I got the People’s Alliance endorsements in the mail today. Here’s what the PA, Durham’s not-very-diverse socialist PAC (they prefer to be called “progressive”), says about why they are backing Mike Nifong for district attorney in Durham (emphasis mine):
In the Durham District Attorney’s race, PA PAC endorses incumbent Mike Nifong. His education, his courtoom skill, and his proven administrative abillity all combine to commend him for the job. He has served the Durham community for over 28 years in the District Attorney’s office where he has earned a solid reputation for firmness, prosecutorial integrity, and legal excellence. He supports programs for troubled youth, and a coordinated effort to address the truancy problem. He will effectively manage the office for the full term. This election is not about one case — the District Attorney’s office is responsible for an enormous case load. We depend on the experience and ability of the person who heads this effective agency of public safety. When so much power is entrusted to one individual, we want that person to be intelligegnt and level-headed. Mike Nifong is that person. That’s why we support him.
Many adjectives have been used to describe the way Nifong has handled the Duke lacrosse case, but “integrity,” “level headed” and “legal excellence” are not among them. The PA PAC says this election is not about one case, but it should be. One can imagine what the PA would be saying if, instead of three white lacrosse players from Duke, the accused were three black football players from NC Central.
