Chuck Turner FBI PROBE – Accepting Bribe
City Councilor Chuck Turner charged with accepting bribe
By Shelley Murphy, Jonathan Saltzman, John C. Drake, and Andrew Ryan, Globe Staff
Boston City Councilor Chuck Turner has been charged with accepting a $1,000 bribe and then lying about taking the money in a widening federal corruption inquiry.
 Chuck Turner |
A 12-page affidavit filed in US District Court alleges that Turner was surreptitiously videotaped accepting the cash in his district office on Aug. 3, 2007, in exchange for pushing for a liquor license for the Roxbury nightclub Dejavu. Included with the affidavit are two photographs of Turner allegedly accepting the bribe. In one image, Turner’s trademark white goatee is clearly visible as folded green bills are pressed into his hand. Turner was arrested by the FBI in his City Hall office at 7 a.m. today on charges stemming from the undercover investigation, which led to the Oct. 28 arrest of state Senator Dianne Wilkerson on allegations that she accepted eight bribes totaling $23,500. The day of Wilkerson’s arrest, two FBI agents visited Turner at his City Hall office and he “repeatedly denied ever being offered the money,” according to the affidavit. During the interview, however, Turner rued the pervasiveness of corruption.
“If you took out all the corrupt politicians, you take out 90 percent and be left with us 10 percent,” Turner said, according to the affidavit.
The five-term city councilor made his initial appearance this afternoon in US District Court in Worcester before Magistrate Judge Timothy Hillman, who is also handling Wilkerson’s case. Turner faces charges of attempted extortion under color of official right — essentially, using his office to obtain an illegal payment — and lying to a government agent. Wearing a long-sleeve white dress shirt and brown pants, Turner was led into court with his hands cuffed behind his back. He told almost 30 supporters who attended the hearing that he needed to borrow a winter coat because the FBI pulled him out of City Hall without his jacket.
“I am absolutely positive that a jury of my peers will come to the conclusion that I am innocent,” Turner told a crush of reporters after the hearing. “I know I am innocent.”
When Turner was released on a $50,000 bond, his supporters erupted in cheers in the court’s lobby.
“I think it’s a smear campaign, convicting somebody before they even go to court,” said Kazi Toure, a Dorchester resident who has known Turner for at least 20 years. “I know he’s a good man. I know he is not a person who takes money from people to do things in the community.”
US Attorney Michael Sullivan disagreed in a statement issued earlier today.
“The public deserves, and should expect, honest services from our public officials,” Sullivan said. “Public officials who line their pockets with cash while claiming to act in the public interest, violate our laws and the trust and confidence of the public we serve.”
James Dilday, a lawyer who persuaded Turner to write a Jan. 22, 2007, letter to the Boston Licensing Board for the developers of Dejavu but dropped out after the license request was initially rejected in March, said he met Monday with Assistant US Attorney John T. McNeil. McNeil asked him about the possible involvement of others in the Dejavu payoff scandal, including Turner and State Representative Gloria L. Fox, a Boston Democrat.
“I said to him that I didn’t think Chuck was involved in any taking of any monies,” Dilday said in an interview this morning. “I got him to write a letter for me and we got turned down.”
Fox did not immediately return a phone message from the Globe seeking comment. She has not been accused of any wrongdoing.
“She’s pretty clean, from what I heard,” Dilday said of Fox. “You know the feds will ask about everybody. Nobody is beyond their vision.”
Fox also signed a letter on behalf of Dejavu that was sent to the licensing board, Dilday said. McNeil asked fewer questions about Fox than about Turner but was curious about her because of the letter, which Dilday said he wrote.
Wilkerson resigned Wednesday after nearly 16 years. She faced mounting pressure from her colleagues in the Senate to do so.
Turner, a member of the Green-Rainbow Party, has served in the City Council since 2000, representing District 7, which includes Roxbury, Lower Roxbury, and parts of the Fenway, South End, and Dorchester. City Council President Maureen E. Feeney temporarily stripped Turner today of all of his committee assignments, including the chairmanship of the committees on Education and Human Rights.
FBI agents arrived at Turner’s home in Roxbury at 6:30 a.m. but could not find him. Agents located him 30 minutes later in his office and took him into custody.
The FBI’s 18-month corruption inquiry hinges on the help of a cooperating witness identified in court documents only as “CW.” The Globe reported this month that Wilkerson has told close associates that CW is Ron Wilburn, a longtime friend and active political supporter.
In the affidavit filed today in support of Turner’s arrest, the cooperating witness is again not identified by name. In early 2007, he told investigators that he “had heard” that Turner had taken “a cash payment for writing a letter of recommendation for an individual with a criminal record,” according to the affidavit. The cooperating witness acknowledged, however, that he had never made payments to Turner.
In December 2006, the cooperating witness approached Turner and Wilkerson about securing a liquor license for Dejavu, a nightclub on Melnea Cass Boulevard that was in the districts of both lawmakers. Turner wrote a letter on behalf of the club to the licensing board in January 2007. No money exchanged hands for the letter, according to the affidavit. Dejavu’s request for the liquor license was rejected by the board in March 2007.
Over the next few months, Wilkerson is accused of accepting cash bribes of $500 and $1,000 at posh Beacon Hill restaurants Scollay Square and No. 9 Park. In July 2007, Turner began pressing for a City Council hearing for Dejavu’s liquor license, according to the affidavit.
“The CW initially offered to give Turner a fund-raiser,” according to the affidavit, and Turner gave him contact information for his fund-raising coordinator.
On Aug. 2, Wilkerson allegedly accepted a $1,000 bribe from the cooperating witness at the Fill-A-Buster restaurant across from the State House. Wilkerson told him that “they are busting tail” and Dejavu should have a liquor license in a few weeks, according to the affidavit.
The next day the cooperating witness accepted Turner’s invitation and visited him at his district office in Roxbury. According to the affidavit, “The CW then handed Turner $1,000 in cash and said, ‘You take the wife to dinner and … have some fun.’” The wad of money allegedly included five $100 bills and 10 $50 bills.
Dilday, the lawyer who worked on behalf of the developers of the nightclub, said today that it was hard to believe that Turner would promise to help the cooperating witness “for such a little bit of money.”
“I’m surprised that Chuck is involved because I always thought of him as an upstanding, honest individual, and I await the outcome,’’ said Dilday, who has known Turner since 1968. He is representing an undisclosed individual before the grand jury in connection with its investigation of Wilkerson’s alleged manipulation of legislation to pave the way for a Roxbury development.
Dilday, who is black, said he is concerned that two people arrested so far in the federal investigation are black.
“There’s a real question because this morning, two separate people said to me, ‘Where’s all the white people?’ ” he said. “Because what we’re talking about is a three-person Boston Licensing Board. They had to have approved this license, and so are any of them involved?”
Warren T. Bamford, the special agent in charge of the FBI’s Boston office, said race hasn’t played any role in the investigation.
“Naturally, there are no racial overtones to this,” Bamford said. “We are looking at public corruption at any level and it really doesn’t matter to us, ethnicity, religion or other factors. We’re looking for honesty in public service and that’s what we are trying to maintain. The idea that this has some racial overtone or is racially motivated is not correct.”
He said public corruption investigations are one of the FBI’s top criminal priorities, second only to national security investigations.
Asked what confidence the public should have in the integrity of elected officials, US Attorney Sullivan said, “Most people serve honorably, and are faithful to their oath of office. We have charged two individuals. It is alleged they are part of this particular scheme to take cash payments, the theft of their honest services. I’m not going to comment beyond that.”
But Sullivan did indicate that neither the Legislature nor Boston Mayor Thomas M. Menino have become entangled in the investigation.
“I don’t want people to speculate that members of the Legislature are complicit with regards to this investigation. There is no evidence to suggest that. And there is no evidence at all to suggest that Mayor Menino had any involvement at all with regards to that scheme,” Sullivan said.
Asked if other members of the City Council will be implicated or if people connected to the Boston Licensing Board or the state Alcoholic Beverages Control Commission are being investigated, Sullivan said, “I am not going to confirm or deny anything beyond the fact that our investigation continues.”
382 comments so far…
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and now wilkerson’s cohorts fall like dominos
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oh -oh team unity. who’s next?
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This doesn’t come to me as a surprise. I bet his constituents will say he was set up and people are out to get him.
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Who is next?
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There will be another one to fall, the state rep form the area where the DCR land parcel was located. Just reading the Wilkerson affidavit leads the way to Turner and Rep Z
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hahaha. I find this man dispicable. Ever since he called a press conf to allege our troops were raping women in Iraq and claimed he had proof. Turned out all he had were still from an Eastern European porn site with people dressed up in fatigues. This man is DIRT.
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Will’s right – the entire community he “served” will say it was a set-up. The Feds were out to get both Dianne and Chuckie-boy. Is this just not more evidence that practically the entire Legislature is crooked? Serious reason for TERM LIMITS.
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looks like Ms. Wilkerson is singing like the jail bird she is…….
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Take them all!
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They’re dropping like flies.
Who’s Next?
They should all go to jail for the bill of goods we were sold on the big dig.
They’re all dirty.
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How long do you think it will be before they claim racism ?
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Is Turner related to Charles Darwin? (see photo)
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Wouldn’t call it racism (Di Masshole is getting charged) but certainly there is something against repulsive looking people.
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Why people seem so sure how other people will react to this is beyond me, and a bit depressing to be honest, but I’m glad to hear we are cleaning up the pond a bit.
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Unfortunately, this trail leads all the way up to the Mayor’s office…
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At least this winter he will have a legitimate excuse for not shovelling
his sidewalk.
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Race card in 5…4…3…2…1…
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Everyone says Republicans are corrupt.
All I see is Democrat after Democrat after Democrat
getting arrested for corruption around here.We really need a Reform party in Massachusetts,
because people won’t vote republican,
and the Democrats just keep letting us down.
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I wonder what all you nay-sayers will say when this leads to Therese Murray’s door!!!
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How soon before a race card is pulled?
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Great ! They should keep going until they get up to Sal And Terry. Term limits are the only way to go. But the the masses will just pull the (D) lever no matter what. They deserve what they get.
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You know the big guy is next and there are many more to follow.
Garcia
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A spider web of corruption. It’s everyplace in Massachusetts.
How can you tell if a politician is lying? Their lips are moving.
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What a nightmare. If these allegations are true, it will be another massive slap the face of black leadership and progressive politics in the city of Boston.
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The big fish is hiding inside the boston city hall, throw the fishing net little wider.
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There are Republicans in Massachusetts?
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Hopefully, he can select from the low carb diet plan at Club Fed.
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next up, Menino..Then Boston might actually have a democracy (and a mayor who lives in the city instead of suburbia..
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Corruption is not just not in Boston City Hall. Look at your ill run state. It starts at the Gov’s office and works it’s way all they down to dog catcher. You guys in MA need to clean house.
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The fat lady(Wilkerson) is singing in the background to save her buttocks. Every single politician especially Mumbles and all of the Public sector unions pinkie ring leaders are crooked up to their ears. The taxpayers are getting ‘hosed’ and last NOV 4th voters missed their opportunity to send a message…enough is enough!
The pot runner retired on disability(?) firefighter was caught in AZ. He was ‘on a run’ for the leaders of the BFD union as they were planning a celebratory pot party at BFD headquarters with the useless administrators.
There is zero accountability in any government these days.
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chuck has been a dedicated servant for the voiceless within boston for over 40 years. hes the only city councilor who maintains a drop in office in his own district. he apparently has funded this office out of his own pocket so that his constituents can have better access to services and support. if not for this man, there would be a devastating freeway running right through roxbury, there would be more homeless and more foreclosures, less youth jobs and opportunities, more people without heat and food. he was a civil rights leader and a community organizer, before councilor. turner was also a vocal resistor of the iraq war, well beyond the rest of the political establishment came around. he really deserves the benefit of the doubt until more details are released.
and theres at least historical justification to be skeptical of FBI attacks against progressive leaders. countelpro anyone? lets wait and see what happens.
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diane won’t go down alone – take them all!!!!!!!!!
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Don’t people realize that you can run as much as you want from the FBI, eventually they will catch you. And as far as comment #20 goes, I was actually thinking that myself…give it time.
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Our Boston City Council has a hundred or so people as central staff and councilors’ staff. Routinely, Council public documents are withheld from people enquiring about Council proceedings and transactions. Minutes of Council public meetings are too brief to be understood by most people attempting to read these Minutes. Stenographic machine data recording councilors’ debate at public meetings has been should be readily available rather than kept at home by the budgeted Council stenographer E. Fritch Stenographic Associates.
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“Turner says ‘ …FBI.. seems to focus on taking black politicians down’” and “shows how corrupt the FBI is” Now we know Turner is guilty. He played the race card in about 30 seconds AND went after the FBI’s credibility. Hardly the words of an innocent man talking.
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Chuck Turner is a racist himself. Racism isn’t only white people groundlessly hating non-whites, it’s non-whites groundlessly hating too. Being a crook is raceless; being busted for it is too.
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Couldn’t of happened to a better guy! ha ha ha! The troops thank you!
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Er…the race card WAS pulled. Didn’t anyone read the last line of this article? It states: Turner said it “shows me [the FBI is] still an organization that seems to focus on trying to take black politicians down.”
There you have it, folks.
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I’ll bet that he hid the money in that sweet beard of his!
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Please don’t show us any video tape of Chuck sticking cash in his Bra….or under his bread-crumb bread….. wonder who is next???
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It’s interesting how Turner is pulling the “race card.”
Truly show’s his ignorance.
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….the FBI affadavit also listed a state house representative as being involved in this sting…would any of you like to “name that rep”???? I think that she is packing her bags to go even as I type this….
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Why do all you clowns in Massachusetts talk about race all the time. Now wonder people all over the country laugh at us.
