How is Vick "overly prosecuted"?

[Sheriff Gonna Getcha]

I personally haven't heard anyone say that the prosecution is racially motivated. I am sure, however, that there is a very small minority of African-Americans who think the prosecution is part of some conspiracy, just as I think there are a small number of whites who want to see him go down.

As for whether Vick is being "overly prosecuted," I guess I'd have to ask what you mean by "overly prosecuted." Are you asking whether his sentence will likely be longer than most other criminals who have committed similar crimes? Are you asking whether the prosecutor was too zealous? Are you asking whether Vick is getting a tougher sentence in the court of public opinion than is deserved?

I love dogs and hate animal cruelty. I've spent some $4,500 for two surgeries for two dogs who I adopted from the local SPCA and a disaster relief shelter and thousands more dollars on toys, cans of science diet, vet fees, etc. I also cried like a little girl when my last dog died of cancer. I also think that Michael Vick deserves to go to prison for at least one year. But, I think when you consider the fact that he (1) will likely lose about $20-$40M dollars in salary and endorsements, (2) will likely lose his career, (3) and is about to lose his freedom for a year or more, it would be hard to argue that Vick is being "under-punished."

Please try not to read too much into that last sentence. I am thrilled that more attention is being paid to animal/dog rights, Vick is going to jail, and that we, as a society, seem to have evolved in terms of our love of animals. I was just trying to make the point that it is hard to argue that all of the punishment that Vick has and will receive is light.

[jsarno]

Originally Posted by Sheriff Gonna Getcha

I personally haven't heard anyone say that the prosecution is racially motivated. I am sure, however, that there is a very small minority of African-Americans who think the prosecution is part of some conspiracy, just as I think there are a small number of whites who want to see him go down.

As for whether Vick is being "overly prosecuted," I guess I'd have to ask what you mean by "overly prosecuted." Are you asking whether his sentence will likely be longer than most other criminals who have committed similar crimes? Are you asking whether the prosecutor was too zealous? Are you asking whether Vick is getting a tougher sentence in the court of public opinion than is deserved?

I love dogs and hate animal cruelty. I've spent some $4,500 for two surgeries for two dogs who I adopted from the local SPCA and a disaster relief shelter and thousands more dollars on toys, cans of science diet, vet fees, etc. I also cried like a little girl when my last dog died of cancer. I also think that Michael Vick deserves to go to prison for at least one year. But, I think when you consider the fact that he (1) will likely lose about $20-$40M dollars in salary and endorsements, (2) will likely lose his career, (3) and is about to lose his freedom for a year or more, it would be hard to argue that Vick is being "under-punished."

Please try not to read too much into that last sentence. I am thrilled that more attention is being paid to animal/dog rights, Vick is going to jail, and that we, as a society, seem to have evolved in terms of our love of animals. I was just trying to make the point that it is hard to argue that all of the punishment that Vick has and will receive is light.

Well, there is a difference here. His punishment will be a suspension from the NFL and incarceration. The consequences of his actions are the loss of endorsements and salary.
If you were incarcerated, I'd wager your boss would discontinue your salary as well.
The fact that he COULD and likely will return to the NFL at some point means the punishment is not stiff enough. Again, if it was a normal person with a normal job, we would not get our jobs back after we were done, and it would be very hard to find a job being a felon.

Look at Don Imus...all he did was utter 3 words in a forum where freedom of speech should have been applied, and he lost EVERYTHING.

[Sheriff Gonna Getcha]

Originally Posted by jsarno

Look at Don Imus...all he did was utter 3 words in a forum where freedom of speech should have been applied, and he lost EVERYTHING.

Not to threadjack, but Don Imus got fired because he is an idiot. He got paid because people liked what he said, then he said some pretty idiotic things that people didn't like, his employer was losing ad money, and so Imus was fired. Imus has the right to his opinions, but his employer had the right to fire him because his comments hurt the company's bottom line.

In any event, what exactly does Imus have to do with Vick?

