Interesting results from a New York Times/CNN poll exploring public perception of Michael Vick's case.
Thirty-six percent of those familiar with the dogfighting allegations against Vick, the Atlanta Falcons’ star quarterback, said he was being treated better than an average person. Only 9 percent said Vick was being treated worse than an average person. The plurality, 44 percent, said Vick was being handled the same as anyone else.
So, clearly, the overwhelming proportion of respondents, 80%, perceive Vick to either be receiving preferential treatment or normal handling of his case.
But, let's consider: How would an average Joe, that isn't Michael Vick, be treated.
Well, to begin with, the chances that an average Joe would even face federal prosecution are virtually nil. Statistics show that almost to a person, individuals charged in dog fighting cases are tried by local jurisdiction.
According to the Animal Legal Defense Fund (a group which monitors and pursues cases of animal cruelty):
While the federal dog fighting law was updated a bit in May of this year, it has been around for years, yet I found only 1 reported appellate case involving this law being used by federal prosecutors; 3 others discussed whether this federal fighting law preempted state anti-cruelty or fighting laws, and in all 3 cases the courts ruled it did not (an interesting idea for the local DA to consider…). Nearly all animal anti-cruelty laws are state laws tried in state courts. Thus it has been particularly difficult for ALDF to get federal prosecutors, who are generally inexperienced in animal cases, interested in any animal cruelty matter that occasionally does come under federal jurisdiction by virtue of either happening on federal lands or being prohibited by a federal law. Years ago we tried to get several U.S. attorney offices interested in shutting down and prosecuting those responsible for “crush videos” (made underground for fetishists who enjoyed watching small animals or birds being crushed to death by a woman’s high heel) after the federal law was passed making them illegal. We got few takers.
So, the next time you hear the media or anyone else suggest that Michael Vick is getting the same attention that any individual accused of involvement in dog fighting would be getting; know that that is false.
Even the folks that fight to bring justice to animal abusers are a bit shocked at the extreme vigor Vick's case has drawn.
But remember, there's no bias whatsoever in this statistically highly unusual federal indictment and federal prosecution. That's just the normal process for this sort of case.
Really.
It is.
; )
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38 comments:
look.
just hang the fucker.
from a tree in the woods.
near a dog fighting ring.
let the backwoods, countrified "bros" know they'll be next if they don't quit.
simple.
Dave continues to raise the bar for demented racist fucktards everywhere.
"Dave continues to raise the bar for demented racist fucktards everywhere. "
Racist?
I never mentioned race.
The man is a dog murderer.
Make him pay.
Dave, with your proclivity towards unjust and violent behavior above and beyond all sense of morality and reason, it seems your interests would be best served at the Aryan Nation Sportsblog. Start it up yourself if you have to.
"Aryan Nation Sportsblog. Start it up yourself if you have to. "
So, suggesting that a man that electrocutes, drowns and destroys dogs for his personal pleasure should receive the same treatment makes me a racist.???
oh wait, you just read the scoop interview didn't your?
so, you think that EVERYTHING is racist...ok, now i see where you are coming from...
Sirs,
I thoroughly enjoy your work on this blog and look forward to continuing enlightenment for years, if not days, to come. As Prince Akeem Joffer once said, "I am very happy to be here".
Assalamu Alaykum
Sire, me thinks your data may not be one hundred percent true.
http://www.hsus.org/press_and_publications/press_releases/massive_law_enforcement_raid.html
Massive Law Enforcement Raid Targets Ohio Dog Fighting Network
March 25, 2007
DAYTON, Ohio - After a year-long investigation in cooperation with The Humane Society of the United States, a combined federal, state and local law enforcement team disrupted a large dog fighting network in Dayton, Ohio late last night. Simultaneously, several kennels suspected of breeding and selling fighting dogs were also raided in Southwestern Ohio. The kennels are in Dayton, Cincinnati and Trotwood.
The coordinated raids involved 22 law enforcement agencies led by the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Office of Inspector General (OIG) and the Ohio Attorney General's Office. More than two dozen arrests were made and more than 60 dogs were seized between the two facets of the operation. Federal charges are forthcoming.