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later Chuckie, it will be fun seeing who’s next, keep em comin feds
buh bye
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“COME ON GUYS WE GOT CAUGHT!” Dianne said
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Wake up people from Roxbury, please! Those areas will never move forward with demagogic politicians that pray on the poor and gullible. Some still wonder why we are engulfed with tons of low-income housing, poverty and distress. We need a more diversity population that would better discriminate, and choose politicians that do not offer hand-outs, but progressive solutions to our problems.
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The sad part is that this guy could be re-elected in a heartbeat; the Senator in Louisiana with the box of money in his freezer got re-elected, Barney Frank got re-elected. We reap what we sow.
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Yes Mr. Turner continue to play the race card as you’ve done for the last 8 years.
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Jail birds always sing.
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If they round up all of the corrupt politicians in Mass, who will be left to govern our state?
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Base on this statement
“shows me [the FBI is] still an organization that seems to focus on trying to take black politicians down.”Race card was already being used.
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I wonder what party these two crooks are in? The article just doesn’t say. I can’t imagine why the reporters wouldn’t identify the party affiliation of these two.
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Maybe they can arrest mayor Memino for murdering the English language.
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You all obviously are not talking about the Chuck Turner that I know and all of the wonderful things that he has done for his community. Take a look at all of the people he has assisted in achieving righteousness before you speak badly of him. I support Chuck Turner and will continue to believe that he is innocent. Maybe you should do the same. MR
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This goes right to the top. Don’t stop until justice is SERVED.
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If “Turner said it ’shows me [the FBI is] still an organization that seems to focus on trying to take black politicians down.’” isn’t already “playing the race card”, what is?
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I wonder who has the better singing voice Chuck or Dianne. This is going to get real good. My holidays just got a littel brighter. Hope Sally DiMasi is on deck. Go get’em FBI. Anybody heard anything from Coakley?
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It will be interesting to see who is next. Wilkerson lost her job over $23,500 in bribes which is stupid. She stood to make much more as a state senator and in legal bribes(oops I mean favors), Why get stupid and go for the illegal ones?
Oh well, we’ll see how far it gets.
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They want Menino, they have been after him for years awhile. I keep hearing rumors in the city they are gunning for him on corruption charges. Boston seems an awful lot like Providence lately!
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Hey, the lemmings keep voting these (and a long list of other) shiftless dirtbags in as well as voting to keep the income tax to finance these dirtbags. You get what you pay for, folks.
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His beard made him do it!
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I guess he won’t have to worry about shoveling his sidewalk anymore…
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You deserve what you get Mass Dem voters. I’m laughing as I search for another state to move to. The tax burden and the corruption have become too much, soon this state will look like Detroit and Flint if something isn’t changed.
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Chuck and Dianne are going to make it hard for young black politicians to get to these positions in the future. Their selfish acts go way beyond their own personal lives. I feel bad for the embarrassement they will have to face but I feel even worse for black politicians to follow.
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Term limits mean even good representatives have to leave. Look at NYC where the best mayor they may have ever had has to step down. Term limits do not work as intended. Go another way, have a governmental Internal Affairs Dept.
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The Globe doesn’t mention It but City Councilor Chuck Turner Is a Democrat.
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“[the FBI is] still an organization that seems to focus on trying to take black politicians down.”, No, corrupt black politicians! You can’t hide under the “race skirt”.
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I don`t think this is about race or color, this is about honesty and he wan`t honest. He should go a jail if is guilty…..no questions ask….go federals
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The people of District 7 must be so proud.
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Hey! In this country a charged person is innocent until proven guilty in a court of law. It is not a matter of being affiliated with a specific party, though it may be some people can not resist the temptation if they feel others have been getting away with it for years.
Let’s just wait and see how this plays out, citizens are just rushing to judgement and that is not the American way.
Nonoo
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Yes, but does the picture show him stuffing the dough in his bra?
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For those of you wondering when the race card will be played, did you read the article? It is already in play. (last paragraph) “Blasting the operation as an effort to “entrap” him and “intimidate” his staff, Turner said it “shows me [the FBI is] still an organization that seems to focus on trying to take black politicians down.”
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Ahhh, it took the 3rd to last word to claim the “R” word!
And all this time I thought they were going after corrupt, bribe-taking, lying cheating thieves.
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Yes We Can (continue to be corrupted) and Yes We Can continue to get re-elected! Where’s Deval’s FBI photo? Perhaps he’s next!
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Good on the FBI. Hunt down and convict everyone who has accepted bribes. All the way to the top if that’s where it goes. Prison stripes for everyone. However, don’t claim that Republicans are totally innocent. Maybe in Massachusetts there have been no Republicans implicated but then again why bribe someone who has no power.
In states where Republicans hold power (Alaska for example) they are the ones being caught and convicted.
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Given that Democrats have controlled Mass. politics at the state and local levels for generations, I would presume that such abuses of power are the NORM; not the exception. Please note that former state senator Diane Wilkerson was NOT voted out of office by her Senate colleagues: she “voluntarily” resigned.
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Why is it wrong to take payoffs? Everyone does it.
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never committed a crime in my life and yet unemployed. Maybe i should run for office
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Look for the U.S. Attorney to be gone the day after Obama is sworn in. Can’t have the liberal hub awash in corruption.
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Linda is right. Term limits are necessary in order to let more corrupt politicians get their chance.
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Did you all finish the article? Turner already claimed that this was because he was black. Here is the last sentence of the article:
Turner said it “shows me [the FBI is] still an organization that seems to focus on trying to take black politicians down.”
This guy is horrible, I thought our elected officials were supposed to be held to a higher standard. He is doing a disservice to his community by serving in the state senate. Maybe instead of taking bribes to put in new nightclubs he should work on increasing the amount of money spent on teachers in his district. Or reducing the number of shootings.
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Well, considering how bad the bra pics of Wilkerson are, at least there aren’t any of Turner stuffing cash in, say, his jock strap. Ew.
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Hysterical! Like his esteemed colleague, doesn’t know enough to use a middleman! Who’s next? My money is on Therese. Follow the money…
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Not to speak ill of the dead, but there were well known BSC who grabbed a lot more, sometimes to help their constiuents, but always to feed the machine. That’s is just the institutional mentality that can only be corrected throught the system all at the same time.
It’s a system that does not equate “dirty” with “evil” it’s just how things get done. And it wasn’t and isn’t right.
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H-less Jon, corruption is a bipartisan problem. You don’t see Republicans getting arrested here because nobody is going to waste money bribing people who hold no power.
We need a third party everywhere, a fiscally sensible (not necessarily conservative, but leaning that way) and socially liberal party that is beholden to no particular segment of industry or labor. The GOP drove those type of people out by letting goofballs like Pat Robertson play in their sandbox. A third party like that would win a lot of seats in every state, and give the tyranny of the middle a face and voice it now only has indirectly.
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While all corrupt politicians should be removed from office…a few of you guys posting sound like some real racists
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Is this really a shock to anyone, good old Chuckie has been a criminal for years. He also intervened in a domestic situation in Roxbury and intimidated the victim. The police charged him and when the case went to court it was dismissed in a matter of seconds. If you want something done you have to let the Feds handle it.
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I can’t believe the ignorance of the comments here – everybody’s guilty, blah blah blah. I don’t think you can lump Turner and Wilkerson in with anyone else. Grow up.
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I can’t believe the ignorance of the comments here – everybody’s guilty, blah blah blah. I don’t think you can lump Turner and Wilkerson in with anyone else. Grow up.
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A corrupt politician? Who’d of thunk it!
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Race card at 11.
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All politicians are corrupt. How can you possibly get rid of all of them? Of course he’s going to blame the FBI and use the race card. What are his alternatives. When you’re guilty, it’s all you can do is try to blame others. He’s just another loser!
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I just read that Turner is saying the FBI is trying to take down Black politicians, Yes, the FBI is trying to take down politicians, corrupt ones, not just black.
Glad Wilkerson is cooperating, maybe she will be out in 40 years….
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Two respected african-americans taken down by the white racsist FBI. This is entrapment. Anybody would take cash if someone handed it to you. We need to think about this lodgeically.
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YES!!!!
Finally accountability. Yes yes yes
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Wow what a blow to the inner city. Term limits is a must. Looks like no one in the goverment can be trusted. Here we are assuming these people are hardworking honest folk doing the best for the people. Well you know what they say abou assuming. Thanks Chuck we truly use to look up to you
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jon said “Everyone says Republicans are corrupt. All I see is Democrat after Democrat after Democrat getting arrested for corruption around here.”
Well, jon, not “everyone” says Republicans are corrupt. In fact, because the percentage of Democrats in office in Mass. is so high, we’re way more likely to find corruption among Democrats. I agree that we need reform — we need to reform the entire political system. I happen to be a liberal independent who would like to be able to vote for NON-Republicans and NON-Democrats and have my vote really mean something.
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please take his disgraced honor Menino out next
I mean GET OUT of office
let someone else in
the fish rots from the head down
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I read everyone saying race this and race that…It really doesn’t matter the color of the skin..Lots of politicians are corrupt, White, Black, or indifferent. Why are people even wasting their time worrying about race? The bigger issue is the bad politics and the fact that these things are happening locally, nationally and internationally. Big name, or no name politicians. Democrat or republican.
This is a tired nation…Pathetic…But it happens everywhere.
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Yah know, it just makes everyone look bad when he pulls the race card. It’s like me saying the police are sexist when they pull me over because I’m a woman and thus a horrible driver. No, it’s because I was speeding and deserve a ticket. He didn’t get arrested because he was black, he was arrested because he took money that he shouldn’t have. It’s a matter of accountability. As long as races and genders pull those cards society won’t progress for the better.
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Ha,Ha, time to get out the popcorn. This is really getting fun to watch. Who’s next, Menino, DeMasi, Murray, Coakley…?
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It amazes me that people have a camera and microphone thrust in front of them and deny deny deny. maybe he can be Diane Wilkerson’s attorney and she can be his attorney.
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they are are crooked now the birds will sing they are just the ones that caught so far thats were our tax money its not abount if you work hard to support your family its who you know that is crooked they can fix anything that someone does wrong thank you FBI for catching them
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Where is the state AG in this? Failing to perform her duties.
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mumbles is many things….but corrupt is not one of them.
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With all the “change” that took place on November 4th, why are things still so much the same? The citizens of this state should realize that a system of checks and balances is the only way to move forward. We need to vote in some republicans and independents to keep people honest and stir up some debate. Continuing to fill Beacon Hill with yes men will only encourage more of the same. It’s time for us to accept that the incumbents are not doing the jobs they promised here or in Washington and to speak up. Votes in my home cancel each other out and discussion leads to good decision making.
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Dear God, please let it lead to Menino. Free us from this tyranny.
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I hope Wilkerson sings like a bird, and all the state legislature members goes to jail. We have too many of them for such a small state, and the majority (i.e. the ones not based in Boston) have no say in any matters and do not affect policy in any manner. They don’t do a better job than the legislatures from other states which are part time, and think of the money we would saved cutting donw on the number of them (and their many relatives who work for the state).
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Another corrupt Mass politician …. And state workers doing drugs on the job (the T …). Raising the turnpike tolls so these crooks can continue to waste our money! So this is what I am paying my taxes for !!!! Anyone want to reconsider their vote on ballot question 1???
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He already played the race card… Did you guys not read the article? The question is now will the media let him toss that kind of rhetoric with no hard questions about what a jerk he is and how he prefers his prison cell…
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This question is for JJ Ob. Why the race card? The rest of the country laughs at us abou this.
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Let’s get some new bums in there to disgrace the Commonwealth, breach the public’s trust, and line their pockets with kickbacks.
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Red, JJ OB and Chris, the race card was already pulled. Learn to read.
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I predict Dimasi (criminal), Murray (criminal) and then Coakley (do-nothing) will go the way of Wilkerson (rat) and Turner (criminal).
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This is just sad, 1st off these are people we rely on to represent us and they seem more interested in CASH. Being an African American I feel deeply betrayed by these two who talked the loudest about racism and how unjust government is. They have been drinking some over proof Kool-Aid. It’s not about black or white it about morality and being honest .These two idiots sorry, detractors have taken the progress of Obama, Patrick, and every other hard working minority and left a steamer on us for what, CASH. You greedy, self absorbed, pompous, nitwit’s .And they get up in arms when the “N” word is used. Please how dare you; your constant and sadly predictable actions are equal to the definition of the word.
If you all are so lame as to even pull the race card on something as so blantely wrong, and hide behind it, then shame on you. So what happens when real racism happens what then…..Sal and Terry will get theirs and that’s fine but you two let EVERYONE down.
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Race card? Give me a break. The only color that matters to corrupt officials is GREEN. I have no doubt that someone will try to pull the card, but this has nothing to do with race. Right now its Wilkerson and Chuck, but I would not be surprised is this thing goes beyond these two…
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I am one of his constituents in Roxbury and I definitely do not think that the FBI is out to get him. I think that especially in our community we need someone who is looking out for our best interests and not their own. His arrest and the arrest of Diane Wilkerson are truly heartbreaking and disappointing. We deserve better.
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I am one of his constituents in Roxbury and I definitely do not think that the FBI is out to get him. I think that especially in our community we need someone who is looking out for our best interests and not their own. His arrest and the arrest of Diane Wilkerson are truly heartbreaking and disappointing. We deserve better.
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this is not something that is just happening here in MA. all over the country elected officials are taking bribes and kickbacks. what has happened to the morals and honesty in this world ? this is just sad.
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I can’t believe he tried to play the race card! Just shows you what type of low life he is. He got caught, plain and simple.
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What is wrong with Bostonians? They keep electing the same criminals and then complain about it. Are Bostonians drinking the water from the Charles?