[SmootSmack]

Originally Posted by Sheriff Gonna Getcha

Not to threadjack, but Don Imus got fired because he is an idiot. He got paid because people liked what he said, then he said some pretty idiotic things that people didn't like, his employer was losing ad money, and so Imus was fired. Imus has the right to his opinions, but his employer had the right to fire him because his comments hurt the company's bottom line.

In any event, what exactly does Imus have to do with Vick?

Also...not the first time Imus made comments like that

[jsarno]

Originally Posted by SmootSmack

Also...not the first time Imus made comments like that

Nor is it the first time Vick has done something stupid. (ie: knowingly give a woman an STD and the whole water bottle incident...he's not a "great guy" like everyone says when he does these things)

Also, regardless if Imus has SAID anything, those were just words, and this country is founded on freedom of speech. Huge differences there.

[ncskinsfanec]

Vick has to be in the top 3 in all-time, stunning falls from grace. Even Kobe would have to ask what Vick was thinking! I think the coverage has been pretty fair throughout the case, though.

[DynamiteRave]

Originally Posted by jsarno

Nor is it the first time Vick has done something stupid. (ie: knowingly give a woman an STD and the whole water bottle incident...he's not a "great guy" like everyone says when he does these things)

Also, regardless if Imus has SAID anything, those were just words, and this country is founded on freedom of speech. Huge differences there.

Well since I already talked about Vick, here's my Imus rant:

I dunno about Imus. I don't think the guy's a racist, I think he just said the wrong thing. Maybe if he had just left it at nappy-headed, people wouldn't have gotten so blown about it.

I mean the only people really blowing it up were the NAACP and Al Sharpton (Who's annoying as hell). I can't understand why they can't focus on something worth focusing on. I'm sure there ARE injustices against Black people taking place somewhere in the US or even outside of the US. Get involved in that stuff. Not what some old white guy says on the radio. Dude looks like he could croak at any given point in time anyway. Give the dude a break.

Maybe if it was directed AT me I'd feel different. But I mean I'm nappy-headed, I know that, I've accepted that. Maybe the only thing I'd get bent out of proportion about is the hoes thing. But that whole bitches and hoes argument lead to critisizing rap music. And then critisizing the use of the N word in rap music. It was like this huge PC slippery slope. (I'm really starting to sound like a right-winger now huh?)

But maybe its just from personal experience, being that I'm Black and grew up around white people and lots of Black people don't. I'm one of those Black chicks that get weird looks from other Black people cause I know how to use correct english and I dress like I fell out of an Pac Sun catalog.

Sometimes people of different races say insensitive things about other races cause they just don't know better. I get asked about the nappy hair, if I burn when I go out in the sun, if I like rap music, typical things like that.

All I know is that I get along with everyone: Black or white. Gay or straight. Male or female. It seems like people are so focused on being PC that when someones NOT PC, everyone wants to point it out and draw that dividing line again, which automatically makes them, racist or homophobic or sexist. What Imus said was insensitive yes. But not racist. Although upon learning about what other things hes said he probably should've been jerked off the air awhile ago.

But I feel like his punishment fit the crime, which was to lose his position. Of course someone would pick him up. No one that popular is out of a job forever.

[SmootSmack]

Originally Posted by DynamiteRave

Well since I already talked about Vick, here's my Imus rant:

I dunno about Imus. I don't think the guy's a racist, I think he just said the wrong thing. Maybe if he had just left it at nappy-headed, people wouldn't have gotten so blown about it.

I mean the only people really blowing it up were the NAACP and Al Sharpton (Who's annoying as hell). I can't understand why they can't focus on something worth focusing on. I'm sure there ARE injustices against Black people taking place somewhere in the US or even outside of the US. Get involved in that stuff. Not what some old white guy says on the radio. Dude looks like he could croak at any given point in time anyway. Give the dude a break.