Agents descended on a warehouse in an industrial section of Dayton as a dog fight was about to begin. While this was occurring, officers swept into the kennels in neighboring cities. The kennels were secured by police and the animals were seized and moved to temporary housing by HSUS officials. The combined effort was reportedly the largest of its kind in Ohio. Dog fighting is felony in Ohio, but the federal law for interstate dog fighting activities is only a misdemeanor – a law which Congress aims to strengthen as soon as this week.
"Dog fighting is a barbaric and despicable act, and this organized network of animal fighters in southern Ohio was dealt a severe blow by this raid," said Wayne Pacelle, president and CEO of The HSUS. "The Humane Society of the United States commends the law enforcement agencies, local animal control and humane societies for their coordinated efforts on this case."
The HSUS assisted with the investigation culminating in these raids, and provided assistance on the scene with evidence collection and seizure and temporary housing of the dogs from the pit and kennels. The Oregon Humane Society, Charles County (Md.) Animal Control and Sumter Disaster Animal Response Team (DART) of Florida were among the out of state responders to assist with the operation.
Facts:
Legislation strengthening the federal animal fighting law could be passed by the U.S. House of Representatives and U.S. Senate and sent to the president's desk as early as this week. H.R. 137 and S. 261, the Animal Fighting Prohibition Enforcement Act, would make it a felony to transport any animal over state lines for an animal fighting venture. The bill has 304 cosponsors in the House of Representatives and 36 in the Senate, including Senator Sherrod Brown (D-Ohio) and Representatives Steve Chabot (R-1st), Paul Gillmore (R-5th), David Hobson (R-7th), Marcy Kaptur (D-9th), Dennis Kucinich (D-10th), Steven LaTourette (R-14th), Deborah Pryce (R-15th), Ralph Regula (R-16th), Tim Ryan (D-17th), Jean Schmidt (R-2nd), Zack Space (D-18th), Betty Sutton (D-13th), Patrick Tiberi (R-12th), and Charlie Wilson (D-6th).
Dog fighting is illegal in all 50 states and the District of Columbia. The interstate transport of dogs for fighting purposes is prohibited by the federal Animal Welfare Act.
Dog fighting is a felony in 48 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands.
To summarize the above, the reason that the fed is just now getting into this is because state laws had been stricter until May of this year. I'm sure they're still going after him because he's a high profile, black qb, but I don't recent federal involvement think this constitutes proof of same.
I wish some white QB would get busted so we can stop using the race card as a crutch. He committed a crime and is being prosecuted accordingly, what is so out of line about that.
Nice research.
"but I don't recent federal involvement think this constitutes proof of same"
Sir,
Not sure what this sentence means.
Nonetheless.
i) the data presented wasn't "ours", it was the ALDF's.
ii) We appreciate you supporting our contention that it is extremely rare for the feds to prosecute for this by finding one case of similar POTENTIAL prosecution.
Finally, you come down on our side.
Thanks for that.
"I wish some white QB would get busted so we can stop using the race card as a crutch. He committed a crime and is being prosecuted accordingly, what is so out of line about that. "
Sir, um...we looked back at our original post and found no mention of race.
The only race card dropped on this post is you desiring to see a white QB arrested.
That is kind of racist.
NATHAN-
nois quoted some group that advocates for animals that said it was rare for the feds to prosecute. that normally it was locally prosecuted.
you found ONE instance of federal prosecution for this and pretend that it means it's common????
dude, seriously, you just come to this page to contradict, don't you?
to site ONE incident, after NOIS referenced a quote that says that it has happened infrequently...and pretend like ONE investigation means that the "data" NOIS presented is wrong....???
really???
what exactly have you presented that contradicts anything NOIS referenced in his post?
ps, were federally charges actually ever even filed? it doesn't say...
lean meat.
high in protein.
low in fat.
koreans have it right.
throw another pooch on the barbi, baby!
How about everyone do a Google News search for "dogfighting arrests"? See what you come up with, click in 2 or 3 pages and report back.
the contention isn't that dog fight arrests are that uncommon...just that they are federally prosecuted...
at least i think that's it...
i mean aren't often federally prosecuted.
Henry 8
That point I concede. However, after the casual Google search it looks as if there's plenty of anti-dogfighting activity out there. The feds may be in on this one since it's such a high profile gift, leaving the rest for local prosecution.