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WHAT!!! There’s corruption in MA politics?? Well I never……
Ha! I can hear the scurrying on Beacon Hill from here.
Next……….
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As an African American I am frustrated, embarrassed and ashamed by Turner screaming racism when caught red-handed. Turner committed these acts of greed and abuse because he is greedy – not because he is black. He got caught because he is greedy – not because he is black. The truth is Turner were caught because he abused the power given to him as an elected offcial – not because of his color.
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Corruption has no race. When this is over there are sure to be both black and white Boston pols wearing black and white prison suits.
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How long will it be before he claims racism? He already did. The new definitation of racism is any suggestion that a black politican has done anything wrong, or to ask questions about their policy.
If you are not in total agreement with them, your a racist. If they want to raise your taxes and you ask why, your a racist. If you catch them taking bribes or not paying their federal income tax, your a racist.
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Chuckie T is going down, Dianne the Rat is so very busy this holiday season! Santa’s naughty list is getting bigger and bigger, no new bras for Ms. D for Christmas, and Chuckie won’t get a new beard comb in his stocking.
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posting no. 8 Linda nov.21 is the only correct method to straighten out our political mess “TERM LIMITS” I have been saying this for the last 16 years ask anyone in my family (this should be for all political offices)!!!!!!!!!!
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Will, why do you say his (Turner’s) constituents ? What are you really saying ? It pretty obvious what your about, and what your implying. Do you make these generalizations about other corrupt politicians. For example, did you blame the people of Alaska for Senator Stevens corruption. Have you ever done a study on the ethnic make up of convicted politicians and their “constituent base” across the country ? Maybe you should do that before making such commentary without foundation.
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Racism has deep, enduring roots in Boston, but that does not excuse the crminal behavior of Wilkerson or Turner. Unfortunately, there is a depsrate need for new leadership in Boston’s AfroAmerican community to truly serve the disenfranchised, poor, undereducated communities that remain largely hidden beneath Boston’s mask as a liberal, well educated, economically productive and creative metropolis. I want to see some white guys indicted now in this city and state where systemic corrpution exists in agencies and at all leves of government. And, yes, Hilda, the guys reign here in the fifedom of MA.
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It’s interesting that the story never mentions his political affiliation- If he was a republican, I suspect that would included.
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I dont get it. The video is from August 07. That was over a year ago. What did Wilkerson have the tape or something? Someone please explain.
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What you are witnessing is the fruits of a one party system and the concentration of power in Boston to the detriment of the rest of the state. Commonsense takes a backseat to bandwagon of corrupt politicians that this state produces. Three speakers in a row have been charged with malfeasance of office, while standing on the “moral” principals that gaming would be bad for Massachusetts. The state legislature has rejected the wishes of the people in referendum after referendum and stack the cards in their favor on the few they do pay attention to. This is a very corrupt system and it is clear that if the top is on the take the bottom is not far behind .
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IM SURE THERE WILL BE MORE TO COME. I KNEW DIANE WAS NOT IN IT ALL BY HERSELF. I JUST HOPE THAT MENINO AINT IN ON IT TOO. NOW THAT WOULD BE A SAD SITUATION.
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I don’t know who’s running the Dem party up there, but they better get their act together and clean up this mess or Mass will be going red, and I hate damn republicans worse than i hate yankee fans.
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Wake up MA. We vote down question #1 and within 3 weeks they raise tolls and talk of raises gas taxes.
Look at this corruption and racism on the part of Turner and Wilkerson (they are both bigots).
We need another party in the state. I would opt for a libertarian party. Socially liberal and fiscally conservative – in short, the “leave me alone” party.
Have fun in prison Chuckie. I think they will find you to be quite a cutie.
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Question for Heather, Are you a racist?
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This is an embarrassment to the Boston Community. Now I know why my city has gone downhill, the people we elect to help the community are too busy helping themselves. He better not pull the race card! As a black woman I find it highly offensive! Kids are killing each other on the street and the people we elect that we think can “relate” to our suffering give give a rat’s a**.
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Folks…..go back and read the FBI Affadavit. Dianne did not need to “sing”…the serial numbers for all of those $100 bills that she was given were recorded. The FBI only needed to follow the money….not to mention the video, audio, photo evidence on both of them….now for the state house rep that is next in line….. as I mentioned earlier mumbles menino may be many things, but stupid and corrupt are not among them. stay tuned.
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How about to put in Jail Mr Criminal Bush who has lost more than 600 billions dollars in a war with lies and killed one million people in Iraq for oil.
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The comments in this blog show just how ignorant people of Mass are. I am sure the majority of the comments are coming from White folks. Well I can’t wait for some of the “good ole boys” start singing in jail as well. Come on, there are few white boys up there sweating to death to see the next one they bring out in hand cuffs. I am not sure if the blogs would be the same once some people of color are not the only one’s on the chopping block. The FBI is trying to bring down the black elected officials, this dance is the same dance that happen with Martin Luther King and Malcom X. Black folks need to stick together and start yelling for the probe to start targeting some white elected officials. We as black folks know “we” can’t do nothing alone without the help of some white folks in hand as they say they have the real power. Come on FBI get the real crooks.
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Why should I be surprised?
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Why should I be surprised?
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Chuck has a office in Dudley to serve folks. How many other city or state officials do that? and it is open five days a week. Chuck it at almost every rally for human rights and anti war. How many other elected officials do that? Chuck has always gone beyond what his work is! I wish we had more elected offficials willing to take a stand like Chuck!
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This just proves that nothing has change in Boston City politics since the turn of the century. It’s still a haven for the crooked and corrupt. An apology or a probe by the city won’t do anything to restore my trust, it’s going to take many years for my confidence to be restored in the local government.
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You know he wasn’t using that $1000 to hire someone to shovel the snow from his sidewalk. What a jerk!
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if we have to pay there legal fees i will sue as a tax payer for there property to refund my tax dollars……i think there homes and bank accounts should be seized…if they don’t want that to happen then they should take back there request for legal counsel from the state and get there own, this thing is gonna get ugly… a lot of people on the hill are scrambling , and i bet city hall is mopping up the sweat right now… we may have an entire city and state government under seige. its far over due…..i wonder how many state and city employees own land they aquired in sweetheart deals>??? lets check that out next!!!!
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Who cares what party they belong to. The only label these jerks should have is PRISONER!! And maybe they can pay back ALL of their salary to the people of the state.
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For all that anxiously awaits the race card to be plucked from a deck of diamonds and hearts –> You will be disappointed. This is a serious issue at hand. This new administration will whole heartedly begin to seperate the sheep from the goats.. You’ll see..
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This is a very sad day for the district and for the City. If the allegations are proven true, Mr. Turner and Ms. Wilkerson are going to serve prison time in addition to their character being damaged forever. This was caused by there own alleged actions – they allowed themselves to be a target and take the bait. I cannot judge them; only they know why they accepted the cash. Frankly, both of them should have seen how too easy this was. I do wonder what was going through their mine. I am saddened for their family and the constituents who supported them. If true, an entire community has been let down. I pray for them and their families.
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That is not a goatee, it is a van dyke. Where are the fact checkers!
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Chuck Turner: arrogant, ignorant, prejudiced, racist, recidivist, and now convict…
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Elect them President no matter what color their skin is, and send the crooks to jail no matter what color their skin is. It’s called a just society.
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Who’s Next? I hope they keep going till they get them all……
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Did Deval make robocalls for him as he did Diane? What a swell judge of character he is. Between messes like this, the turnpike-toll swamp, the T drivers working half-cocked, Marzilli, DiMasi and Bulger’s perpetual pension grabs, it’s hard to think of a lower form of life than municipal employees in Mass right now. Since they’re all Dems, hopefully Obama will give them all jobs..maybe land mine quality control at the Pentagon.
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Why are they only targeting the minority politicians?
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“If you took out all the corrupt politicians, you take out 90 % and be left with us 10 %,” Turner said, according to the affidavit!!! OMG! Is that really the attitude up there?? Everyone else is doing it, get your share too. He would know being up there for 7 years and being exposed to the inner party.
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Yeah the race card will be used somehow, but I think it will be laughed at this time.
But the excuse should be good… that is what I want to hear.
Some issue with bills or somthing I’m sure…. Col Sanders is going down.
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Well, well, well – its funny how the self absorbed politicians often sabotage their own success. Turner, Wilkerson and others often forget the true nature of why they enter public service. Instead of serving for the public, they are only concerned of “getting theirs”. The only sympathy that I have is for the hard working people of the communities affected by the greed of Wilkerson and Turner and that they are again without a voice and a vision.
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I LOVE IT !!!!!
Take Them All Down….
I can’t wait until Menino’s MUG is on here…. (It’ll be like the pool scene in “American Gangster” for Mumbles. )
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Why are you guys acting like Turner and Wilkerson are the only two ever in the history of Massachusetts politics to be corrupt? I”ll take ANYONE accepting a 1k bribe for a liquor license over HALF of the most despicable charges that members of council have swept under the rug ANY DAY. Drugs, embezzlement of OUR TAX money, fraud, domestic violence, sexual deviation.. the LIST GOES ON….. umm and our beloved Kennedy who left a girl in a car that ‘rolled’ into water. GIVE ME A BREAK!
*Yawn* wake me when a real crime has been committed. Wake me when the councilman or woman that’s arrested for drunk driving is finally taken off the streets. Wake me when that same drunk driver who will one day hit and kill someone IS ACTUALLY PUNISHED FOR THE CRIME. *YAWN*.
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I would bet Mike Ross is next…
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And Masschusetts voters voted no on Question 1. You get what you pay for…
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Sharon is right, Dianne did not have to sing (as if ratting out a lowly city councillor would help her with th feds). Just read the affidavit from her bust (pardon the pun) and you’ll see that the local developer told the FBI undercovers that in addition to the senator, there was a councillor and state rep who need “the report” (code for payola)
The development parcel was in both of their districts and Rep Z will be coming next. Lets just say she is crazy like a ###.
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Of course he, like her, will play the RACE CARD to deflect truth and corrupt further, their positions, these people are scum.
Obama has enabled the playing of the race card and the race blame
If you’re African american you should be held to a lower standard for all the past evils African Americans suffered?
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I’m this is going to start an avalanche of hacks spilling their guts first to get the best deal. This a really sad state of affairs. We really are turning into a banana republic.
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The race card will not be used because racism is dead. Obama was voted in by the white vote. If America’s white people are racist, then why would they entrust their own livelihood, the country’s safety, and their children’s future with Obama, the most important job in the world? However you cut it, you have no argument. Mr Jackson and Mr. Sharpton will stop playing the victim and look for new jobs.
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with luck MENINO will be next… he’s no different than Buddy Cianci in Providence, strong-arming companies to ‘donate’ to his causes (Fenway Field in Roxbury, the summer camp on Long Island) – in turn for ‘favors’.
Perhaps Boston will be “FIRST and BEST” at corruption!
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The government and banks just stole 5 trillion from us and we are foaming at the mouth over a fistful of dollars? This guy is a cookie thief compared to the bankers. When the full nature of the banker heist comes to light, you will pine for the days of “boss hog” corruption.
Peace
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He’s been a lousy city councilor, who is more interested in “foreign policy” and self agrandizement than governing Boston well. I’m a little surprised he’s a crook though.
But never that surprised to find out a politician is a crook, especially in the Peoples Republic of Massachusetts. I do hope they get a bunch of the white crooks too, though. I don’t think its racist to arrest people who are crooked, whatever their race, but it wouldn’t be fair to ignore the white crooks.
Notice how the “progressive” politicians seem to be falling like flies? I’m really starting to dislike the progressive movement intensely. It seems to be mostly about self righteousness
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Let me preface this by saying that I am a Republican. Corrupt politicians are a problem in both parties. The public should have no patience or tolerance with this activity and should demand further scrutiny and investigations. Sarah Palin did a great job of getting rid of all the corrupt republicans in Alaska – an act that more politicians should have the guts (and feel obligated) to do. I am not saying Palin should be a VP or President of the US based on this, but she should have received credit where credit is due. And I don’t believe the media or the majority of Americans acknowledged this and said “more politicians should foolow suit.” AAnd that is a negative effect of partisan politics.
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SpiceCowboy said: Obama has enabled the playing of the race card and the race blame
How do you figure that one? Corruption comes in all colors. Look up the history of this city buddy. Obama and his election has nothing to do with it. If you’re sorry you’re guy didn’t win, time to find another excuse. Everyone who is corrupt–no matter their color, should be prosecuted. Period.
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When he posted pictures on is web site of American troops raping Iraqi women that was from a Romanian porn site. THAT WAS CRIMINAL. It was the supreme insult to our men and women both Black and White that are serving our country proudly in Iraq and Afghanistan. For that alone he shouldn’t have been elected. I hope he gets convicted not for bribery but for insulting our Troops. The fine people of that area deserve better and hopefully will get a person that will serve them honorably like our troops both Black and White serve our country.
TomB
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I think No-Fool is a racist. Look at his/her comments on other blogs (about Pirates for example).
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I have lived in Boston, Jamaica Plain for 65 years. I have watched blue hill ave, dorchester, mattapan, columbia road, I could go on and on, being revitalized at least 5 times in my lifetime…When will they get it right…Dianne and Chuckie have been in the middle of this all these years…we pay…they play…no race card….we have an african american president…so that argument is down the tubes…get rid of them all…TERM LIMITS
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comment #105 – EXACTLY, why can’t our STATE handle the corruption itself? Why do we need help from the FEDS (FBI)? Did the A.G and State just ignore prior complaints? This makes the state look guilty/suspicious.
