What is Lanny Davis Doing (defending Ted Stevens)?

[babylonsister]

What is Lanny Davis Doing?

by BooMan
Mon Aug 18th, 2008 at 01:28:59 AM EST


You know, Lanny Davis is right. Sen. Ted Stevens, like all individuals under federal indictment, is presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law. Ted Stevens has been indicted by a grand jury for committing seven felonies. And last Thursday, in new filings in the case, prosecutors revealed that Ted Stevens turned a $5,000 investment into a $155,000 profit through the use of an $31,000 interest-free loan that was both improper and never disclosed in his senate filings.

I don't disagree with Lanny Davis about the importance of the principle of presumed innocence. But I do wonder why Lanny Davis wrote a column defending Ted Stevens in the Moonie Times. At the bottom of the column, it is noted that Lanny Davis:

"...is a prominent Washington lawyer and a political analyst for Fox News. From 1996 to 1998, he served as special counsel to President Clinton. From 2005 to 2006, he served on President Bush's five-member Privacy and Civil Liberties Oversight Board."

But it does not say that Lanny Davis, or his firm, has been retained by Ted Stevens or that Lanny Davis is being paid to represent Ted Stevens. But I wonder. Lanny Davis was probably the most high profile person that has never held public office to advocate for the Hillary Clinton campaign. Hillary Clinton is a Democrat. Ted Stevens is a Republican. Ordinarily, Democrats do not race out to write opinion pieces in right-wing rags reminding people of the principle of the presumption of innocence when high-ranking members of the Republican Party get indicted. I don't begrudge the point that Mr. Davis is making. Ted Stevens deserves a fair trial, competent counsel, and all the civil rights that Americans have been taught to expect are their birthright.

But why is Lanny Davis offering this free service to Ted Stevens? Is it really a free service? Is it possible that he and the Moonie Times neglected to disclose something here? I don't know any lawyers as exalted as Lanny Davis but my understanding is that their services don't come cheap. I can see how Mr. Davis might be moved by friendship and political affinity to donate his services as an advocate to the Clinton family. But it's harder for me picture exactly why Mr. Davis would do the same for an 84-year old Republican from Alaska.

more...

http://www.boomantribune.com/story/2008/8/18/1757/25605

[seemslikeadream]

1. I wonder

[blm]

2. Remember, Clintons tapped Lanny Davis to be a Dem party SPOKESPERSON from 1993-2005.

He and carville and Begala were supposed to be OUR media front line against the GOP message machine. How did they do defending our party and the candidates in 2002 and 2004?

The fascist agenda got on the express train by 2001 with no serious blocking from 'our' spokespeople.

[seabeyond]

3. some of our jewish democrats have shifted. n/t

[Wabbajack_]

4. He wants Stevens to win the primary?

So Dems can win the seat?

[Bob Dobbs]

5. Clintons are DINO's

After Bill's administration sold the party out repeatedly, (no, not by having consensual adulterous sex), I am amazed that there is any surprise at Hil's campaign tactics that were very destructive to the party's nominee, and their being surrounded by DINO's in their staff.

[seemslikeadream]

6. This picture tells it all

[MyNameGoesHere]

7. I guess because stevens couldn't get a PD?

I don't know, i think it has more to do with being ALLOWED to get representation in a court of law and money. If i had my choice i would always get the best i could afford. Sometimes it's just that simple. And another thing, i do not want my lawyer to have a slant to wither side. I want them to defend a child rapist, KKK clan member etc. as enthusiastically and devoid of personal feelings as they would anyone one else.

[babylonsister]

8. Why would he need a PD?

Ted Stevens Adds Another Williams & Connolly Attorney

Along with Brendan Sullivan Jr. and Robert Cary, Alex Romain makes three. The Williams & Connolly partner has joined the Ted Stevens legal defense team, according to a notice of appearance filed with the U.S. District Court of the District of Columbia.

http://legaltimes.typepad.com/blt/2008/08/ted-stevens-add.html

[MyNameGoesHere]

9. Some people think he only deserves a PD or no

council at all. Actually they have him behind bars already. Maybe executed, who knows? Don't you know it's a sin to want the best representation you can have? I mean come on it's a new Democratic age.

[babylonsister]

10. He can afford the best representation, he's not behind bars AFAIK,

and he certainly hasn't been executed. What are you talking about? :wtf: The OP is referring to indicted Alaskan Senator Ted Stevens.

[gratuitous]

11. I don't know

Considering Mr. Stevens’ truculence and obstinance in pursuit of his political goals, I don’t see giving him a dose of his own bitter medicine to be all that much of a hardship for him. And considering the probable effect of some anonymous internet postings on the prosecution of Mr. Stevens for his career of corruption and graft (which is to say, none at all), I hardly think it’s worth Mr. Davis’ time or the editorial space dedicated to his writing to address the matter.

Of course Mr. Stevens will get the best defense money can buy; he’s certainly financially fixed to afford it. But if he has to suffer a few slings and arrows of an outraged public in preparation for that defense, it appears that he’s earned some of the calumny and shame he’s brought on himself.