Focus on Education The David A. Wiseman confirmation circus

I am in favor of Mr. David A. Wiseman’s confirmation as Associate Judge. I have known Mr. Wiseman for about fifteen years when he was struggling to make a living as an attorney. And I have watched him persevere until he has become a success today.

I have had numerous satisfactory and honest business dealings through the years with him. At no time have I ever heard any derogatory remarks about his character except from two individuals only recently.

However if we are to judge Mr. Wiseman’s ethics and character on the types of clients he has represented throughout his career, than most lawyers would have to discontinue the practice of law. Everyone has the right to be defended by an attorney. And the attorney should not be judged from the clients he represents. If the truth were known, many of the people in public life would not be there except that they didn’t have to be examined before taking office.

But let me focus for a few minutes on a very important matter that concerns me about the sound and fury for Mr. Wiseman’s appointment. It appears to be setting a bad precedent for future appointments.

Mr. Wiseman was presented to the Senate Standing Committee on Executive Appointments and Government Investigations by Governor Tenorio. I am sure that his selection team reviewed the records of Mr. Wiseman and must have found them acceptable or he would not be standing in judgment. To drag the Governor’s appointment through the mud and place him on a public disecting table like some bug being disected belittles the Governor. Remember how the previous appointee was totally snubbed.

Over the weeks, I have read and heard many discussions about Mr. Wiseman. And they have successfully accomplished their mission – to destroy an honorable man and deny his just position as an Associate Judge.

I am reminded of the famous Salem witch trials conducted in Salem, Massachusetts, in 1692. They have remained as a blight on American history. During those hysterical trials, twenty people were burned at the stake alive for allegedly practicing witchcraft. It was a period of frenzy and many townspeople were widely suspected and accused of witchcraft on flimsy evidence.

I am also reminded of the McCarty era in the 40’s and 50’s, now known as McCarthyism. If you recall Senator Joseph R. McCarthy led an effort to identify Communists who, he said, had infiltrated the federal government by the hundreds, although he never supplied any of their names. One of his tactics was to establish GUILT BY ASSOCIATION. He was also feared because of the mass of information he had put together on people in the government.

Today McCarthyism has become a general term for the hysterical investigation of a government’s opponents or the publicizing of accusations against these opponents. I recall a story about former President Lyndon Johnson, when during one of his campaigns in Texas he was up against a tough opponent and needed some special strategy. One of his staff said we should just spread a story that the opponent has sex with sheep.

Johnson replied, “Yes, but how would we ever prove that?” His staff said, “We don’t have to prove anything. But our opponent will surely have a hard time trying to disprove it.” And that is what Mr. Wiseman is faced with today — trying to disprove allegations.

In closing, I have a gift for anyone to use. It is a stone. As Jesus tells a crowd about to stone a woman: “All right, hurl the stone at her until she dies. But only he who never sinned may throw the first!” Who will throw first?

Strictly a personal view. Anthony Pellegrino writes every Monday and Tuesday. Mr. Pellegrino can be reached at tonypell@saipan.com