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to Siobhan O’Reilly….wake you when a “real crime” has taken place??? Taking a bribe is against the law, and it is one of the most dangerous laws to break. You obviously don’t comprehend that corruption is one of the worst things a public offical can take part in. It allows the city to be put up for sale, and awarded to the highest bidders. Maybe if the Deja Vu nightclub was not so busy lining the pockets of (hopefully soon to be former) Councilman Turner, his focus may have been on the safety of the kids in his district in Roxbury and Dorchester. I seem to recall a story or two of street violence taking place there????
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It is no use to play the race card when the lady holding the scales of justice is wearing a blind fold.
Just another money crisis.
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Wow, this is great. This guy has been screaming “victim” for a long time now. Guess dirty politicians are equal, no matter the color of their skin.
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To # 48: Excuse me…I don’t seem to recall Barney Frank’s name EVER being linked to any kind of criminal activity like this. So your point is…?
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How can these politicians be so stupid! When the feds ask you have you taken a bribe they already have proof that you did. They just want to add on to your possible sentencing. Times must be hard if you will risk your career over $1000.
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Seems as if the only RACE CARD is from the nitwits on this site! If someone is corrupt than they should get arrested and made to step down as they are there to help the people and not themselves.
If the FBI’s checking out EVERYONE then more power to them and more help for us but if they are only after the minorities and the little money then God help them and then you you can start to wonder why.
People need to get over how everyone looks and look beyond…bad people come in all colors.
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I don’t believe race has anything to do with it. If they are corrupt, they should be prosecuted. I do have issues with the photographs of any politician that is photographed seemingly taking a bribe. Let’s see some actual video tape of the alleged crimes. Photos don’t always give you the big picture. We don’t know how much money Chuck and Diane are holding, we also don’t know what the $$$ is actually for. Diane’s photo was more incriminating because she was stuffing something under her sweater. I don’t think you actually saw the $$ being stuffed, just her reaching under. Isn’t everyone innocent until proven guilty????
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I try to never play the race card, but I hope it’s diversed when they start bring out the corrupt politicians down. You do the crime, then you need to do the time. You can’t just bring a certain group down and not the rest, let them all go down!
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Let’s stop with the racism folks. He’s another American politician who got caught beating the American public.
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If were left with 10% HONEST ones the so be it.
Crooks should be in JAIL!
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He who is without sin, cast for first stone
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Bizarro how some people want to make this about Republican/Democrat press bias. Sad for you: Chuck Turner is a member of the Green-Rainbow Party.
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The Globe’s coverage of corruption leaves the impression to many commenting here that corruption is a racial issue. It’s not. Whatever the percentage is of corruption in Massachusetts officials that percentage is going to fall without regard for race. Let’s not forget that the majority of civic leaders in Massachusetts towns and cities are other than black. We know that corruption is also happening in those places because power corrupts; when it does, it does not do so along any racial lines. These grainy images of money passing hands are salacious, to be sure. It’s tempting to believe these gratifications represent the worst of the worst. However, I’m sure that out in the parishes bigger fish are openly cavorting in seas of tainted cash having normalized corrupt practices in the full light of day.
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Term limits is not needed, just promise yourself not to vote for an incumbent in any election for the next six years. That will take care of everything.
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This is what happens when you have a one-party state, the Globe and the citizens shoulder the blame for repeatedly refusing anyone with an “R” next to their name.
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Race card in 5…4…3…2…1…
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This is perfect. They’re knocking down the small guys to get leads and testimony on the bigger ones. Just watch. This is going to be the best thing that’s happened to this state in a long time.
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It is sad that it takes FBI arrests to “clean up” our local government of corrupt officials….
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To #179
Barney Frank was censured for fixing parking tickets for his boyfriend. Also his boyfriend was running a brothel out of Barney Franks apartment for which he was convicted
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Comment #174: What a ridiculious statement. Living in Jamaica Plain for 65 years does mean that for those 65 years you have sat on the fence and watched the development of Blue Hill Avenue etc. and never came off the fence and give your physical or mental support for any of the projects in the Communities of Color but, you can find the time to speak about members of the community that have helped us over the years with the development of projects along the Blue Hill Corridor when no one was there for us. We are very grateful for their support and will continue to support them during their time of need. . . Continue to to sit on the fence looking out of your front window. That’s where you belong.
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167: I agree that Obama getting elected should eliminate black people from being able to play the race card. Obviously it hasn’t. Racism certainly is not dead. How many people voted for or against Obama simply because he’s black?
Racism won’t be dead until everyone stops worrying so much about people’s skin color. Do away with all the statistics. Whether someone is running for president, applying for a job, applying to a school, or getting arrested for accepting bribes… skin color should not even be considered.
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This is what happens with one-party rule. An opposition party would help keep these guys honest. But we keep electing the same people. We Mass. voters deserve this. Really, we do….
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Rich Mad I couldn’t Agree more.
“If were left with 10% HONEST ones the so be it.
Crooks should be in JAIL!”
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I AM PROUD TO SAY I HAVE NEVER VOTED. I AM EDUCATED,AND 63, SO IT ISN’T JUST A WHIM. DIANE , CHUCK ,OBAMA, FRANK, JEFFERSON, SWITZER,JUST TO NAME A FEW OF THE HORDES OF POLS OUT THERE MAKE ME PROUD, THAT I DID NOT SUPPORT THESE LIARS. I HAVE WATCHED CAREFULLY OVER THE YEARS TO SEE IF I WAS JUSTIFIED IN NOT VOTING,AND I’M CONVINCED. ALMOST EVERY ISSUE I’M FOR IS DEFEATED,THE CHOICE OFCANDIDATES ARE VERY POOR. JUST LOOK AT THE CHOICES FOR PRESIDENT THIS YEAR, THESE ARE THE 2 BEST PEOPLE OUT OF THREE HUNDRED MILLION? PEOPLE SAY WHAT WOULD HAPPEN EVERYONE FELT LIKE YOU? I’D SAY GREAT THEN YOU WOULDN’T FEEL GUILTY FOR SCUM WHO GOT ELECTED.IN MOST CASES WHEN A PERSON LIKE DIANNE AND CHUCKIE GET ELECTED, IT’S AN ACCIDENT IF SOMETHING HAPPENS GOOD FORTHEIR SUPPORTERS. THEY ARE TRYING ONLY TO FURTHER THEIR CAREERS. IT’S LIKE FIXED HORSE RACE,NOTHING IS WRONG IF YOU KNOW WHICH HORSE IS FIXED. WHY ARE YOU SHOCKED, BY WHAT THEY DO. REMEMBER HISTORY SAYS” POWER CORRUPTS”
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Im sure Chuck T has been taking brides for years. It just took Diane W to open up this can of worms. It doesnt matter if he is black or white. There are so many corrupt politicians in our State and they take brides all the time. Eventually it will catch up to them.
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Wow! Did the Globe edit out the last paragraph of this article? I could have sworn that 20 minutes ago it read, “Turner said it ’shows me [the FBI is] still an organization that seems to focus on trying to take black politicians down.” See the reference in previous posts.
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I think Mike Sullivan is priming to run for Governor. If he successfully prosecutes all of the people who have thus far been indicted, or otherwise brought under the seemingly big tent this investigation (and let us not forget that they are all presumed innocent), I don’t see how Martha Coakley or anyone else would stand a chance against him.
Further, Martha Coakley or any other Democrat is unlikely to run for the Governor’s seat as long as Deval Patrick is in there.
Bill Weld was a US Attorney before he became Governor. It’s happened before.
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This will lead to Menino’s door eventually…Menino’s relationship with Millenium Partners and their developments in the City of Boston should be investigated. Retired city employees hired by Millenium with no experience (ie…Mayors former secretary), trips abroad, etc…
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Proud to say you have never voted?
What do you think would happen if this country did away with the voting system all together? Soon, the FBI wouldn’t be there to prosecute anyone because we would have a dictatorship. We would have a Castro on our hands, and you wont be able to post comments on a blog like this without fear of prosecution. What a twisted view of things….
There are still examples of your vote meaning something, whether you agree with the results or not, you have no right to complain unless you DO go out and vote.
I am sure this isn’t the end of it, more heads will roll. I just hope that it is a coincidence that the first two are black.
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(#144) “I wish we had more elected offficials willing to take a stand like Chuck!”
Do you mean willing to take a stand, or willing to take a grand?
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To ChrisF… You’re kidding me right? LOOK UP TURNERS RECORD AND HIS WORK HE’S DONE! LOL..
I have a problem with Fed time and RESOURCES being used for a 1 THOUSAND DOLLAR BRIBE for a stinking night club. I”m more worried about issues like billions overspent on the Big Dig. I’m more worried about embezzlement of OUR hard earned tax dollars. I’m more worried about REAL corruption.On another note to all… this race card thing, I want everyone to shut the hell up about it. WE ALL PAY A PART in this card. Maybe they’ll (blacks) stop using the race card when we (whites) stop using it! Maybe (blacks) should not believe that all of (whites) are racist. Maybe we (whites) should not think all blacks are one way. UGH! If I hear it one more time and people can’t be 100% honest about the role WE ALL play with this freaking ‘card’ I’m going to jump in front of traffic during rush hour on I95!!! I’m so sick and tired of the race card but I’m more sick and tired when we pretend that they have absolutely no reason to use. GIVE ME A BREAK AND GIVE THE CARD A BREAK TOO!
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I don’t see how or why Terry Murray’s name appears in any of these comments. The woman was not at any meeting with Diane, just as she said, and has never done anything illegal. As it turns out, she wasn’t even in Boston the day of the meeting that Diane claims she attended. That was the only mention of her in the FBI affidavit, an affidavit that they wrote based on Senator Wilkerson’s statements, and I think we can all agree that she’s a liar. We’ll see if the media actually covers the truth for once instead of trying to irresponsibly smear someone’s good name.
And shame on all of you that leap to uninformed conclusions. Have you nothing better to do with your time than to spew forth hatefulness? What a world we live in when we demand to be represented and then resent those that make it their lives to do so.
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Yes!!!! there is a GOD!!!! This guy is one of the biggest slime balls I have ever had the displeasure to meet. In the mid-nineties due to a bogus 209-A order ( it really was ) I found myself court assigned to anger management classes in which Chuck was one of the councelors. He had the power of the courts behind him to decimate men if they did not confess to and take ownership of things they did not even do and he USED IT!!!!. I believe one of the people in the class ended up committing suicide due to his gestapo tactics. Howz it feel CHUCK!!!
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Dear Mr. Turner and Ms. Wilkerson,
When accepting bribes in the future make certain the cash is in an envelope!
Good luck!
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Yes, corruption is bad but a $1k liquor license bribe? We used federal agents for something local officials could of handled. Yes, Turner was wrong but again *YAWN* wake me when someone is arrested for the Big Dig. If that wasn’t a shady corrupt deal, then I don’t know what is!
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Poor Marea….Your bubble is about to burst
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In tough economic times, it’s a sigh of relief knowing our hard earned taxes go to these folk to manage in our best interest. Evidence is showing that they do a very good job and always legislate with the highest levels of integrity. We’re in good hands…
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In response to – next up, Menino..Then Boston might actually have a democracy (and a mayor who lives in the city instead of suburbia..
Posted by john November 21, 08 09:14 -
FYI – The mayor does live in Boston (as he’s required to, as do all the city council
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Couldn’t happen to a “nicer” miscreant.
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OK, so now we know that Rep Z is Gloria Fox
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Did Turner stuff the bribe in “HIS” bra too…. ??
Mumbles….”You’re Next !!”
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The mayor is the executive officer and has no power over the legislature (city council) Be careful who you accuse. Who knows, maybe he asked the feds to help out? I’m not saying he’s a saint but I am almost positive there is more to come. If people understood more about how things work and stayed in touch with their reps, maybe we could nip this stuff in the bud. Yeah, I know, “pie in the sky,” but blogging like this is only a start. Contact the people with power to do something.
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I say a strong corrupt government makes for a strong socity
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Don’t let the door hit you on the way out.
Blame it on Bush!!!
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What no bra?
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There will be nobody left!!!!! I’m so happy…..I hope they get everyone of them!!!
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For anyone who knows Chuck, there simply is no arguing that he is a dedicated public servant, who has been going above and beyond the requirements of his job for decades. His principles and his record speak for themselves, and this ALLEGATION is not enough to shake my confidence in his integrity.
In any case, let us not convict this man without all the facts. Keep in mind this is the same courageous person who held hearings at city council to hear evidence of federal officials being involved in supplying drugs to the inner city, and the feds are now after him. They’re no angels- remember COINTELPRO?
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This is what all you liberal clowns get for voting these people in every single election simply because they have a “D” next to their name. You’re the reason this state is far and away the most corrupt in the country. It’s really sad that we as residents can’t change this and that the FBI has to come in and put the house in order.
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Comment # 211 – LOL Siobhan! Your statement is so VERY true!
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#167 – Racism is dead?
Please get a clue.
All you have to do is read this message board to see that even within the 200 posts so far there are still plenty of racists ready and willing to spew their venom.
Welcome to Massachusetts!
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All the more reason I voted agaist any incumbent. They got us to this point and will continue in their same ways. We need new people.
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would now be a good time to start talking about term limits?
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Change we can believe in Massachusetts. Finally we do not have a Republican governor and look how quickly things have turned around in this state!! Gov. Patrick ha truly instituted some beneficial reforms and Wilkerson and Turner are perfect examples of his working coalition up on Beacon Hill. The democrats in this state don’t have to worry about any silly checks and balances so they rig software deals (DiMasi), accept bribes (Wilkerson and Turner) and run the state into the ground with no economic strategy in sight (Patrick).
I can only hope the country witnesses the same “benefits” from a similar set up in Washington, D.C. with the Obama-Pelosi-Reid leadership team in place. Ask yoursleves this question, were you better off two years ago or today?