Maybe if it was directed AT me I'd feel different. But I mean I'm nappy-headed, I know that, I've accepted that. Maybe the only thing I'd get bent out of proportion about is the hoes thing. But that whole bitches and hoes argument lead to critisizing rap music. And then critisizing the use of the N word in rap music. It was like this huge PC slippery slope. (I'm really starting to sound like a right-winger now huh?)

But maybe its just from personal experience, being that I'm Black and grew up around white people and lots of Black people don't. I'm one of those Black chicks that get weird looks from other Black people cause I know how to use correct english and I dress like I fell out of an Pac Sun catalog.

Sometimes people of different races say insensitive things about other races cause they just don't know better. I get asked about the nappy hair, if I burn when I go out in the sun, if I like rap music, typical things like that.

All I know is that I get along with everyone: Black or white. Gay or straight. Male or female. It seems like people are so focused on being PC that when someones NOT PC, everyone wants to point it out and draw that dividing line again, which automatically makes them, racist or homophobic or sexist. What Imus said was insensitive yes. But not racist. Although upon learning about what other things hes said he probably should've been jerked off the air awhile ago.

But I feel like his punishment fit the crime, which was to lose his position. Of course someone would pick him up. No one that popular is out of a job forever.

great post...now back to Vick

[ncskinsfanec]

Originally Posted by DynamiteRave

Well since I already talked about Vick, here's my Imus rant:

I dunno about Imus. I don't think the guy's a racist, I think he just said the wrong thing. Maybe if he had just left it at nappy-headed, people wouldn't have gotten so blown about it.

I mean the only people really blowing it up were the NAACP and Al Sharpton (Who's annoying as hell). I can't understand why they can't focus on something worth focusing on. I'm sure there ARE injustices against Black people taking place somewhere in the US or even outside of the US. Get involved in that stuff. Not what some old white guy says on the radio. Dude looks like he could croak at any given point in time anyway. Give the dude a break.

Maybe if it was directed AT me I'd feel different. But I mean I'm nappy-headed, I know that, I've accepted that. Maybe the only thing I'd get bent out of proportion about is the hoes thing. But that whole bitches and hoes argument lead to critisizing rap music. And then critisizing the use of the N word in rap music. It was like this huge PC slippery slope. (I'm really starting to sound like a right-winger now huh?)

But maybe its just from personal experience, being that I'm Black and grew up around white people and lots of Black people don't. I'm one of those Black chicks that get weird looks from other Black people cause I know how to use correct english and I dress like I fell out of an Pac Sun catalog.

Sometimes people of different races say insensitive things about other races cause they just don't know better. I get asked about the nappy hair, if I burn when I go out in the sun, if I like rap music, typical things like that.

All I know is that I get along with everyone: Black or white. Gay or straight. Male or female. It seems like people are so focused on being PC that when someones NOT PC, everyone wants to point it out and draw that dividing line again, which automatically makes them, racist or homophobic or sexist. What Imus said was insensitive yes. But not racist. Although upon learning about what other things hes said he probably should've been jerked off the air awhile ago.

But I feel like his punishment fit the crime, which was to lose his position. Of course someone would pick him up. No one that popular is out of a job forever.

Interesting post, very good insight.

[Chief X_Phackter]

YAAAWWWNNNN!!!!!

[jsarno]

Originally Posted by Sheriff Gonna Getcha

Not to threadjack, but Don Imus got fired because he is an idiot. He got paid because people liked what he said, then he said some pretty idiotic things that people didn't like, his employer was losing ad money, and so Imus was fired. Imus has the right to his opinions, but his employer had the right to fire him because his comments hurt the company's bottom line.

Well, you're getting deep into Imus, and that's not the point, the point is:
And the NFL / Falcons don't have the right to "fire" Vick?
What Vick did was 1 million times worse (and I'm being nice) than what Imus did, and Imus lost everything for it, so why shouldn't Vick?

In any event, what exactly does Imus have to do with Vick?

It's about the persecution of an exhaulted person. Note the very first comment here with Imus and Martha Stewart.