“Give Plax the Max”? Politics, Press Enter the Plaxico Burress Case

By: dwil

After last night’s report of the happenings at the LQ from “Jimmy” I thought that, perhaps, Plaxico Burress had a chance at freedom. 

I think I’m wrong.

Apparently, New York City is entering an election year and there will be a scramble to elect the replacement for NYC top prosecutor - some would say long-time executioner - Robert Morgenthau (who turns 90 tomorrow). The winner of that election will be the person who prosecutes the Plaxico Burress case and not Morgenthau.

That means a couple of things: it immediately takes the sting off his statements about Burress and means the Burress case is more than likely the perfect high profile, feather in the cap case for a prosecutor just voted to be the next top “tough on crime” New York City D.A. 

Then there is one more thing I didn’t consider and that is - guess who? - the press. After the recent events of Morgenthau’s way too public verbal gaffe and the scalding of Morgenthau by Burress’ lawyer, Benjamin Brafman, combined with the news commenter Jimmy laid down about the events that November 2008 night at the LQ, a Latin Quarter nightclub, it never crossed my mind that the press would rush to Morgenthau’s, and his successor’s, aid.

The headline blares:

Give Plax the max: Justice requires ex-Giant Burress to do crime for gun crime

The content? Oh boy:

The Manhattan grand jury that heard Plaxico Burress plead for mercy yesterday must throw the wide receiver for a huge loss. The 23 good and true citizens must indict Burress on the maximum charge, carrying the highest punishment available under law - 31/2 to 15 years if convicted.

A top-count indictment would send the right message: That no one can carry an illegal firearm in New York. And it would give Manhattan District Attorney Robert Morgenthau the leverage to force a stiff plea bargain of a couple of years in prison, not the one year Burress has reportedly been angling for.

Yesterday, in a rare appearance by a defendant before a grand jury, Burress tried to talk his way out of jail time. After the appearance, he said, “I was truthful, I was honest, and I’m truly remorseful for what I’ve done and for what happened.”

So what? There’s no question he had the gun. There’s no question the gun was loaded. There’s no question the gun fired.

These are the facts. It changes nothing that the criminal is a star athlete. Or that to many, he is the hero who gave the Giants a game-winning catch in the last minute of Super Bowl XLII.

In the real world, only the Giants paycheck Burress used to collect separates him from any common thug roaming the city’s streets. Recall: He was carrying an unlicensed, loaded.40-caliber Glock during that night out in Manhattan’s Latin Quarter last November. He says it went off accidentally. When the bullet hit him, it could just as easily have taken another’s life.

Like I said, oh boy.

This editorial from the New York Daily News is one of those patently pandering screw jobs newspapers do to make sure they position themselves for a little extra access to whatever powers that be they are defending. 

It is always a sign that the editorial comes straight from the D.A.’s office or public relations department, ghost written by some straw-sucking lackey - who might be an editor or a high-ranking, well liked hack - when no byline accompanies the editorial.

But this commentary is uber-packed with loaded language meant solely to insight White New Yorkers (let’s not mince here), conservatives, and gun control fanatics, in general. The list of loaded - and racist - language:

- 23 good and true citizens must indict Burress on the maximum charge, carrying the highest punishment available under law - 31/2 to 15 years if convicted… 

- A top-count indictment would send the right message…

- Burress tried to talk his way out of jail time…

- In the real world, only the Giants paycheck Burress used to collect separates him from any common thug roaming the city’s streets.

- When the bullet hit him, it could just as easily have taken another’s life.

And the remainder of the very brief editorial takes a huge shot at not only Antonio Pierce but also New York Giants owner, John Mara, of the very influential in NYC Mara family:

Though in some circles Pierce would be called a good friend, the law calls him an accessory to the crime. Pierce should face gun possession charges and pay a price for aiding in a felony.

 The law is the law.

Illegal guns are deadly.

These men must pay the price.

Talk about tainting a grand jury or potential jurors. This editorial does much more harm to Burress and  any chance for a partial jury than did Morgenthau’s statements. Let’s parse these bits of writing poison:

- 23 good and true citizens must indict Burress on the maximum charge, carrying the highest punishment available under law - 31/2 to 15 years if convicted… 

Notice the men and women sitting on the grand jury are “good and true,” which immediately separates them from Burress the implied “criminal.” Next, the member of the grand jury must indict Burress, which leaves no choice to hear any other side of the story other than that of the D.A.’s office. Finally, the sentence range is meant to incite readers’ emotions about punishment.

- A top-count indictment would send the right message…

First off “top-count” used with indictment tells me someone with knowledge of lawyer-speak wrote this editorial. The author is urging for the grand jury to indict Burress on as many charges as possible and “the right message” means anything less than an indictment containin as many charges as possible is  doing Burress a favor. 

- Burress tried to talk his way out of jail time…

Oh really. The writer implies that he or she has personal knowledge of Burress’ aims and that those aims were not explanatory but unsavory.

- In the real world, only the Giants paycheck Burress used to collect separates him from any common thug roaming the city’s streets.

This sentence could just as easily read: The only thing that separates Burress from the common street nigger - or any other nigger, for that matter - is the money he earns.

This is the race statement, the one meant solely for White people. It is meant to touch their deepest sense of fear - and anger for having to fear Black people. It is a reminder that no Black person can be trusted, no matter their alleged status, particularly financial status; and remember White people - the Giants paycheck - gave Burress his money, he did not earn it on his own.

- When the bullet hit him, it could just as easily have taken another’s life.

This is the heart-string tugging sentence, the oh my goodness those good citizens were so lucky the thug nigger with too much money and time on his hands didn’t pull out his gun and begin arbitrarily shooting.

And for Antonio Pierce:

- Though in some circles Pierce would be called a good friend, the law calls him an accessory to the crime. Pierce should face gun possession charges and pay a price for aiding in a felony.

Antonio Pierce is a nigger, too.

- The law is the law.

and “the law” is always correct when it comes to prosecuting niggers.

- Illegal guns are deadly.

Heart-string tugger.

- These men must pay the price.

To finish the sentence: … for their niggerish behavior.

There you have it, folks. I am, more than likely, in error. There will be no freedom for Plaxico Burress, no matter the actual events that night at the LQ. And unless Antonio Pierce contradicts Burress’ statements, he is likely to end up in prison, too. His only hope at freedom is a back room deal made between John Mara with NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell, and the New York City D.A.’s office.

Oh boy.

Tags: accident, commissioner, crime, election, final, football, freedom, grand jury, heart, image, indictment, maxim, media, money, new york, new york giants, newspaper, plaxico burress, politics, potential, prison, punishment, roger goodell, super bowl, super bowl xli, super bowl xlii, writing

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