Keep electing these intelligent, morally strong politicians and we should be in great shape for the next 200 years.
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Ha!
It took all the way to comment #140 untill someone
brought up George Bush!
Maybe his approval rating is going up?
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Last time I checked Hyde Park is within the city limits of Boston. Idjit!
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It’s oviously Racism. The FBI is trying to bring down all blacks in government.
How else do you explain these sporadic arrests? Why couldn’t the FBI complete their investigation before making arrests?We need to speak out now so that the white people involved are also brought to account.
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There will be no house cleaning, no less corruption and certainly no term limits. The corruption is systemic and prevalent throughout this City, State, and Federal Govn’t. We have lost our way as a people. America will soon be a third world nation, our own intelligence agency says so . There will be rich government officials and the rest of the begging for scraps. We’ve dumbed down society through our own actions or lack thereof. Our public schools rank in the mid-teens on a world scale, universities and colleges are places where our young adults now go to find themselves, ie experiment with their sexuality and “open their mids”. We’ve lost the idea of winners and losers and replaced it with the idea that there should be just equity for all. Look at our next president he won this election promising that America should be, could be and will be more fair to all citizens. And what experience does he have??? Ahhh, Community Organization, just like our Ms. Wilkerson and Mr. Turner, I feel safer and more comfortable now. God bless us all, as the fall of the US will be greater than the collapse of any empire known to man.
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Dilday is a piece of work! ‘Where’s all the white people? ‘Where’s all the white people?’ Classic race card. Check this guy very closely. Earth to Dilday: the skin color doesn’t matter. You’re pathetic.
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comment #216 – to dotdude….. You must be clairvoyant! LOL
I am surprised that the Globe updated the article and released her name prior to her being led away as well… I do hope that we are all learning a bit more about “reaping what we sow” here. There is a HUGE lesson to be learned from all of this.
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Its shameful that someone getting caught taking a bribe is more concerned about why others (whites) aren’t getting caught also. I am not sure he has any right to worry about those “others” when he is one himself. All I can say is that I know I don’t take bribes for anything, so I have the right to be mad about it. ME, not you. I feel bad for the tax payers, whether they are white or black. WE are the victims here. FORGET RACE!!!! and enjoy jail.
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It certainly seems like a set-up to me, and I am not one of Turner’s constituents. It’s pretty amazing to me that almost all of these comments assume that he’s already been convicted. What happened to “innocent until proven guilty”? Plus, the little sign superimposed on the Globe’s photo (“CASH” with an arrow) is pretty cheesy. He could be at a check-out counter, for all we know.
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For those of you who can read, Turner did not play the race card, the attorney “James Dilday” Made the comment about only the black politicians being hooked….and If you read the affidavit Turner never asked for money, or said give me money , “CW” kept saying I’ll take care of you…..that’s a set-up and the FBI pulled the strings all along… and for petty cash, why break the mans door down to his house and issue a flight warrant…the intent was to make a stone cold example of him….But Wilkerson & Turner didn’t write the rules to this game, or are major players…this stuff goes deeper than the chickens they are scratching out…look at the Big Dig, & BRA deals…..it is about race….
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What’s with the negative comments from non MA residents?Focus on wherever it is YOU”RE living and your problems, and we’ll do the same here….Stop sticking your nose in our issues–what can you do about it? We’re the ones who have the right to btch and moan about it, not you….!!!!!
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Did he put the money in his BRA??? Don’t these folks get it?
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Bottom line Black/White/Brown/Yellow, Republican/ Democrate, Male/Female they were caught accepting bribes which is illegal and therefore they belong in prison. If black politicians want to justify taking bribes just because whites are doing it too then its Monkey see monkey do. Two wrongs don’t make it right. God has gifted each one of us with a brain lets use it once in a while or with some people mind is a terrible thing. I say more power to FBI let them go get all the corrupt politicians give America back to its people. When MLK said he had a dream that the black people will rise he did not mean by following white crook people.
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I hope the FBI knows what it is doing, thank god it is cold and windy out so there cant be a black riot and blasks start burning down the city like LA.. Again a guy taking a possable campain money is being arrested.. I white and I don’t like what is going on were is SAl in all of this…
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As a black woman, I’m disgusted and outraged! I didn’t see anyone holding a gun to his head, forcing him to take the money! Why is it so hard for black politicians to stay clean? Politicians like this make all of us look bad! We deserve better than this!
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I don’t think the race card will be pulled in this case. Most black folks I know (myself included) feel disgusted in Diane and Chuck. If constituents blame Chuck’s arrest on a conspiracy…shame on them!! He clearly is taking money from people who he is supposed to be representing. How else can you portray this? It does not matter what color they are…they are still wrong. Wrong is wrong
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I love Boston
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First off, he’s not a Democrat- the article clearly said he’s a member of the Green-Rainbow party.
Second, he hasn’t had a trial yet, and for that matter, neither has Dianne. We cannot act as though we know what is going on behind the scenes. All we know is what the FBI is alleging, and they are as crooked an institution as this country has ever seen. J. Edgar anyone?
Third, Siobhan O’Reilly’s right- this whole conversation is tinged with a weird racial element, our own internal guilt or anger or whatever about race- let’s not pretend we don’t live in a society which taints ALL OF US with racism.
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It looks like a lot of you are “pulling the race card” in your remarks and not Turner.
I’d actually thought that the recent election showed us that Bostonians had become more progressive and understood that race is indeed a factor in all that happens in the U.S. Of course, Turner, and most people of color, wonder if we are targeted because of race vs. actions. You’d wonder also if you had the same experiences that most people of color sadly share.
My 8 and 12 year old sisters were once detained along w/ me for over an hour by a policeman when I was just barely 20, because someone reported a robbery in Newton — and we were at Bloomingdales a few miles away.
I guess we were the only black people the cop could find, and he treated us like dirt. I’ll never forget the humiliation of being held for no reason other than being black — and all of the ridiculing stares we got. We were told that three black women had stolen shoes, and my sisters were little kids. But they were treated unbelievably poorly and spoken to as if they were adult criminals and not innocent children.
Then the cop lied on his police report saying that we swore and seemed “aggressive.” He did not want to get in trouble for holding us unjustly.
So until you’ve experienced something like that — being held for no reason other than being a person of color — you should avoid your ugly remarks about pulling the race card. It’s almost impssible not to question if race is a factor in dealings w/ the law when you aren’t white.
I won’t even go into the story of my (black) boyfriend sitting on my stairs once and having three separate cop cars go by to “check on the neighborhood” while he waited for me to come home.
So again, stop acting like the cop — or the FBI under Hoover (do you remember the racist comments he spewed?) and expecting that black people WON’T question if racism is at the bottom of many acts of aggression towards them.
You’d wonder too. Trust me on this one.
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Massachusetts has been dominated by liberal democrats for years. The end result is corruption run rampant. Now with Barack Obama, Nancy Pelosi, and Harry Reid in charge, we can expect the whole US to be just like Massachusetts.
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Anybody taking bets that this Republican-appointed US Attorney will be fired before any of these cases come to trial?
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In response to reds’ question as to when will they claim its racism, re-read the last paragraph. Here we go, because Turner and Wilkerson are politicians who just happen to be black, they want to know where the white ones at? Who cares what color they are, they are both dirty politicians, they need to go. For the record, I am sure there are “white” politicians on the take also and when they have enough on them, I’m sure they’ll get a front page spot too!
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“I wonder what party these two crooks are in? The article just doesn’t say. I can’t imagine why the reporters wouldn’t identify the party affiliation of these two.
Posted by Craig ”
The article *says* Turner is Green Party member.
Read, Craig. Read.
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The sad put is Turners statement.
“If you took out all the corrupt politicians, you take out 90 percent and be left with us 10 percent,”
How true can it be?
You should have voted yes on question 1 !!!!!!!!!
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Thank God they got rid of this corrupt man…and $1,000.00…oh my…if they keep this up we will really clean up gov’t. forget the 8 billion “lost” in Iraq from shrink wrapped pallets, this guy trying to take $1000 buck? Let’s kill him!
Just like America to go after the small fish and make and a big stink about it. While everyone looks the other way as our president gave away 6 trillion dollars in 8 years to criminals, dictators, thugs, terrorists, and other low-lives.
way to go FBI, it’s good to know your not sweating the small stuff.
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While Turner appears to have made two huge bad decisions here, the first being the rape photo blunder, per #169 above we have people with negative morality and unfathomable greed to thank for the biggest problems this country faces. Alpha Magazine, published by financial services group Institutional Investor, reported that in 2007 the top 25 hedge fund managers earned a combined $14 billion. That is $560 million dollars in one year each for the faceless and unelected Wall Street charge leaders. This liberal clown did the math, and all the haters screaming in capital letters about Chuckie could get you and 10,000 like you a 2009 F-350 Super Duty, two months in a luxury condo in Branson, Missouri with shows and meals and dinner at the Cracker Barrel every night for a year from just one of those hedge fund freaks’ yearly compensation packages. $1000 is not the kind of corruption your energies should be focused on if you want real reform.
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At leastg he was “working” in his office at 7am! lol
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The proper term for a man-bra is a “bro.” FYI.
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in response to pricklysoul
regardless where one lives everyone has the right to their opinion and to say and write what they want.
As a State Senator and City Cuonselor (or should I say former….) tax dollars pay the salariies of these people, they should be held to a higher level. They abused their power (and I hope they pay big time) and everything they do..say afffects people all over this country.
This isn’t just a MAssachusetts disgrace, it is national and I am sure it happens in every state. No wonder public trust is questionable
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This is disappointing, not so much what happened to Chuck, because that is a tragedy, but the amount of hatred I’m reading on this board about a man none of you obviously know or you wouldn’t be writing the things you are writing. People, put down the damn torches and educate yourselves before burning this guy at the stake.
Fortunately there are a few here who know how dedicated this man really is but it’s clear to me that black elected officials are under attack. Yes, this is about race.
I’m white but I can tell you having spent time observing the way we do things, we still have a VERY SERIOUS race problem in Massachusetts and the whole country. Simply because we voted for a black man for president doesn’t change that fact. We also have a black governor and blacks are still being arrested and charged with crimes far more often and sentenced far longer than whites despite whites commit far more crimes than blacks in this state and the nation.
We are living in a police state, folks. The only way to stop this nonsense and to create a safer society is if we pull together and recognize what is causing our streets to be unsafe. You’d be surprised to learn it isn’t what you think.
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It must be George Bush’s fault.
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They are all bought and paid for one way or another. Do we think the other “reps” are deaf dumb and blind. Take back our government. Vote them out. Smaller gov means less taxes, more freedom. Vote Libertarian.
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You know what I don’t get? How cheap it is to buy off Boston politicians. A thousand bucks? Really? That’s worth risking your career and being on the front page of the paper?
Wilkerson collected over $20k through many bribes, but even so, is that really that much money? I’d say, let the bidding start at 10k, thank you very much.
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Regarding comment # 32 – thank for your input, Mrs. Turner……..
Seriously, between the city of Boston and this pathetic state, this is what we get when we have one-party rule. Why should any of our politicians behave when they have no opposition to call them on it when they don’t? As long as this state is so full of loony, lefty, academic and union liberals who vote D no matter what, it will never change. You’re better off moving to another state if you don’t like it.
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To you vigilante-like characters who claim to know the entire story without presuming Mr. Turner’s innocence, YOU will ultimately have to eat your ignorant words: Mr. Turner deserves more respect than this. He DOES have support from people in the community, Black, White, Asian, Latino, old, young, working and unemployed, LGBT and straight. He has shown us over these last 8 years that he’s willing to stand up for justice, despite his critics and those accusing him of bribery (including Feeney and Menino!!) and pulling his governing responsibilities before he has an opportunity to defend himself.
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“If you took out all the corrupt politicians, you take out 90 percent and be left with us 10 percent,”
I like his idea of taking out the 90% and being left with 10%……. SOUNDS GREAT TO ME. 10% is about 5% more than we need anyway.
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For a long time we have known that Democrats were using corrupt tactics to keep a grip on city and state government. Now we are seeing the proof of that and finally seeing arrests. We, as voters, have given their party too much power for far too long. Now they are off to jail and we should be off to vote for Republican replacements. Honestly… a declining population, rising unemployment, crumbling infrastructure, financial crisis, and now bribery and corruption to top it all off. I do hope that this is the wake-up call that finally gets our citizens speaking out with their votes.
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Please get your facts straight. Turner is not a Democrat but a member of the Green-Rainbow party.
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will you people read the article? “Turner, a member of the Green-Rainbow Party, has served in the City Council since 2000, representing District 7, which includes Roxbury, Lower Roxbury, and parts of the Fenway, South End, and Dorchester.”
Green Rainbow! Not Democrat, Not Republican, but it was there for you all to see.Thank you Horace Silver, you summed it up.
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Not just Boston, but our entire Massachusetts government needs to be investigated, including the lottery commission. There is no doubt in my mind that each and everyone of them has taking some type of trade off for special favors, there may be few exceptions. And it is not the color of the skin, it is the character of the person and the lack of a clear conscience when our elected officals grow to be self serving. They spend our money faster then they can collect it and then they hit us up for more. Blue collar crime hurts few, white collar crime hurts everyone. Look where our economy is now, we can all thank those with the deep pockets.
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I’m suprised. I thought they were all honest.
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I believe these two people will get whats coming to them but don’t stop now they are little fish in a much bigger pond. Don’t forget that the Licensing Board consist of 3 major players and only they can determine who will and wont get a License so that in itself has to tell you something. Right is Right and Wrong is Wrong and I don’t care what color you are Karma is a _ _ _ _ _. Silly rabbits tricks are for kid LOL.
