Donald C. Shields and John F. Cragan two retired professors, report that as regards local officials during the administration of George W. Bush
Data* indicate that the offices of the U.S. Attorneys across the nation investigate seven (7) times as many Democratic officials as they investigate Republican officials, a number that exceeds even the racial profiling of African Americans in traffic stops.Interestingly, on a statewide and national level through 2006 the Bush Justice Department had investigated or indicted 66 officials, 36 Democrats and 30 Republicans. Not a significant discrepancy. During the same period the Bush Justice Department, through it's US Attorneys had investigated 375 local official, 298 Democrats, 67 Republicans and 10 Independents. Why the statistical difference between local, and state or national investigations. Well, Shields and Cragan think the difference has to do with the national press. If the Justice Department were to investigate 7 times as many state or national Democrats as Republicans the Washington Post or the New York Times would notice. That would not be good. Investigating local Democrats is much easier. Local small town reporters don't have the national perspective. If city council member Jones is indicted he is pretty much on his own. The implication of Shields and Cragan's reasoning is that the policy is intentional, not accidental.
I wonder if they are over investigating Democrats or under investigating Republicans. I also wonder what the numbers were during the Clinton years. If they were reversed we might be seeing a long term problem. Of course I am sure hard right Republicans believe their people are just 7 times more honest than Democrats. If that is the case why does the statistic disappear once a politican moves to state wide office.
