![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
Jack Abramoff gets 5 years in the big house. Of course knowing our criminal justice system it'll probably be more like a year and a half in a country club for white collar criminals. But the best part, the absolute best part is the brief filed by the defense to stir up some pity for poor old Jack, won't someone think of the children?
Unfortunately, Mrs. Abramoff's concerns about her children are not without foundation. Dr. Randi Ettner, a clinical psychologist who has been working with the children explains that "as Mr. Abramoff's difficulties escalated, and humiliation came daily with the morning news, [Levi] and the other four children began to suffer, as well. These young people are innocent victims of a steady barrage of ridicule, and they are being traumatized in subtle and obvious ways." (Dr. Ettner Ltr. of 3/13/06.) The toll of seeing their father vilified on a daily basis in the press, and the fear of the fate that awaits their family has depressed the Abramoff children's outlook on life. They are constantly reminded of their fate by the daily public assault on their father's name, including overhearing strangers' insensitivity and callousness when the word "Abramoff" is mentioned.
[...]
How could proud parents endure knowing that one of their beloved sons feels such humiliation among his peers that he has sometimes claimed a different family name, just to avoid the awkward conversations that inevitably follow the mention of the word Abramoff?
Here's a thought, how about those concerned parents decide not to become, you know, criminals in the first place. I mean when Jack was out there scamming the tribes and making sure the GOP machine's money flow remained a mighty river through theft and deceit, didn't he ever stop to think, "Hey, if I'm caught my children could well suffer for my actions." And what, precisely does it say to kids when the finger of blame for their father's misdeeds is not pointed at the man responsible for them, rather the public and media who uncovered and took note of his dispicable actions.
Further, what does it say about a guy who'd use his kids as a cheap ploy for sentencing leniency. Well, nothing we didn't already know about him, I guess.
You did the crime, Jacky boy, now do the time.
via The Good Roger Ailes
Unfortunately, Mrs. Abramoff's concerns about her children are not without foundation. Dr. Randi Ettner, a clinical psychologist who has been working with the children explains that "as Mr. Abramoff's difficulties escalated, and humiliation came daily with the morning news, [Levi] and the other four children began to suffer, as well. These young people are innocent victims of a steady barrage of ridicule, and they are being traumatized in subtle and obvious ways." (Dr. Ettner Ltr. of 3/13/06.) The toll of seeing their father vilified on a daily basis in the press, and the fear of the fate that awaits their family has depressed the Abramoff children's outlook on life. They are constantly reminded of their fate by the daily public assault on their father's name, including overhearing strangers' insensitivity and callousness when the word "Abramoff" is mentioned.
[...]
How could proud parents endure knowing that one of their beloved sons feels such humiliation among his peers that he has sometimes claimed a different family name, just to avoid the awkward conversations that inevitably follow the mention of the word Abramoff?
Here's a thought, how about those concerned parents decide not to become, you know, criminals in the first place. I mean when Jack was out there scamming the tribes and making sure the GOP machine's money flow remained a mighty river through theft and deceit, didn't he ever stop to think, "Hey, if I'm caught my children could well suffer for my actions." And what, precisely does it say to kids when the finger of blame for their father's misdeeds is not pointed at the man responsible for them, rather the public and media who uncovered and took note of his dispicable actions.
Further, what does it say about a guy who'd use his kids as a cheap ploy for sentencing leniency. Well, nothing we didn't already know about him, I guess.
You did the crime, Jacky boy, now do the time.
via The Good Roger Ailes
no subject
Date: 2006-03-29 11:44 pm (UTC)Pretty much my exact thoughts through this whole piece. Yeah, kids, I'm sorry your dad's a rapacious atavistic piece of trash who puts his own benefit far in front of others. Maybe CSD will look into your case and relocate you with some sort of human father, but I'm afraid that the psychological damage may already have been done.