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Dee MS, that is the most idiotic thing I have ever heard. THE GUY WAS CAUGHT RED HANDED, SO WAS WILKERSON. How you can pull the race card on this is beyond ridiculous. So according to you, every single time a non-white person commits a crime and is caught, it’s racism?? How long are we going to have to keep paying for things that happened in the past that no one alive today had anything to do with?
get over it.
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Post 141, if you a are looking for a racist , I would suggest you go look in the mirror. “White boys” indeed.
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Race shouldn’t even be an issue here. Who cares what color he is? The fact is that he got caught red-handed taking a bribe. Time to face the music. His community should be happy he got caught before more corruption ensued. Anyone who calls his crime alleged is in denial, plain and simple. The photo is all you need to see. The truth can be hard
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If the only charge against Chuck Turner turns out to be accepting $1000 in cash, and for that, the FBI broke down Chuck Turner’s front door, there will be no need for anyone to pull out any race card. the FBI already will have done so.
J:D
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Say it ain’t so Chuck!
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So here we go again..We have Wilkerson, Dimasi, Mike Neighbors,the former mailroom clerk who got promoted to head of Roxbury court without any credentials to support his promotion, Patricia Mcdermott a convicted felon who still collects a hefty salary in Dedham court ( thought you couldn’t have a record to be a courthouse big shot) and now this guy. I’m not voting for anyone who is currently in office now…We need to start fresh and let the new guys ( and all of them for that matter ) know that we are watching them closely
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He can be a wonderful politician and get things done, but that is all bull**** because he’s using his public position to benefit himself. One for you (the community), one for me. Does not matter if he’s black, white, brown, gray, any color of the rainbow, he’s crooked. It’s really too bad. It seems like he WAS doing some good.
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for those of you who are naive “innocent until proven guilty” is just a saying. anyone who has been pulled over for anything in the past can attest to that. although it has a nice ring to it and makes the US sound like such a grand place to be, it is far from how things go here.
corruption has no color, greed has no race, fraud holds no political affiliation.
When corruption runs rampant in state government then the state government cannot be trusted. That is when the federal government, FBI, is usually brought in. So it is probably safe to say that the corruption in Mass is at a point that the local authorities also could not be trusted. Wilkerson was a senator who reports to the state. Turner is a councilor who reports to the city of Boston. One is state the other city. they are on two different playing fields.
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once again it proves the need for term limits across the board and the need for all meetings to be held in a public forum and witnessed. public workers across the board have stolen, lied and cheated in this state over the years and yet they claim innocence and then plead out the charges to avoid further embarrassment. i am waiting to see if this guy needs state paid attorney as well.
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Sorry to all you talk radio loons out there but Chuck is not a Democrat, he is registered Green/Rainbow.
One comment suggested a strong third party would end corruption… ya think?
State Attorney Michael Sullivan is the most incompetent stooge to ever hold the office. “Here’s a little something to take the wife and kids out to dinner” Where is the quid pro quo statement? I give you money you do this?
$1000 really?
Shame on Chuck but it really sounds like a fishing expedition. What a waste.
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I just viewed the companion article showing photos of six legislative members who are cited for criminal abuses and scandal. Of the six, four are white. Why is it that the black politicians always resort to saying they are being indicted because they are black? Do they expect authorities to look the other way because they ARE black? Prosecution of corrupt politicians is color blind. What gives with this perpetual, lame excuse?
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This guy has a history of using racism as a divisive tool to promote himself and divert our eyes from his corrupt ways. I hope the Obama administration puts these dinosaurs like Al Sharpton and Jesse Jackson in the extinction bin.
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Yes there is certainly a racially tinged tone to this convo, but only b/c everyone with an IQ over 11 knew it was a matter of time before Turner’s defenders came out with their asinine defenses. Everyone knew the race card would come out and the race baiters took the bait. I don’t need to be black , or live in a black neighborhood, etc to know that a politician taking a bribe is a dirty one. Good riddence to garbage….oh was that racially tinged too?
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The geographical concentration of this string leads me to question what the prime real estate communities of Roxbury and Dorchester are being set up for. Two of the strongest and vocal leaders/protectors of Roxbury have been dealt a blow. Who will have the experience and muscle to protect the poor indigenous residents and institutions of Roxbury from exclusionary development – gentrification? How long will it take before Northeastern constructs a new dorm on Warren Street? By no means do I approve the charged officials’s behavior, they know the rules and expectations, but we all must read between the lines. If they both in fact took bribes, it was done in a zone of comfort that one gets when the behavior is a part of the culture (i.e. everybody does it).
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Let’s hope Menino is next, would enjoy seeing all three sharing the same cell
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I’m all about cleaning out everyone and I’m glad they got this guy. But I’m sure there are much bigger fish to fry. I’m willing to bet 1K is pale in comparison to others who have not been caught yet. Hope they get them all!
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I guess I just don’t understand this race thing. Here we have politicians
accepting bribes – so where does the race issue come into play ? Did some white person cause this black politician to accept the bribe that he/she was
given? Or, is it that the first response is the race card for potential defense
in court? I would suggest it is not a race thing – it is just a bunch of
crooks (white and black) getting caught taking bribes to line their own
pockets – at the local, state and national levels.
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Pokaski is next.
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I feel that the FBI should also start lloking at the Mayor and all his croney’s withing the BPD and the corruption that takes place there?
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I was depressed to hear of Councilor Turner’s arrest, and am even more disturbed to read these comments. I live outside of Boston, but I have seen firsthand and many times the good that Chuck Turner does not only for his own community but for everyone who is in need or who has been wronged. I will not condemn him. As (too few) commenters have pointed out, we still say that people are supposed to be innocent until proven guilty. We still live in a country where Cointelpro happened, where Boston’s own FBI hero John Connolly cost a lot of people their lives. What does it tell you that Councilor Turner was in his office at 7am working already? What does it tell you that the FBI decided to break down the door of his home? There is a message here.
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This guy is insignificant. Another with take his place in due time. This is pointless.
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If it not the race card that keeping Salvatore F. DiMasi ($2,000,000.00 and Robert P. Spellane ($350,000.00)a freeman. It must be the good old boy network.
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It’s getting so that If President Elect Obama wants to visit Mass Dems, he will probably have to go to the slammer to see half of them! Err , two thirds of them? You never know.
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“As a black woman, I’m disgusted and outraged! I didn’t see anyone holding a gun to his head, forcing him to take the money! Why is it so hard for black politicians to stay clean? Politicians like this make all of us look bad! We deserve better than this!”
Posted by Liz November 21, 08 01:08 PMLiz, notwithstanding the possible convictions of these two allegedly corrupt politicians, what’s most disappointing to me is that you, as a black woman, would single out members of your own race (“Why is it so hard for black politicians to stay clean…”) as if Black politicians are at the core of corruption in local, state, or national politics.
As a person of color, you should understand that necessarily and conspicuously attributing Councilor Turner’s or former Senator Wilkerson’s race to the alleged corrupt acts only creates an even more vigorous and acceptable atmosphere of racial prejudice and hatred. Furthermore, it displaces the important and salient questions the underlie the alleged crimes and overwhelm the suspicions, misconceived or not, that race is indeed a factor in criminal prosecutions in this country.
Even the most naive of us have to wonder, in a state/city where Black politicians make up somewhere on the order of 1% or marginally more of the total politicians, how two among that group have been arrested by federal agents within months of each other while members of other racial groups have not. Is the consensus as you stipulated, that Black politicians are drawn disproportionately to corruption? If that’s the case, then please ignore my little rant. If it is not, then we indeed must look at the genesis of criminal investigations and whether they spread a balanced and broad net — not such that corrupt politicians that happen to be black aren’t caught, prosecuted and punished, but so that the policing agents can be trusted to apply the law to everyone while not turning a blind eye to the typical politician. Justice not only demands prosecution of criminals, but it requires that the law be distributed evenly and equitably.
jw.
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All you folks who love using the phrase “race card” really need to study your history better. I don’t know if Chuck is guilty or not, but COINTELPRO was a very real program implemented by the FBI in the 1960s and 70s and it used all manner of dirty tricks to destroy the African American, Native American, Chicano and Puerto Rican civil rights movements; this history is well-documented, but it is rarely ever taught in the schools or mentioned in the so-called free press in this country. So it is not some paranoid fantasy of the left wing and/or Black nationalists to suggest that there might be entrapment in this case as well. The real crimes are racism and the continued denial of racism by white foks, not the calling out of racism when it rears its ugly head.
involved in this case as well.
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I agree with the few bloggers that speak about the good work that Chuck Turner has done. While I lived in Roxbury as a child, he really was an advocate for those persons that were marginalized by poverty and despair. HOWEVER…if, the allegations are true, then he should go to jail…and get extra time for breaking the hearts of those he was elected to serve. Do young black people need another reason to be cynical about “doing the right thing?” With this happening so close on the heels of Diane Wilkerson’s arrest…I never thought I would agree with term limits, but MAssachusetts has to implement them. Even a politican who starts out genuinely caring and serving is too likely to be corrupted by power..the ugly side of human nature. My sister-in-law is active in various community organizations in her town, and recently ,as a joke, my brother said, “You should run for some kind of office.” Then her own brother said, “No____, you would never get elected. You’re too honest—nobody can buy you.” Now what does that say about the average person’s expectations and perceptions of politicians, especially in our state? As a Black person I feel sorry for any up and coming black politician, anywhere. James Baldwin said it best, “When a white person falls, he falls alone, but when a Black person falls, he falls for the whole race.” This is the TRUTH card. Look at the ignorant comments on this blog linking the alleged criminal acts of Turner and Wilkerson to Gov. Patrick and President Obama. President Bush was never linked to Whitey Bulger although they are both white.
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247… Give me a break. You weren’t held because you are a person of color you were held because you fit the description of a someone who commited a crime. That could happen to anyone. If you want to be upset at someone be upset at the people who commited the crime. If the police were told to be on the lookout for three black females and you are walking around with two other black females…
Is that the best you can do? Newsflash… some cops harass people when they have nothing better to do. Once I was sitting outside my college dorm late at night talking to my girlfirend and a cop came and asked what we were doing. Instead of getting mad we were respectful and told him we were just talking. Then he went on his way. Cops can be a pain to people of any race but if you are courteous rather than have a bad attitude there shouldn’t be a problem. Get over it.
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I must say that I am deeply troubled by the majority of the comments above more specifically because some represent thoughts that some can’t even say in another’s face and if you can it is even more disheartening.
Uneducated, misinformed, disrespectful, disparaging, inconsiderate, callous (the list could go on…)
We are entitled to our own opinions yet fail to understand that our personal comment or thoughts are not the final naysayers of how one’s character or value is measured.
What remains most important in my mind, is that each one of us should remember that at the end of the day, each of us will be judged. I am sure each person who has rendered a comment can look introspectively and recall actions or decisions they made in the course of their lives that weren’t right, just, or plainly: one’s which we would be proud of.
This is not to exonerate decisions people “may” or “may not” have made, but hold off from casting your stones and condemning folks and look inside first.
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His comment that “Everyone does it.” is probably accurate but not a defense. I was once offered a very good contracts [legal] job at the MTA. I was very excited until the hiring manager called and said that job costs $10,000. I said what are you talking about? He said jobs aren’t free and if you want to work at the MTA you have to pay the dues. I declined the job.
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We’ll be seeing more crimes like this as politicians like Obama, Duval Patrick, Turner and Wilkerson take the helm of American Democracy. A political landscape such as Africa and South America is in the foreseeable future.
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little ditty bout chuck and diane
2 politicians
stealin best they can
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Give the FBI some credit. At least theyr’e now making arrest. I wish they would come over to Malden and help out the District DA. The theft of an alleged half million dollars of tax payer money was stolen from an employee in the treasurer’s office at Malden City hall is still lingering. She was arrested last Thursday with another man. The 26 year old is the wife of a Malden police officer and her father works for the DPW, plus she is related to a couple of other city hacks. She was given card blanche to write out checks to people who over paid on their taxes. Instead she allegedly has been writing checks out to others, not the tax payers, for the last five years and would meet them at the bank, cash the check and split the proceeds to feed her Oxi habit. Again, we are talking a possible half million dollars, if not more. Five years of this and the City Treasuer, the Mayor, and the City Council knew nothing about this? The only reason she got caught was because an outsider dropped a tip, so the mayor had to call the DA. The DA is praising him for calling. But as another citizen from Malden pointed out, if this outsider did not report it, this still would have been going on because there are not checks and balances at Malden City Hall. Reportedly, the DA is staying that there could be another 20-30 more arrest, but still, no one else has been arrested. I wish the IRS would do an audit and the FBI would come to Malden to take over this case and clean out Malden City Hall. I am not saying that everyone in City Hall is guilty of stealing, but any one who did not catch what this woman was doing, from the Mayor, down to the Treasurer, should be ousted for not doing their jobs.
So again, as sleazy as Wilkerson and her Chuck friend are, be thankful that it was only a few thousand stolen from Boston, and that the FBI caught them. Plus Dianne is out of a job. Here in Malden, there is no FBI involvement, it was a half million dollars stolen, and everyone still keeps their jobs. FBI, IRS Do you hear me?????
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RE comment 59.
You said “Wilkerson lost her job over $23,500 in bribes which is stupid.”
$23,500 that we know about.
She’s been pulling stunts for years. Not filing tax returns. Filing knowingly false documents in a court filing. Campaign finance irregularities.
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I find this to be disappointing. He is a great man who did a bad thing. He should resign effective immediately. The other individual should be fitted for a jumpsuit.
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Chuckies in love…………with the money…
Boston deserves better……Big Papi for city council !!!!
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From the article identifying the “CW” as Ron Wilburn:
“With his slight build and what acquaintances characterized as an affable, polite manner, Wilburn is described as a steady family man with no criminal record. Often, the FBI recruits cooperating witnesses from the ranks of criminals. That makes Wilburn an unusual figure in an FBI sting.”