Either way, jail is jail.
That is, provided Vick is found guilty.
""I wish some white QB would get busted so we can stop using the race card as a crutch. He committed a crime and is being prosecuted accordingly, what is so out of line about that. "
Sir, um...we looked back at our original post and found no mention of race."
Just a few excerpts i found from your original posts:
"The indictment against Michael Vick is a declaration of war on Negro families."
"We suppose if you are a white player in a suit, rather than a Negro QB with corn rows, PETA is not interested in trying to interfere with your career. And not interested in making an issue out of your treatment of animals."
"Certainly the commissioner and his henchmen are having a wonderful laugh in their ivory tower right now. They freed their pale skinned brother from full suspension and seem to have applied full shackles to Mr. Vick."
"The government will not rest until the career of the current flagship Negro QB has been destroyed.
This point can now no longer be argued."
"
The message is clear:
America prefers terrorists to Negro QB's. "
"It is becoming clearer and clearer that things are not going to end well for Mr. Vick. Being a Negro QB and the face of a franchise. Being, potentially, the most marketable player in the NFL. And having a "look" that old white men with fat wallets and racist inclinations find threatening have all combined to paint a target on the back of Mr. Vick."
"Just a few excerpts i found from your original posts:"
Sir, glad to see you read our work so closely (read: stalker).
Ahem...
See, when we said "original post", that wasn't plural. You said "original posts". Additionally, our use of the term, "original post", was most clearly in reference to the post connected specifically to this comment thread. If we had been referring to EVERY post we EVER made on Vick, we wouldn't have specified 'original post'.
Anyway, what do these have to do with our current post which reported on the results of NYT/CNN's poll on perception of Vick's treatment? You know THE post we are talking about in THIS thread?
Unless....are you quoting our past posts, which address different points of the Vick situation, in an effort to provide a connection between his race and the RARE practice of federal law enforcement getting involved in dog fighting prosecution?
If so, although we didn't make that point in this particular post, we can see your point.
Bunch of ostriches. With heads buried in the sand. Pretending if Michael Vick was a white boy that the media would still be roasting him. That the feds would even be prosecuting him instead of the local authorities. Pretending like the only reason he is being so maligned is because he is famous.
Famous white people that commit crimes get treated like carnies. Not beasts. Paris Hilton goes to jail. And it's a fun joke. The other drug addicted white hollywood girls get in trouble and it's just gossip and tabloid fodder.
To pretend that this isn't even a subconscious attack on black folk is a lie to yourself.
If Vick is guilty of breaking the law should he be punished? Of course.
Is this a bad thing, if true? Of course.
Is this the worst crime imageinable? NO!
Is it worth all the money and effort spent by the federal govt, instead of just letting the locals run it? Of course not.
Is Vick black man? Yes.
And there you have it.
"And there you have it. "
Sir, there is a passion in your incoherence that makes it hard for the intelligent to argue against your point.
We'll leave it to others to ponder.
Sir, what do you make of the latest reports re: brother Vick's attorneys are actively seeking a plea agreement, now armed with the knowledge that a "superceding indictment" may be forthcoming? In your research of the small percentage of dog fighting cases that were federally prosecuted, did you find a single case of charges being added to the original indictment?
Clearly, the Feds intend to place Mr. Vick in the judicial rape stand and make an example of him, lest our nation's second-class citizens get any crazy ideas about challenging authority.
"Sir, what do you make of the latest reports re: brother Vick's "
Sir, first of all...
You are wise to seek a righteous answer here, before going off and digesting the tripe the mainstream media will feed you.
With that in mind, we fully intend to shed darkness onto the most recent developments in the case with a full post.
We suspect, like you, that many await the righteous view on all this.
It's up to us not to deprive them by confining it to the comment thread.
Your patience is appreciated.
reason.
you've all lost it. and you've all lost your minds.
we eat animals. they are here for our use. we are the top of the food chain. if that hurts your feelings, then too bad. we owe them nothing.
if all of you people that say that it's so wrong to allow dog fighting are the same people that go to burger king each nite to have a burger. then you are all full of crap.
if you eat say it is wrong to kill animals for entertainment. but it is ok to kill them for food. you are a hypocrit.
if you have other options for food. then you are a hypocrit.
animals have no rights. they are food. they are fun.
and don't judge me. cause, u'ont no me.
holy christ.
nois does an interview with scoop...and now "they" are coming out of the wood work.
maybe dave SHOULD start a blog.
again, not that Dave
Perhaps it is unfair that Vick is being singled out. I don't know that any of us can prove that he is being singled out solely because he is black, or solely because he is an NFL quarterback, or any combination of the two.
