Let's say a local mayor is willing to take a bribe.  Let's also pretend that there is a local bar-owner who needs to get the police off her back.  How does the bar-owner get "a big wad of cash" into the hands of the mayor?  In Guttenberg, New Jersey, it was accomplished by hiring a "see-no-evil kind-of-guy" (SNEKOG).

The mayor's name is David della Donna, and he and his wife Anna (who served on the local planning board) <a href="http://blog.nj.com/njv_thurman_hart/2008/04/just_short_of_justice.html">were convicted today</a> on three out of five counts in federal court.  There is an allegation from the mayor's son that the prosecution's star witness (Luisa Medrano, the bar owner) will <a href="http://www.nj.com/hudsoncountynow/index.ssf/2008/04/della_donnas_guilty_on_three_c.html">escape prosecution because of her cooperation</a>.  

As disturbing as it is to consider that <a href="http://rds.yahoo.com/_ylt=A0geu6wIaRdIUlcASgpXNyoA;_ylu=X3oDMTBybnZlZnRlBHNlYwNzcgRwb3MDMQRjb2xvA2FjMgR2dGlkAw--/SIG=130ue9rjr/EXP=1209580168/**http%3a//www.usdoj.gov/usao/nj/press/files/pdffiles/MedranoSuperIndict7-20.pdf">someone like Medrano</a> (pdf) could skate entirely, it is also unlikely that any federal attorney (<a href="http://www.bluejersey.com/showDiary.do?diaryId=7622">even Chris Christie</a>) would so blatantly disregard the needs of the community.  I don't doubt that Medrano might get to plead to a lesser charge, but international human trafficking and forced slavery is hardly the type of thing a potential governorial candidate would forgive.

But then it seems unlikely that a sitting Governor would be likely to forgive that SNEKOG.  Even more unlikely would be that SNEKOG getting off without any plea agreement with either the state or federal officials.  Yet Javier Inclan not only faces no state or federal charges for testifying under oath that he functioned as the bagman in the corruption scheme, Governor Jon Corzine now <a href="http://www.politickernj.com/matt-friedman/19164/corzine-comends-his-deputy-chief-staff-witness-federal-prosecution-corrupt-mayor">commended his Deputy Chief of Staff</a> for "doing the right thing".

Governor Corzine promised when he took office that <a href="http://www.bluejersey.com/showDiary.do?diaryId=7623">his highest priority</a> would be ethics and that he would work to "earn back the people's confidence".  Is this how he earns back our trust?  By praising a man who openly admits - without shame or apology - that he was in a position to stop the mayor's corruption and the bar owner's human trafficking and slave-ring?

It isn't like this unfolded quickly.  I first picked up the story <a href="http://www.bluejersey.com/showDiary.do?diaryId=7261">on March 28</a>.  The Governor's Deputy Chief of Staff's part in the criminal enterprise was sent out with the trash on <a href="http://www.bluejersey.com/showDiary.do?diaryId=7300">two consecutive Fridays</a>.  If Javier Inclan had any shame <a href="http://blog.nj.com/njv_thurman_hart/2008/04/javier_inclan_should_resign_or.html#more">he'd resign in disgrace</a>.  But the truth of the matter is that Javier Inclan, by his own testimony, has shown that he is <a href="http://blog.nj.com/njv_thurman_hart/2008/04/javier_inclan_unfit_for_any_of.html">unfit to hold any public office</a>.  

Faithfully turning one's eyes away from wrong-doing <a href="http://blog.nj.com/njv_thurman_hart/2008/04/inclan_should_face_charges_or.html">should not be rewarded</a>.  Javier Inclan has been <a href="http://blog.nj.com/njv_thurman_hart/2008/04/it_isnt_personal_javier_inclan.html#more">incompetent at every post</a> that Jon Corzine has promoted him to fill.  But once a man has proven that he is <a href="http://blog.nj.com/njv_thurman_hart/2008/04/liar_or_lackey_inclan_must_go.html">unable to be trusted a little</a>, it can hardly be argued that he is worthy of being trusted a lot.

I'm personally invested in this case because I find it personally offensive that my community became a destination for an international slave ring.  I find it personally offensive that a bar owner forced a pregnant woman to take abortificants after the health clinic told her the pregnancy was too advanced for a procedure - resulting in a premature live birth and then death of an innocent child.  I find it personally offensive that the political establishment of my county and state has stood by silently without condemning either the mayor or his Treasurer, Javier Inclan.  I find it personally offensive that Javier Inclan has testified that he made it "business as usual" to violate the terms of his office, but was promoted to County Clerk for doing so - and when his office had its ability to issue passports revoked, he was promoted to the Governor's constituent services office.  

I find it personally offensive that a man who could have made a difference by offering simple anonymous phone call instead decided it was more important to further his political career than to take the simplest possible action to uphold the public trust he'd been given.  I find it personally offensive that a man who served as the linchpin for corruption and slavery is now working as a gatekeeper for the Governor of my state.

I'm not a Democrat because I hate Republicans.  I'm a Democrat because I believe that government, in the words of Jefferson, is instituted to protect the rights of its citizens.  I'm a Progressive because I believe that government should put the needs of its people before the needs of its corporations.  I believe, as Elie Wiesel wrote, the opposite of love is apathy and that I love my country, my community, and my party enough to not be so apathetic that when someone does something so vile as to commend someone like Javier Inclan, I refuse to sit back and be a good sheep.

Jon Corzine, for whatever reason, simply can't see his way to do what is right.  He can't see that Javier Inclan must be fired and that charges must be filed.  Anything less is simply ensuring that Inclan's actions will be taken again and again and again.  Holding Inclan responsible will not prevent people from coming forward - thought it might ensure that they hire a lawyer and talk to prosecutors prior to testifying.  There is no excuse for letting Javier Inclan continue to suckle at the public tit while knifing us in the back.

Tell Governor Corzine that <a href="http://www.nj.gov/governor/govmail.html">slavery and corruption is not heroic and brave</a>.