In other words, people do not cooperate with police unless there’s something in it for them. Either Ron’s been paid for his coercion (read the affidavit, it’s quite troubling) or they might have something on him now that he wishes to go away.
Do not put anything past the FBI or the police, their jobs depend on this kind of thing, even if they have to ininvent it.
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I can’t believe a black person did this, this was a set up by the FBI……just kidding but I am sure that is all we are going to hear
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Broke his door down? Did they break his door down?
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Pretty lame affidavit. I can see why feds dragged this guy to Worcester.
At least Turner had the smarts to hire someone who could screen him. Have to believe the City Hall episode will get him off the more serious charge.Maybe next time he wants to stage a gig for Al Jazeera he’ll remember that people who live in glass houses shouldn’t throw stones!
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Can you say O.J This will be divided by race. He will have to cut a deal and testify against Wlkerson to stay out of prison. If he doe not he will ride the race card and government conspiracy defense. What a pair the two of them are. They lack the moral fiber to admit wrong doing and move on. They are not corrupt black politicians just corrupt politicians, like so many of their kind. At least when they go to prison they will have many of their consituents there too.
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I love the comments from people who say we should vote Republican now. Why? So we can be like any other of the white trash red states? Oh, yea, let’s be like Texas or Mississippi. Let’s be backwards and poor and intolerant.
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Crime hurts everyone, whether its blue, green, white or gray, doesn’t matter what color, if you commit it then you should pay the penalty, whatever it might be. The problem with these idiot politicians, the’re at it for so long, they forget who they should be serving, and then they forget that “eyes” are on them.
I’m an African American, and I say “Send them away.” Its very disappointing.
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Siobhan – please grab my hand when you walk into traffic! I am sick of it too! But you did make a very good point and I had to sit down and really think about the role I play with the ‘card’. I am black and I think I’m fairly intelligent and rational enough to think clearly and make my own decisions about most things. But I’ve been a ‘tad’ bit irrational when it comes to race. Its so funny how a simple blog can have you rethink all your thoughts. “Maybe they’ll stop using it when we stop using it.. Maybe whites shouldn”t think all blacks are one way.. Maybe blacks shouldn’t think all whites are racist..” Those simple statements really say alot about me, personally. I’m 31 years old and I think all whites are racist. I remember going to all white schools, in the 80s, and being taunted, looked at as if I was a plague, teased solely because of my skin color. Can you imagine someone spitting on your child.. your baby for no reason? I remember some of the cruelest words thrown at me and I can feel the sting like it was just yesterday. I have experienced personal examples of racism through the progression of my life – elementary all the way through college to even earlier this year. Reading Siobhan’s post made me realize that I play a part in this race card thing too. I struggle with my own underlying racist thoughts. I’m guilty of thinking all whites are racist when I do not know every single white person in this country. I have lost out on possibly some very good white friends because of my underlying thoughts about race. I even convinced myself that I had a right to think this way because of the personal examples I’ve been through. I remember saying ‘I have a right to think this way about whites because of everything I’ve experienced FIRST HAND by them.’ Experience is the main ingredient for a personal opinion so it makes sense to me why I feel the way I do about whites but its not completely rational nor is it FAIR.
I think we all have to take a step back and ask ourselves ‘why do I think this way about blacks? Have I ever sat down one on one with a black person? Have I ever experienced first hand what I think negatively about them? Has every single black man attempted to snatch my purse in passing? No.’
‘Why do I think that all whites are racist? Have I really had a bad experience with every single white person I’ve come across? No. Just because that white man called me a n*gger does not mean the white man I work with thinks the same way.’
We then have to put the shoe on the other foot. I finally built up the balls to ask my Grandmother about my Grandfather. My father never mentioned him, she never mentioned him.. I thought my father just had a no-show of a dad and he never brought him up. Do you know that I found out my Grandfather was lynched. People seem to think we are 100, 200 years away from these kind of stories but like I said, I’m only 31 just 2 generations ago. The pain of a lynching has kept my family silent for 50 years. My grandfather was taken out of a city building in the south because he was asked a question by a white man and he didn’t like his answer or the tone of his answer and he was dragged out never to be seen alive again. Can anyone imagine that? No. I never got to meet the patriarch of my family because of racism. My father lost a father and my grandmother lost a husband because of one single factor – the color of his skin. That’s unimaginable for most non-blacks.
We all need to let the race card go. We are all at fault for the card being used. We can not continue to think that all whites are this and all blacks are that and then with a straight face point the finger at each other. Because like Siobhan said, If I hear it one more time and we’re not being honest about it I’m jumping in the Charles and that’s worst than walking in traffic! lol
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John Spears. Even accepting $1 in bribes is a crime and unethical. Let alone $1000. He is corruptible, that’s all that was proven. We don’t need someone like this using their position as an elected official, abusing their power.
GOOD RIDDANCE.
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and then after jumping into the charles I will walk into traffic!
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What a disappointment !
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Massachusetts has the best politicians that money can buy!
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Watch out Sal, you should be saying the lord’s prayer.
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U.S. Attorney Michael Sullivan today ruled out Gov. Deval Patrick’s office, Mayor Thomas M. Menino and the Legislature in connection with the city bribery scandal.
“There are no other members of the state Legislature who have been complicit in this investigation,” Sullivan said.
So maybe now the people that have been foaming at the mouth waiting to see “Who’s next?” can all take a nice deep breath and relax now. Looks as though it’s confined to Wilkerson and City Hall since Menino was ruled out but not the rest of the Council.
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the feds should investigate Tom Menino, his relationships with developers, and his role in liquor licenses.
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as the saying goes … There is no loyalty amongst thieves. The dominoes are gonna start falling…put your seatbelts on, Kids!
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to Alex comment 271 – Those are the remarks I struggle with – the what happened in the past is the past and shouldn’t be brought up today. Are you saying that racism doesn’t exist today? It’s so insulting to hear what people experienced just simply dismissed as if its just a figment of one’s imagination. STOP SAYING NO ONE TODAY HAS ANYTHING TO DO WITH YESTERDAY. WE’RE NOT TALKING ABOUT YESTERDAY. Most people I know have stories of right now. We are not going around talking about 70 years ago. There are theories tested every single year on racism – i.e. racial profiling of RESUMES. Most hiring managers have admitted that ‘black sounding’ names on resumes get bypassed even WITH MORE experience; most blacks today statistically get harsher sentences for the same exact crime committed by whites; it has been proven that a white male felon has more of a chance of getting a job than a black male non-felon with and without a degree (2007 study); a very close girlfriend of mine was discouraged to apply to Harvard and said she should apply to Spelman (a black university) – she got into Harvard and graduated; I’ve been told that I was lying when my academic credentials are brought up; someone at work a recently heard that my father worked at a prestigious university and said ‘was he a janitor? No, actually a professor; ‘it goes on and on. Most blacks are not talking about yesterday.
Siobhan is so right. Until we are absolutely honest about race we will always have the same issue.
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Clean up all the greed .Way too much stealing and bribes .I still cant beileve GM leased corporate jets asking for money to bail hem out.It like asking for welfare while working.JUST REMEMBER PEOPLE THEY ARE ALL CAR DEALERS SWINDLERS TRYING TO GET MORE MONEY THROUGH BAIT AND SWICH mixing up the numbers
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Unless I missed something in the 14 pages affidavit of the Special Agent Krista Corr…Chuck Turner is guilty of having shot off his big mouth, and lying to the FBI. The last time I check the legal definition of Extortion it said “Extortion is the unlawful demand or receipt of property or money through the use of force or threat. If you read the affidavit you’ll fine that the CW (Corroborating Witness) Offered to give Turner a fund raiser Turner responded either that or a personal contribution would be fine. I am with the government on the Wilkerson case she is gone, but this one has a lot of fur on it, and might come back to bite the U.S. Attorney and may compromise the governments case against Wilkerson. I agree that there a bigger fish in the pond and the Government is going to get either Turner or Wilkerson to roll and at 68 and 53 years old 10 years is real hard time. The big fish has yet to be landed.
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If you think that this is a fishing expedition…then we need a trawler out there, absolutely disgraceful & disgusting that two top “voices” of the “people” have been nailed….what ’s the war cry now ??? The FBI is racist ? Enough is enough of that crap, this should putt every corrupt person on notice that you can take but you can’t hide.
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I caution all who are making up their minds about Chuck Turner’s situation based on these allegations to slow downa nd let the evidence be heard and seen. A photograph of an individual holding folded bills is hardly enough to convict them of anything; if it was, all of us would be facing sentencing. Chuck has been an extraordinarily committed, effective, and selfless public official, and deserves his day in court before judgment is passed on him!
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Now it’s time to charge Murray, Menino and the Board.
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This guy has a history of using racism as a divisive tool to promote himself and divert our eyes from his corrupt ways. I hope the Obama administration puts these dinosaurs like Al Sharpton and Jesse Jackson in the extinction bin.
Who protects us from these snake oil dealers.
I STRONGLY SECOND THIS EMOTION!!! Having these stone age relics around is like buying a 2009 car with an hi fi 8 track in it. They’ve been around around so long they forget who they work for and what theyy are suposed to do.
My
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yes, apparently you all have forgotten the concept of “innocent until proven guilty”
Because that blurry picture of someone with a beard and some green paper obviously = GUILTY!
Jesus people, the “race card” is being “played” because everyone who knows Councilor Turner knows this is out of character. Of course character can be faked, but we will wait for the legal process to decide that. I think that people are not able to employ the critical abilities, and that they assume he is like any other politicians. Why don’t you look at what he’s actually worked on?
Just because he is a politician does not make him guilty by default, and considering his advocacy of certain causes (keeping Roxbury’s schools open, stopping the Bio Lab), it does make his arrest suspicious.
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It’s appropriate to discuss the race card comment made by the Councilman. It seems he opened the door in his remarks. However I’m seriously concerned about those of you who predicted it in the thread, prior to receiving confirmation that the remark was made. This is only directed at the above mentioned ppl. I have lived here all my life, and I’m not surprised to see that we still have the same number (if not more) of, hateful, scornful, negative, racist, jealous people living here. Yes… the remark is in the affidavit. However for you to even think of this yourself, shows just how insecure and intimidated you are of those who don’t look like you. MEaning…you are a racist. I am so sorry that I have to shop, work and ride the T with you. I pray to God I don’t live next door to you. Let’s stop discussing race in this thread from here on out. Let’s move on! Deal?
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LOL @ a couple corrupt politicians let many in this convo vent out some of their pent up racism. Go ahead and tell us how you really feel, Boston.
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Another one bites the dust!!!! HAAAAAAHAAAAAAAA
I love the comments from “us black folk need to stick together”
Are you for real here? What if all of the white people said that every time something happened with a white politician? What a DUMBA$$ COMMENT!!!! Just because someone is black you all need to stick together so the white folk don’t pick on you?
Some people are more stupid than I thought!!
GUILTY BLACK OR WHITE!!! CUT THE BULL WITH THE RACE CARD – I THINK WE ARE ALL SICK OF IT!!!!!
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THIS IS WHY WE NEED A TWO PARTY STATE
TWO PARTIES WILL POLICE EACH OTHER
THAT IS HOW IT IS SUPPOSE TO WORK MASSACHUSETTS
LETS GET OUR ACT TOGETHER!!
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Turner looks like a homeless guy.
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Don’t you know Black people control everything in the City of Boston and that is why they are receiving all the payoffs and graft. We have such great influence that anybody who needs to get something done in the City has to come through us. Give me a break. I’m glad Mr. Sullivan has spent my money going after this case at the expense of the more complicated and lucrative pay-offs that typify our political process.
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Again – Globe reporters – Why did United States Attorney Sullivan force the undercover investigation to stop? Why didn’t he let it continue to get ALL the corrupt politicians? Come in Shelly – ask the hard questions!!!!!
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When we compile the wish list of those who will be going down, let’s not forget John “The Money Launderer” Rogers, our house majority leader.
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No. 289……right on the money !!!
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This makes me so angry. Why do only Black politicians get busted for this kind of petty issue? The governor of MA accepted a free trip to Israel in exchange for his efforts to defeat the popular Somerville Divestment initiative on the behalf of Israel lobbyists. I’d like to see him go to Guantanamo for that, but nothing, not even a slap on the wrist. Absolutely shameless corruption. Clearly the powers that be are targeting Chuck Turner because he represents the people.
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Hello! All you people who bemoan the docile electorate and say we deserve our ethicallly-challenged leaders – we *did* vote out Dianne Wilkerson! She *lost* the last election. Pay attention!
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People – it doesn’t matter what his race is. What matters is the color of the money he took. When he took that bribe, he abused the trust of all the people he represented.
As for the comments that he only took $1,000, come folks. He only took $1,000 because that’s all they offered him.
There’s a famous old story which I’ll paraphrase here. A man asks a woman if she would have sex with a stranger for a hundred million dollars. She says yes! He then asks her is she would have sex with the stranger for $1. She replies “what kind of woman do you think I am?” He responded “We’ve already determined that, now we’re just haggling over the price.” Same goes for Turner. The photo shows what kind of man he is.
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Can we please clean up this city??? How come so many corrupt democrats run this city? Isn’t this city due for a change?!?!??
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WE HAVE THE BEST POLITICIANS IN THIS COUNTRY THAT MONEY CAN BUY.
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Wow, all you white folks on here are really angry.
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Hey Steve,. It is a free country,so I can speak, an exercise my right to not to vote. It is not a duty or priviledge. Less than 50% of people vote, and I think their fed up,and smart. Why be sheep, and vote. Do you see drastic changes in your life regardless of who gets elected. In Boston every office will be held by some one who is Irish,except in minority districts. Big surprise there Ha
Also regarding Castro. How did you like living in Boston with Finneran and Bulger in charge. Talk about Dictators!1
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Boston is racist, targeting minorities when we all know this is common behavior among most state politicians. The statehouse has a reputation for it far outside the state lines.