But maybe the solution is to seek and try more cases at a federal level for what we can surely all agree is a cruel and shameful practice. Surely that will do more to detract people from training dogs for dogfighting than, say, considering Vick's case at only a local level. Not looking for an argument here, more of an approach at a proactive solution?
"Not looking for an argument here, more of an approach at a proactive solution?"
Sir, at least you are realistic in realizing that their is no reasonable argument in the face of righteousness.
Possibly, rather than making the effort to punish...as we know well enough the effort to punish the individual that the govt. has undertaken in its misguided "war on drugs" has barely made a dent in the infusion of illegal drugs in this country...but it has filled the jails. Possibly, a better solution would be education? An effort to change those that are a part of the culture? Maybe attempt to humanize the dogs. To make those that would happily watch them fight to the death understand that dogs are people, too.
So to speak.
"See, when we said "original post", that wasn't plural. You said "original posts". Additionally, our use of the term, "original post", was most clearly in reference to the post connected specifically to this comment thread. If we had been referring to EVERY post we EVER made on Vick, we wouldn't have specified 'original post'."
I assumed you would play it this way. However, the comment you were replying to said this:
"I wish some white QB would get busted so we can stop using the race card as a crutch. He committed a crime and is being prosecuted accordingly, what is so out of line about that."
Not once in there was a mention of the race card being played in this specific post, but rather it seemed to be a very general statement regarding black feelings on the case. And as far as I can see, it seemed nothing more than a mild-mannered, introspective opinion and question related to this case and many writings about it on this site.
Yet, in typical defensive fashion, you decided rather than discuss this situation civilly and explain how the situation might be racist, to become combative, hide behind the fact that you didn't mention race in THIS post, and call sir malcom y racist.
"Not once in there was a mention of the race card being played in this specific post, but rather it seemed to be a very general statement regarding black feelings on the case. And as far as I can see, it seemed nothing more than a mild-mannered, introspective opinion and question related to this case and many writings about it on this site.
Yet, in typical defensive fashion, you decided rather than discuss this situation civilly and explain how the situation might be racist, to become combative, hide behind the fact that you didn't mention race in THIS post, and call sir malcom y racist. "
Sir,
First of all...the gentleman specifically said he hoped a white QB would get arrested.
We are sorry. We find that to be a heinous desire. If it offends you that we characterized the desire to see such thing befall a targetted racial demographic as being "racist" in overtone, well, then so be it.
Clearly, it doesn't bother you in the least when someone spefically attacks another race.
But it bothers us.
As far as it being "general black feelings on the case"...HA.
Not one Negro we know has voiced the hope that a white QB gets in trouble with the law to prove that race isn't a factor in the Vick case.
You take enormous liberty in deciding that sir malcolm y is speaking for an entire race.
He speaks for no one we have come into contact with...apparently, other than YOU.
You accuse us of not explaining how the situation might be racist...hmmm. The man said he wanted white QB's to be arrested. If you can't see that being somewhat of a polarizing statement, we don't know what to tell you.
You have a nose on your face. Do you believe us when we tell you that? Or do we need to take your hand and place it on your nose to prove it?
Civility?
Coming from an individual that makes a point to take every opportunity to ignorantly spread his poorly thought out opinions on OUR site, really, YOU are going to call US uncivil? Your life is your delusion...we'll let you live it.
Combative?
Sir, we are TEACHERS. At times a teach must scold the student.
Don't make us get out our rulers.
You have both misquoted and misunderstood me.
"As far as it being "general black feelings on the case"...HA."
What I said was: "Not once in there was a mention of the race card being played in this specific post, but rather it seemed to be a very general statement regarding black feelings on the case."
I didn't say that the "general black feelings were to have a white qb arrested", as you make it seem.
