Lampe vs. Pinkel: She wins
Yael T. AbouhalkahI was wondering when someone in Missouri’s political circles would weigh in on MU football coach Gary Pinkel’s objectionable comments about former Penn State coach Joe Paterno.
No, it wasn’t Gov. Jay Nixon. And that’s too bad, because he hobnobs at major sporting events and his stance might carry some weight.
But at least Missouri Rep. Sara Lampe, a Springfield Democrat running for lieutenant governor in the Aug. 7 primary, has spoken up.
Her full statement is here.
The money quote:
“Coach Pinkel’s defense of the indefensible indicates that he holds the same attitude that allowed the reprehensible situation at Penn State to occur; the attitude that building a successful football program is more important than everything else, including protecting innocent children from rapists.”
And, as a reminder, here is my own scathing take on Pinkel’s comments, as well as the original Star story on Pinkel’s remarks.
Matthew Kofron
11 months agoApparently you didn’t listen to Kevin Slaten’s interview of Sara Lampe. Lampe admitted she hadn’t even read the Freeh report. Her statement is slanderous in that it accuses Pinkel of putting football ahead of child rape victims.
Brian Kirkpatrick
11 months agoLampe vs. Slaten: She gets slaughtered.
Regardless of how you feel about Kevin Slaten, Joe Paterno or Gary Pinkel, per the interview with Slaten, it was quite obvious that Lampe’s statment was slanderous as well made with public opinion in mind. When the interview becomes available on-line, I would suggest everyone listen. It paints a nice picture of Lampe as a politician, willing to say anything to garner votes.
Phil Cardarella
11 months agoActually, I am no big Pinkel fan, and Sarah is a good gal. The flaw is in the idea that such child abuse is not only bad, not only criminal, but that we must make a special effort not only to condemn the criminal but to villianize anyone associated with him who did not immediately recognize the nature and extent of the offense.
Oh, and no one can have a balanced view of a man’s life, crediting him with the good he did, even while rejecting the evil that he failed to stop. No, we must not allow for good men who are flawed — not when we can posture against evil.
Mother Teresa devoted her life to serving the poor in the slums of Calcutta. But, she also hobnobbed with Baby Doc Duvalier — who victim-wise makes even Sandusky look like a saint. Shall we summerize her long life of charity as being an enabler of vicious dictators? Or, shall we be sane?
David St Hubbins
11 months agohttp://chirb.it/LJ2cyt
Lampe wins? really? Listen as Lampe gets SHREDDED on Kevin Slaten’s show. She didn’t read the Freeh report and can’t recall ONE thing in it to juistify her slanderous, uninformed, bandwagon jumping position. Mr. Abouhalkah, you may want to retract your support for her after listening to this. She is a disgrace to politicians, and that is saying something. (It’s also pretty funny)
David St Hubbins
11 months agohttp://chirb.it/CaFkt8
Listen to Mr. Abouhalkah on Kevin Slaten’s show. More grandstanding from another lazy journalist, Abouhalkah, who didn’t do his homework, pathetic and irriesponsible. The Paterno’s should sue all of these hacks for slander.
Brian Gamma
11 months agoFor those referencing the pig faced Slaten invterview, you are correct, Lampe was a borderline idiot…and Mr. Abouhalkah was not very informed, agreed. That being said lets go ahead and answer Slaten’s questions: Yes, Paterno did know about the 1998 incident, see page 20 of the Freeh report: “Curley notifies Spanier that he has “touched base” with Paterno about the incident…days later follows up “Coach is anxious to know where this stands” with obvious reference to the “incident”.
Brian Gamma
11 months agoPaterno could be given a pass on the 1998 incident, he knew about it but the investigation went nowhere. But along comes Mike McCreary in 2001, reporting personally to Paterno of the rythmic slapping sounds and Sandusky in the shower behinding the poor child. Paterno was told of this on a Friday but didn’t notify anyone of the child rape until MONDAY “he didn’t want to “interfere with their weekends. Defend that action, or lack thereof!!! It’s in Paterno’s deposition. It’s disgraceful. Paterno is either an imbecile, or he was covering up for a serial molester. Defend that!
Brian Gamma
11 months agoMy mistake, the shower incident was 2002. So crucify me now.
Edward Szewczyk
11 months agoGary Pinkel did nothing but state the truth. He’s to be commended for standing by a friend and professional colleague during a horrible time. It’s outrageous that Pinkel should have to suffer a tongue-lashing from some front running politician over this. If you actually read the factual portion of the Freeh report there’s next to nothing about Coach Paterno’s involvement. Freeh himself greatly exaggerated the conclusions which can be drawn regarding Paterno at this time. Maybe when Curley and Schultz testify or otherwise talk about what actually happened more conclusions can be drawn. As matters currently stand, however, all the ranting and raving about Paterno is based on speculation guess and conjecture.
Brian Gamma
10 months, 4 weeks agoBS Edward, Paterno was a required by law to report the 2002 incident to the appropiate STATE AGENCY, in this case, the campus security…he did not, ever do this. He waited 2-3 day before even discussing the incident with his so-called bosses, Curley and Schultz. Read pages 116-118 of the Freeh report. This is not disputed anywhere.