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I personally thinks it is goes to peoples characture and judgement as to the way they were raised and influence of people in their lives as they were developing into adults that plays a part in who they are today, black or white. How can you tell the intergrity of people when you vote them into office only on their campaigning I think you can’t
Like Mr Turner said if you take out corruption out of politics, what’s left ?
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Wilkerson, Turner, hopefully now DiMasi. It’s your turn fat boy they’re comin’ for ya! Doesn’t matter what party you’re from we’re gonna git ya…Time to give the reigns back to the people!
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There was a developer named in the supoena of Chuck Turner’s records. This developer uses state subsidies and tax credits. Should public funds be awarded to someone if they are found quilty of corrupting public officials. The taxpayers just can’t Winn.
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Commenters…do not threaten nor warn me, etc. But this is classic James Michael Curley. Those struggling to get themselves a foothold in the American Dream are challenged and tempted by the money. Curley did, and in spite of that left an incredible legacy to the City of Boston. Not looking for forgiveness, just citing what happened 70 years ago. Now the Irish Catholics hold most of the cards…and are seeing the political landscape shifting. Diane and Mr. Turner are in trouble. They will disappear, but there are incredibly talented people behind them. We all need to keep the faith… Mary
Ma
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Please, all of you think MA is bad for racism? You should come live in DC! This guy could have been videoed accepting the money and his constituents would still let him off – claiming whitey set him up. Everything down here is black and white.
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Another corrupt politician, he is guilty as hell
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O yea get ready for the race card to be played i can hear it now”this is just the white man trying to bring down the poor black man” .
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How quick did this scum bag pull out the race card “they’re going after the blacks” give me a break. He shouldn’t have taken the money.
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I admire and respect Councilor Chuck Turner. I can’t believe how people quickly forget the principles of our judicial system. What happened to people being innocent until proved guilty. Chuck says that he is innocent. I believe & trust him.
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Corruption exists, by design, when process, prodedure and law are subverted by the interests of sitting politicians. Through the benign neglect afforded by the paramount nature of constituent services (ie, votes) , rather than the implementation of an equitable and transparent government, these power brokers create a ineffective structure of personal hierarchy to replace public process. This is less about race than it is about the culture that has been created by the top dogs (Menino and his cronies in the city and DiMasi and others on the state level). Corruption should not be measured solely by the cash transaction, but also on the scale of benefit afforded to those who, just by their proximity to the axis of power, amass property, assets,development rights or other economic benefit including contracts, sales or purchases. Sadly we are all caught up in the $1000 or $23,000 that changed hands (or as many of you have noted, found its way into bras and beards) but ignore the vast personal gain quietly garnered by those backroom deal particpants and beneficiaries at the licensing board, the ZBA, the BRA and the rest of our public agencies that act on the personal whim of elected officials.
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As they start to fall, and lets hope that all are caught and convicted, it does not matter what race or creed they are a crook is a crook. There will be those who still blindly support them because they want to believe in them. But in the end the more scum that gets picked up the cleaner the pond and the better off we all are.
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JS White in response to post 294 I ask this as a point of intellectual curiosity only: can you please point out ANYWHERE in the world on a federal, state, municipal or community level where there is black government of a black majority (or even a significant black minority) that has its act together? And feel free to use your definition of having one’s act together: infant mortality, GDP, access to health care, access to clean water, access to food, productivity, job creation, corruption etc.
Liberia? Detroit? S. Africa? Zimbabwe? Haiti? Botswana? Roxbury? Chicago? Suriname? Somalia? Nigeria? Southern Sudan? St. Louis? the Lower 9th Ward of New Orleans? Anything? Anywhere? Train wrecks, all.
It is way past time to stop making excuses (colonialism, slavery, disenfranchisement, racism, neo-colonialism, hegemony, blah, blah, blah). It’s time to live up to a universal an absolute standard. The next four years will be a huge turning point.
And before you paint me as a racist please understand that I am hoping to find such a place. Unfortunately the more I study the more that place eludes me and the more depressed I get. Also know that my kids are half ethnic minority and I have (obviously?) fully embraced their culture and heritage.
All that to say, put both of the b@stards in jail and throw in as many crooked white pols as you nee to assuage your liberal guilt. Wrong is wrong.
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Bye Bye Chuck…You are a race baiting joke…good riddance.
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Umm… this is the one that came to light. How many others are taking bribes? I know Cops who do more than that, drugs, stealing, illegally abusing people. Where are all the articles about that? It does seem like only the BLACK people are truly getting caught because they step it up a notch to catch them. Ever think that others just have the right connections with the FBI, lol.. dumbasses. Who cares? 99% of you that responded on here would’ve done it yourselves, how honest are you really, stop bullshitting yourselves. Worry about catching WHITEY Bulger or something FBI, not making BREAKING NEWS over $1,000, woopdie fucking do. The news needs to talk about good things for once, like charity benefits and such. Hey anyway on a good note I found this great site that has cheap stuff for every day things: www.tandvexpress.net , you even get a raffle ticket if you go into the store!
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Do you think the FBI just goes around charging whomever they want with a crime, Anonymous??? Come on, you cant be THAT naive!!??! Also, are you advocating that if someone commits a crime , we should let them off the hook for no other reason than because they are nice and have done nice things for people? It sure sounds like you are. Honestly, I could care less about what Turners done for the community, as Im sure do most of the other posters – when you commit the crime, you do the time, PERIOD. Innocent until proven guilty – sure…. but weighing the facts as we know them, Im with the majority on this one. ANOTHER CROOK!
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There is a soon to be divorced woman and her 2 year old daughter out there laughing at this issue. This woman was left on Christmas day in 2005 while she was 7 months pregnant! She was left for Chuck Turners 21 year old of a daughter! Chuck has condoned this relationship! He condoned his 21 year old daughter to break up the home of a 35 year old husband and his pregnant wife! The Turner family is trash! And his daughter is a whore. This skank and her boyfriend (who is STILL married) picked up Chuck Turner in their SUV today… Bet Chucks paying for the divorce, he allows this under his roof.
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I read these boards occasionally and when something like this comes up 95% of it is dominated by angry posts. I understand the emotion behind that, but until there is a conviction I just don’t have the intimate details to lash out. I find this place amusing.
Those interjecting the race card are showing their true colors. I’m white, and I think this has NOTHING to do about race. Yes, these public officials are black. When I scan through these posts I can’t help but feel that most of you are white. Boston doesn’t have a reputation for being racist for nothing…
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Couldn’t happen to a bigger dirtbag. This guy alleged that our GIs were raping Iraqui women and produced cheesey porno magazine pix as “proof”. The Globe was so eager to smear our troops that they printed the story, porn photos and all. I will never understand how people in this state vote for these democrat hacks over and over. Lemmings.
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You are innocent until proven guilty. Why is Mr. Turner being stripped of his Committees and he has not even been tried?in a court of law. The majority of the listed comments are from whites which are as ignorant as the rednecks in the South. However, they want to get a tan in the Summer, but forget that blacks built this country,nursed their babies and took care of them. The whites forget that their forefathers dragged us here, we didn’t just arrive here because we wanted to come. Boston, MA is very racist and always will be, as is most of the United States and the World as a whole.
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I think Menino is innocent, but he is not a leader and must go.
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Of course he’s innocent….yeah, right – I expected nothing less. You were framed, right????
.This guy’s always been a fraud. Just chirp’s louder than the rest of them. Play the ‘just stickin’n up for the community card’. He & Dianne should make great cellmates.
The time has come Menino… it’s time to clean this filth up.
The people of Boston desreve better.
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LOL what an idiot
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This is a sad commentary on the current state of Boston politicians as a whole. Every since the current administration has taken office, there has been nothing but scandal after scandal, and I would wager that we have not seen the end. The police department is in shambles and no longer has respect, the education of students is deplorable, our streets are filthy, and crime is up significantly. Organizations known as neighborhood associations are akin to terrorist groups as they have the elected officials in their back pockets. Child services commit atrocity after atrocity against our children with no end in sight. Boston Inspectional Services has been under fire for over a decade due to their incompetence and bullying techniques. Boston Housing Authority spends more of our tax dollars to defend house people who are not paying their rather than forcing these people to get a job. We have a dictatorship at City Hall with no end in sight as long as the current staff is in power. Boston is viewed as a racist city, but that does not excuse the behavior of Turner, who is a despicable and rotten person. He flaunts his position in the view of the public, and then plays the race card to deflect the fact that he is a crook. Shame on you Turner, and may you rot in jail next to Wilkerson.
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Has the Attorney General’s office been asleep all this time? Why is it that it took the Feds to take down all these crooks in local government? I wouldn’t be surprised if everyone is on the take from the Governor to the cop on the street. Massachusetts is becoming a laughing stock of corruption!
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What’s that supposed to man, Ronzo? You think dems are suddnly going to vote for republicans, like there are no corrupt republicans around? Give me a break. Does the name Stevens mean anything to you?
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365 comments to date. That is why this is front page news. We’ve made it front page news. Scandal is news, especially when it involves a person who “has done so much for the community”.
I would like to touch on the race issue. To see two African Americans involved in scandals so close to each other does raise some questions. The FBI is involved, is the FBI racially driven? Probably not (yes I’ve read up on COINTELPRO). Could it be that some person on Beacon Hill wanted these people out of the way (for what ever reason, race could be one factor) so they ratted them out to the feds? Yes a possibility. Maybe this “CW” person was in too deep and decided to “sing” to save his rear. He picks the politicians he deals with and knows the most? Just some thoughts. Remember that this was a “sting operation”. They have people on camera taking bribes. In order to conduct an operation of this kind you have to have some prior knowledge of bribe taking. So it was probably known that these people took bribes in the past, now they just have to get them on camera doing the same.
I’m getting off the point. The point is people will think what they want. I can definitely see the side that says this is “targeting” the black politicians in MA. I can also see the side that says “hey they got caught and just happen to be black”. But for people to banter about a “race card being pulled” is appalling. And it sets us back once again. Why didn’t Dianne Wilkerson pull the female card? You know the “they’re doing this to me because I’m a woman” thing. Are we over that one? Why wasn’t there any banter about that? It has been proven time and time again that black Americans do not get treated the same as white Americans whether it be in regards to employment, in the courts, or in everyday life. We as a society need to resolve this before there can be any change. We have elected a President of mixed racial heritage. But we have not changed as a society. We all need to lay aside the hatred of the past, disregard the ignorance that we have been exposed to in our lives. We cannot move forward and progress until this happens.
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While I don’t condone what Turner may have done, did anyone notice that he pulled out of the City Hall parking garage in a circa 1984 sh*tbox Toyota Corolla while Mayor Menino pulled up to the steps of City Hall in a chauffeured Cadillac Escalade? Seriously, who’s the real crook?
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I don’t think a lot of people realize that he took the money as part of his fight for economic justice.
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With the notable exception of the clergy, I am saddened by the continued cries of protest from the Black community. If they continue to support flawed, mediocre and/or corrupt politicians, that is what they will continue to get. As a race, and as a community, they deserve better. (As an aside, if equality is what they are seeking, then they have achieved it in this area because the White community in Massachusetts has been electing mediocre to corrupt politicians for years!) Blindly supporting elected “leaders” in the face of overwhelming evidence of unethical behavior and corruption simply because “they look like us”, does a huge disservice to the community and sets a terrible example for future generations. Obviously, they have not really listened to the words of Dr. King when he said: “I have a dream that my four little children will one day live in a nation where they will not be judged by the color of their skin but by the content of their character. How is it that the White community “got it” and overwhelmingly helped elect Deval Patrick and Barak Obama, yet the Black community continue to “settle” for mediocrity at best and corruption at worst. Somewhere, Dr. King is crying over this failure to embrace his dream.
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This looks like selective enforcement to me. No one believes that the only corrupt politicians in Boston are black. Who invented bribery and corruption in Boston???? The Republican-led FBI had better take down the originators of slime in this town or everyone will know that this is racially based.
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Typical. Blame it on being Black. How about blaming it on being wrong. The louder yuo shout at these press confrences , the more guilty I think you are. You should just take your licks and go away.
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Oh big surprise, he’s playing the race card. Didn’t take long for that. Racism is alive and well and it’s rearing it’s ugly head constantly in the black community.
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Can this kind of behavior be wondered at in a state as Democratically inbred as Massachusetts? Group Think is the order of the day here and to hell with even the most token checks and balances that at least a few more Rebublicans or Independents could provide. Pathetic. And this has nothing to do with race, it has everything to do with criminals (allegedly) caught in the act.
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I am so saddened by the vitriolic tone of most of these comments. Chuck Turner has worked so hard for Boston and served his constituents so faithfully. Doing something illegal (or not – that could be a payment of owed lunch money in the picture, or not Turner at all since you can’t see his face) would be a terrible thing, but the way the FBI is going about this – dragging him (and ONLY him – really? He was the only politician in Boston these brilliant FBI agents could manage to get any evidence on) out in handcuffs and demanding $50,000 in bail is ridiculous. Politically motivated at the very least, and yes, selective enforcement is an indicator of racism.
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The many years of corrupt politicians in this city but they some how just seem to go after the few minority politicians. This sounds like the race card to me.
I worked with Chuck Turner in the early 1970’s when he organized people of all races to stop a highway from being built through their neighborhoods. I don’t believe a word of this. Most of the comments here are disgusting. Shame on you!
And another fish is landed. I wonder how many more will be caught in the net?
Posted by Jim L. November 21, 08 08:39 AM