"General" was used to imply that the statement he made was not post-specific (your first defense), and "black" showed that his feelings were those of an African American (he used the word "we", so I'm assuming this is correct). It is very clear that I was not saying that the sir malcom y represented the general black opinion.
Secondly...
"You accuse us of not explaining how the situation might be racist...hmmm. The man said he wanted white QB's to be arrested. If you can't see that being somewhat of a polarizing statement, we don't know what to tell you."
I didn't accuse you of explaining how wishing for a white QB to be arrested might be racist. What I did was notice sir malcom y's inquisition on why the VICK situation was racist, and how you chose to attack him rather than respond thoughtfully.
It appears that since you have such a hard time even recognizing the arguments that you are responding to, you choose to make up your own.
Perhaps it is time the student teaches the teacher a lesson.
"General" was used to imply that the statement he made was not post-specific (your first defense), "
Sir, the comment was directed at the post.
How could it not be post specific?
That makes no sense.
"What I did was notice sir malcom y's inquisition on why the VICK situation was racist, and how you chose to attack him rather than respond thoughtfully."
Did you read the post?
How much plainer can we make it?
My goodness.
We are teachers.
But, unfortunately, we don't teach special ed.
"I didn't accuse you of explaining how wishing for a white QB to be arrested might be racist."
Sir, so then you do agree that such a sentiment is effectively racist.
We will take your agreement as recinding your previous complaint that we called sir malcolm y "racist".
It would make no sense for you to criticize us for calling him racist, when you agree that he made a racist comment.
We are glad we have finally reached a common ground with you on this.
"It would make no sense for you to criticize us for calling him racist, when you agree that he made a racist comment.
We are glad we have finally reached a common ground with you on this."
Yeah, I do agree with you that his wishes were racist in nature. I wasn't objecting that, I was merely upset with your decision to attack him instead of answer him. (at the very least, tell him that it would be racist to wish a white qb to go down, then explain how the vick situation is racist)
""General" was used to imply that the statement he made was not post-specific (your first defense), "
Sir, the comment was directed at the post.
How could it not be post specific?"
His comment was directed at the situation, not this particular post.
""What I did was notice sir malcom y's inquisition on why the VICK situation was racist, and how you chose to attack him rather than respond thoughtfully."
Did you read the post?
How much plainer can we make it?"
Which post? This one? The one that you claimed "Sir, um...we looked back at our original post and found no mention of race."
So in summary:
Someone asked you how the Vick situation was racist. You called them a racist (justifiably) and said you didn't even mention race in this post(also true). I then implored you a little more explaining that it was the situation in general, not this particular post that he surely was inquiring about. Yet your response is that you explained it clearly in your post?
"Someone asked you how the Vick situation was racist. You called them a racist (justifiably) and said you didn't even mention race in this post(also true). I then implored you a little more explaining that it was the situation in general, not this particular post that he surely was inquiring about. Yet your response is that you explained it clearly in your post? "
Sir, you've come a long way.
We feel like our teaching, and your learning are combining to really bring some rightousness into your life.
Dare we say....job well done!
"Dare we say....job well done!"
you dare'd!
I'm confused.
Beings how whitey stood to make fahillions (yep thats a real number so high whitey likes to keep it a secret from minorities) off Vick, why did they persecute and railroad him, losing fahillions in the process? Are they just teaching him and his fans who's boss, to not get too upppity?
"In Louisiana, historically a hotbed in the underground world of pit bull fighters, local authorities have uncovered several large cases in recent years that federal prosecutors have not entered, said Laura Maloney, chief executive officer for the Louisiana Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals. In 2005 alone, local agents uncovered three suspected fighting outfits within the span of a few months that netted 234 pit bulls, Maloney said. The U.S. attorney did not enter any of the cases, she said."
http://content.hamptonroads.com/story.cfm?story=130158&ran=113733&tref=y
But all of a sudden Mike Vick is the Grand Czar of the vast dogfighting underworld and suddenly, as if overnight, the government absolutely detests these types of activities......meanwhile a former NHL player involved in a nationwide gambling scheme involving the greatest NHLer of all time gets 2 yrs PROBATION and an NBA ref has linked up to 20 other refs in illegal gambling activity threatening the existence of the NBA at all.....wow....WMDs...sports style.
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