of Gov. Palin’s selection as VP candidate:
http://andrewsullivan.theatlantic.com/the_daily_dish/2008/08/she-smoked-pot.html
Wonder if Sully will wander a couple blocks to meet with the marchers.
WTH? So is the US Attorney’s Office now to be used to protect Friends of Obama? This is not as bad as the New Black Panthers incident, but it sure as hell shows a trend.
This particular case seems relatively minor, but this scares me more than anything else that’s come up in this administration so far; if the premier law enforcement arm of the US government wants to abuse its power this way, who’s going to stop them? And just how far will they go?
More and more the United States is run like a lawless, morally bankrupt, third world country. Laws don’t mean anything if the privileged just get to do as they please while the rest of the population suffers the consequences of their actions.
I’m glad Sullivan’s life wasn’t ruined over a small amount of pot.
I don’t understand why the “comments” section on Pajamas (particularly but not exclusively) suddenly breaks into a frenzied Buzkashi scrum after a few posts.
“The goal of a player is to grab the carcass of a headless goat or calf and then get it clear of the other players and pitch it across a goal line or into a target circle or vat.”
Is this a cowboy bar and I stared at your girlfriend too long?
Ok, Here is a War Story for you Happy Warriors on the Right:
A friend who is a former policeman was at a bar with his boss, a former Long Range Reconnaisance team leader [LRRP] from a paratroop unit in Vietnam, decorated.
Sitting on a bar stool next to the LRRP is a long-haired gentleman with all the usual “code” characteristics of a Liberal. He has taken an apparent dislike to the LRRP based on the private conversation he has overheard between the LRRP and my friend.
Long Hair reaches across the LRRP for something on the bar, jostling and spilling the LRRP’s drink. The LRRP looks at him, and goes back to what he was saying. The fellow reaches across the LRRP again, jostling his drink and spilling more of it on the bar.
The LRRP turns on his stool, grabs the fellow by the back of the neck, and slams his face down on the bar.
The fellow recovers a bit, looks into the eyes of the LRRP, who is staring intently at him, gets up, and leaves the bar.
The LRRP turns to my friend and says, apologetically, “Damn! Once you get that violence in you it’s so hard to get rid of.”
I know, it’s off topic but this might be the crowd for it.
Relevant legislation is very specific in defining crimes of moral turpitude — drugs, sex — as cause for denial of citizenship and deportation of a green card holder.
But even without the pot conviction, the arrest alone is evidence of another, FEDERAL OFFENSE, namely LYING TO THE US GOVERNMENT. Forms required for USCIS (United States Customs and Immigration Service) for immigration and other processing and forms required by the Department of State for visas specifically require one to answer prior to US entry if one’s INTENT in coming to the US is to commit a crime of moral turpitude. As I recall, drug offenses are specifically named on the forms, which are SIGNED UNDER OATH.
The fact of the arrest alone (without the conviction) is evidence of possible misrepresentation on these forms, which could mean heavy federal time. Such misrepresentation, for example, is used to obtain citizenship revocation and deportation of alleged Nazi war criminals and drug king pins.
“Who said anything about Rush?”
You did.
“Yes! Yes! Deport Rush…”
Like, just about all lefties, you’re not only a liar, but a pathological liar. So far gone, you can’t even keep your lies straight for ten seconds at a stretch.
When this type of thing occurs, my reaction is along the lines of as you noted re Robert Collings: I wonder just how long before someone sues for discrimination for being treated differently under the same set of circumstances.. Paris Hilton’s deal way back when immediately comes to Mind…..
It would seem the US Attorney is abusing his power for partisan purposes, just as Holder is using the power of his office for the CIA witch hunt and to dismiss the Black Panther case.
“we won” must mean we can do any damn thing we want, legalistically, and if you don’t like it, too bad.
(In applying Holder’s template of “the law” being what we want it to be at any given moment, ACORN has just been caught with its pants down.)
This crowd is making “a nation of laws” sound like a bad joke.
When Sullivan advertised on the internet, and “solicited bareback sex, preferably (although he did not say only) with other HIV-positive men.” at least he acknowledged his status. Although China* would bar him on that basis alone.
*whose flag is about to be flown at the White House Sept. 20 to help celebrate Mao’s glorious revolution
I’m just not certain that Andrew’s addition to our citizenry would be of much value to our nation.
It’s all for the good because what the USA needs is another pothead. Everyone knows how rilly rilly smart pot makes you.
I’m surprised President Obama hasn’t invited the judge and Sullivan to the White House Rose Garden for some of that “bong diplomacy” he’s famous for- this is a great opportunity for a teaching moment: the judge, Sullivan, Obama, and maybe Jerry Garcia’s corpse instead of Joe Biden this time, can share a bowl and hash out their differences.
If Sarah Palin or any of her family members had been busted for a marijuana charge, we know how Andrew Sullivan would have reacted. And if the charge had been dismissed with this kind of justification? The heavens would have been rent with his outrage.
I am a naturalized citizen who went through the long and painful immigration process. From what I have read, Andrew Sullivan has a green card already, which means that the only meaningful “unspecified immigration benefit” that he is seeking is likely naturalization – his admission into US citizenship.
I wonder if he will truthfully answer question 10. D. 16. on the N-400 form, which asks:
Have you ever been arrested, cited, or detained by any law enforcement officer … for any reason?
Considering the amount of slander and lies that Andrew has leveled at his political opponents and even neutral persons, I somehow doubt it. The title of part D. is Good Moral Character. How many people think that Andrew Sullivan has Good Moral Character?
51 tanstaafl:
“It would seem the US Attorney is abusing his power for partisan purposes . . . ”
How’s that feel? Me, I can’t recall.
Post 38:
An illegal alien smoking pot in the street is no different than a citizen smoking pot in the street. Would an illegal be deported for such an offense? It is doubtful. Perhaps an arrest and a day in jail maybe. That could happen to a person trying to break into their own home. Is it worth the time effort and taxpayer money? No, but if you want go after Sullivan full tilt on this charge you had better go after ALL pot smokers in the same manner for legal or illegal immigrants or US citizens for that matter. Let’s build more jails then to incarcerate all pot smokers just to satisfy those who didn’t receive preferential treatment. Sullivan’s treatment here is not all that irregular. You’re overreacting.
I think the real issue is why we even let Andrew Sullivan into the country.
What the hell do we need an HIV infected, “barebacking”, pot-smoking, Brit b.s. artist for?
I’d much rather grant citizenship to a married-with-children, hard-working, Mexican vegetable picker than have this loser here, stinking up the joint.
Would a FOIA request determine if any communication happened between the White House and the US attorney on Sullivan’s behalf?
Moving from blind justice to myopic justice is not a step in the right direction.
Moving from blind justice to myopic justice is not a step in the right direction.