Milwaukee
County Sheriff David Clarke tells it like it is. He’s a stellar
reminder of what true leadership looks like and what it means to uphold
the rule of law. It is a relief to hear someone speak with such honesty
and candor.
To give you a taste of how fearlessly this man puts truth on display,
here are two videos of Sherriff Clarke speaking about Ferguson. Below
is a quote from a speech he gave at the National Press Club (
video
above) a couple of weeks ago:
… I’m known for not sugar coating things. This pissed me off … I sat up
there and listened to Eric Holder throw law enforcement officers under
the bus for political expediency….
His densely packed 6-minute speech is worth a listen, as is his recent
interview with Neil Cavuto. I’ve transcribed a few gems for AT readers,
but hope you’ll take the time to listen to this man. I can only hope
and pray he is the voice of our future because, Lord knows, this is the
kind of leadership and vision we desperately need.
On Al Sharpton:
...
Anytime Al Sharpton shows up on the scene, nothing good is going to
come of that.
On Barack Obama:
…
I heard some of the president’s comments last night. And he said that
what we need to do is try to understand them and he said that the anger
was an understandable reaction. And I was just floored by that because
it’s not an understandable reaction. People have to come up with a more
socially acceptable way to deal with anger and frustration. This is
totally and unequivocally intolerable ….
… when I heard the
president
call for calm after the rioting started, I questioned his sincerity
because some of his political strategy of divide and conquer fuels this
sort of racial animosity between people. And so I think when he called
for calm after the rioting started I believe it was done with a wink
and a nod.
On Jay Nixon:
…
I think Governor Nixon is trying to soft shoe this thing. I don’t think
he has the intestinal fortitude to deal with this. What’s happening
down there right now is real ugly and the response isn’t going to be
pleasing to the eye with what law enforcement and the national guard
have to do. But, Neil, I mean come on. They have to restore order and
the law enforcement officers and the national guard have to use all
reasonable force to get that under control. Restraint is not an option
right now for law enforcement .…
There’s always going to
be
people on the sideline that are going to second guess you. That’s part
of what Governor Nixon has to deal with. It’s something that I have to
deal with when I have to make tough decisions. He has to block that out
and do what’s in the best interest of Ferguson, Missouri, and the state
of Missouri and he has to get this thing under control and not worry
about the optics so much. You know, nobody’s saying all due force or
any force. What I’m calling for is all reasonable force to get this
thing under control. And you’re going to be criticized. And he’s afraid
to be criticized and he’s worried about what people might say in second
guessing him? Then he’s in the wrong position.
On Eric Holder:
…
Eric Holder is one of those that was in a very visible position to have
talked reasonably and to kind of quell this thing early on and instead
he engaged with inflammatory rhetoric. So for him to come on and
announce what he’s going to today. You know, look, justice is about due
process. You’re not guaranteed a result. You’re guaranteed due process.
Due process played it out at the state level. If he wants to start a
federal probe he’s entitled to do that, but that’s just going to
prolong this thing and unless he thinks or he believes that there’s
something nefarious that went on here with the Grand Jury
investigation, I think he ought to reconsider that … For Eric Holder to
come in I think it just continues to prolong this thing and fan the
flames. And let’s say he comes out with some indictment of his own
and
it’s thrown out at the federal level, because in the end I don’t see a
judge in this country upon appeal that would uphold any kind of
conviction here against the officer. And then we may have to relive
this all over again.
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