Originally published 10/27/2009 (1)
Reply to Dallas Morning News “What the Willingham case is really about”
RE: Editorial: “What the Willingham case is really about”, Dallas Morning News, October 26, 2009
From: Dudley Sharp, independent researcher, death penalty expert, former opponent, 832-439-2113, CV at bottom
The Dallas Morning News (DMN) writes:” What counts most is the truth, no matter what the ultimate verdict.”.
We can all hope.
The DMN, until recently, has been extremely biased in this case. This anti-death penalty media bias, by many in the media, has been, overwhelming, throughout the US, over the past two months, in the Willingham case, just as it has, over the last two decades, with most death penalty issues (2).
The truth has suffered, greatly.
For example, instead of just reviewing the Chicago Tribunes’ Mills’ CYA piece, possibly the DMN and others will look at Stacy Kuykendall’s revised or contradictory statements, her standing by Todd Willingham, then condemning him, to determine if these are common characteristics of a woman suffering what is commonly called Battered Woman Syndrome.
Evidently, it didn’t even cross Mills’ mind.
Instead of the DMN’s backhanded “We’re not calling (Stacy) Kuykendall a liar. “, maybe some should look into that.
Maybe many in the media could make things a little less painful for her (and everyone else) by being more thorough.
The DMN has already revealed one major error in the Beyler Report. Look harder.
The Corsican Fire Department Report (CFDR) made some solid points against Beyler with regard to both errors and bias and the Texas Fire Marshal’s (TFM) office has already stated that they will be standing by their expert’s, Vasquez’, forensics, meaning that they will have to correct the Beyler Report in some convincing fashion, in order to defend Vasquez.
Craig Beyler is no slouch.
We are still waiting on what may be an updated CFDR. They stated they lacked much of the time and the evidence necessary to deliver a thorough report.
Due to Perry’s delay, they, now, have that time. And we are still waiting for the TFM Report.
While lacking all of that, as well as having no idea where a thorough, objective investigation by DMN reporters (or others’) may, eventually, lead, when it has already uncovered some damaging information, re Beyler, what does the DMN editorial board say, as do many others? . . . that Perry shamelessly thwarted the investigation by sacking commission members, that he blocked that search for truth and he should not fear putting the case under the microscope.
Can the DMN or others support any of that, with the facts? Of course not.
So much for a search for truth.
In other words, the DMN, as many, have already reached a verdict.
Is it possible that Perry did the prudent thing with all of the facts that he had before him? Of course.
Is it possible that he made a strictly political, stupid decision, based, only, upon course self protection? Of course.
Neither the DMN nor anyone else in the media can know, for sure. Not yet.
FN
1) Reply to Dallas Morning News “What the Willingham case is really about” http://homicidesurvivors.com/2009/10/27/reply-to-dalls-morning-news-what-the-willingham-case-is-really-about/
2) Full rebuttal of media's anti-death penalty claims and /or showing why the pro-death penalty positions are stronger.
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Research, w/sources, w/fact checking/vetting & critical thinking, as required of everyone in a public policy debate
