It is interesting how mean and nasty the media and politicos can be to men and women of color who are judged by main society as not being qualified, yet in many cases over look the similar situations of white candidates.
Over the years I have seen good careers ruined because these individuals of color might have embellished their resume or because they had an infraction with the law or a messy marriage or a failed business. The system is quick to spot and punish those who are not squeaky clear. Especially if they are a person of color.
Compare the candidates who were pushed out of the political arena for making a mistake. And then look at the case of George Santos who is the poster child for insanity and lies. Not to mention the financial laws he is accused of violating. Plus there are two others in congress who lied about their resumes and they were not pushed out.
What if a candidate of color lied to the media and public more than a hundred times or lets say 30,000. What would the media or the opposing party say or do?
What if this candidate took home top secret documents and tried to hide them from the FBI and shared them with individuals who did not have top secret clearance. I received top secret clearance three times and know how quick some one should go to jail should they violate this law.
Yet, the US constitution does not prohibit anyone charged with a crime, nor anyone convicted of one, from holding office.
The 14th Amendment, however, does bar anyone who has taken an oath to protect the United States and engaged in “insurrection or rebellion” from holding office. Relying on that provision, a slew of separate civil lawsuits in state courts are expected in the near future to try and bar the former president from holding office. But if he was a person of color he would have been pushed off the ballot immediately.
As voters, consider Black, Latino, Asian or Native American candidates running for office. Not a candidate that had multiple women accused them of harassment or were accused of sleeping with a porn star. Not to mention making public sexist comments about women and racist comments of other public officials.
Puerto Ricans found out years ago when they did an action at the Capitol and what the punishment was and delivered swiftly. The 1954 United States Capitol shooting was an attack on March 1, 1954, by four Puerto Rican nationalists who sought to promote the cause of Puerto Rico independence from US rule. They fired 30 rounds from semi-automatic pistols onto the legislative floor from the Ladies’ Gallery (a balcony for visitors) of the House of Representatives chamber.
The assailants were arrested, tried successively in two federal courts and convicted. All received long consecutive sentences, amounting to life imprisonment. In 1978 and 1979, their sentences were commuted by President Jimmy Carter.
Compare these sentences to those given to insurrectionists of January 6th who caused at least four deaths, injured many police officers, and broke many laws.
What if color candidates published the home addresses and phone numbers of judges, prosecutors and poll workers and told the most serious lies about them, they would probably be demonized in the media.
Many white citizens including politicians are saying that violence might be a weapon that they can and will use to keep people of color out of office. What would they say if Latino and Black organizations were to auction off or offering as prizes AR-15 and running ads with their families all holding weapons of mass destruction?
The white right wing element is getting away everyday by yelling “FIRE!” in a crowded theatre in our communities and describing false narratives that make people fear and hate certain segments of society. Caught up in this hatred is demonstrated by lies told against immigrants, Muslims, Jews, women, LGBTQ+ communities and others.
Yes there is a double or perhaps a triple standard at play and it is harmful to our society at large.
Some how we must balance the scales and punish and protect everyone equally.
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