Is there a Smoking Gun here?

I hope this isn't gossip. Did you see the Mitt Romney rap sheet? It's not on The Smoking Gun web site as of this writing, which I would expect if it were true. (Nothing found for "Willard Mitt Romney" or even "Romney.") On the other hand, it's been posted for a while now, and I suppose if it weren't true, there would be some legal action by Mitt Romney Incorporated. In it's defense, it is heavily footnoted with original sources.

A Democrat group (emphasis on Rat), the Massachusetts Democratic Party posted a rap sheet on Mitt Romney at romneyfacts.com. It starts out with some tangential associations, which I know to be true, one which I've already covered. Then it gets into the meat.

WAYLAND, MASS. (1981) -- ARREST- DISORDERLY CONDUCT.

In June 1981, ROMNEY attempted to launch family motorboat at Cochituate State Park despite park ranger advising that he was prohibited from doing so because his boat did not display proper registration. ROMNEY was arrested and charged with disorderly conduct. ROMNEY handcuffed and transported in bathing suit to Natick police station, where released on own recognizance. Disposition: Charges were dropped when ROMNEY threatened to sue the state for false arrest; case dismissed at Natick District Court in February 1982. ROMNEY successfully petitioned that the files be sealed.

First, let me say in all fairness that the bogus charge of "Disorderly Conduct" is a catch all that cops use when they can't think of anything else to charge you with. If you judge only by the title of the law, it sounds like "Disobeying a police officer." But if you read the law in your State, I bet you find out it doesn't really mean that because we don't live in a Police State. (Yet.) That is, cops can't just "order" you around willy nilly. (Although many do.)

In some States, like Utah, Disorderly Conduct usually means threatening to fight (shouting profanities in someone's face) or not obeying a LAWFUL order of a peace officer during an emergency. For example, a house is burning down. You're watching from the sidewalk where a Fire Engine needs to stop. A cop "orders" you to move out of the way and you don't. That would be a lawful order. Now he can arrest you.

Some lady fought this in Utah and won. She was watching cops abuse someone. A cop "ordered" her to go in her house. She refused and was arrested for "Disorderly Conduct." She won on appeal, but I can't find the cite just now.

As currently written, in Massachusetts, Disorderly Conduct is narrower. It does not mention anything about "obeying' peace officers at all. So in all probability, this was a bogus arrest. The better charge would have been something like operating a water vehicle without proper tax tags.

Still, it must be nice to have enough money to get charges dropped by threatening to sue and to successfully petition that the files are sealed. I didn't know you could do that.

HUNTSVILLE, UTAH (2002) -- USE OF PROFANITY WITH LAW ENFORCEMENT

On February 10, 2002, while overseeing 2002 Winter Olympics, ROMNEY became extremely angry upon encountering a traffic jam at a venue and proceeded to berate two persons authorized to direct traffic there, including with obscenity laced tirades, according to a police captain at the scene and a volunteer targeted by ROMNEY. The traffic volunteer Shaun Knopp stated that ROMNEY "asked me who the f___ I was and what the f___ I was doing. We got the Olympics going on we don't need this s___ down here." Weber County Sheriff's Office Capt. Terry Shaw, commander of the Snowbasin venue, stated that ROMNEY twice used the F-word while also berating one of his officers, Deputy Kodi Taggart. Capt. Shaw stated that ROMNEY "was abusive" to his officer and advised, unsuccessfully, that "he needs to apologize." ROMNEY denied part of the allegation, insisting he hadn't used the F-word since high school -- but admitted he used a word he described as "H-E-double hockey sticks." Disposition: The Utah Department of Safety advised it had decided against initiating a "profanity probe."

Wow. That last one is surprising, especially considering that most Mormons use the euphemism "Fetch" or "Flip" rather than the real f word. (But a Pharisee's trick. You're still swearing in your heart even if you don't use a swear word.)

I don't know what a "Profanity Probe" is, but you can bet the Utah DPS is heavily populated by Mormons, as this story shows.

But wait! There's more!

So, okay, maybe we can forgive Mitt Romney for sins of his youth. But what about today's sins?

Here's a story from Capitol Hill Blue

The motorcade of Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney exceeded speed limits and went through stop lights Friday as local law officers escorted him, blue lights flashing, to campaign events in two South Carolina counties.

Traffic pulled over for Romney's caravan as Saluda County Sheriff Jason Booth, a Romney supporter, led the candidate's motor home and staff cars with his blue lights running from the Aiken County line through Saluda County to the Newberry city limits, according to an Associated Press reporter following the candidate. [Any bets that Sheriff Booth is Mormon?]

"We wanted to make sure he stays safe and gets to where he's going," Booth told The Associated Press.

Asked whether it's proper to use flashing police lights to escort a candidate, he said, "I'm not getting into this with you, sir. I have no comment." [i.e., it's not legal]

A Newberry County deputy joined the caravan at the county line and used flashing lights for several miles until reaching city limits, the reporter observed.

Newberry County Sheriff's Maj. Todd Johnson said that deputy's escort was unplanned. Romney's motorcade became lost and requested help finding the campaign stop, he said.

"They didn't know exactly where they were going," Johnson said. "All he did was guide him to the event. He never activated blue lights other than to indicate that he would be the one leading." [Uhhh... but that's NOT an emergency. Is it right to force other motorists to stop for the caravan? Most police departments have strict procedures about use of  lights and sirens.]

I plead the 12th

The funny thing (NOT!) is that Mormons will often cite their (current) 12th Article of Faith.


It (currently) says,

We believe in being subject to kings, presidents, rulers, and magistrates, in obeying, honoring, and sustaining the law.

In fact, if you peruse the comments Mormons have left on my blog, you'll see them invoke this, trying to prove they're law abiding citizens and wouldn't be conflicted by their temple oath when push comes to shove.

But Mitt Romney's actions speak louder than words.

Getting High

Beside, there's an unwritten Mormon Higher Law.

Well, actually, it is written. But not in official Mormon church publications. Rather, it's written here, in this excellent glossary of Mormon terms. The Mormon Higher Law explains the Mountain Meadows Massacre; Joseph Smith's abuse of power when he was governor of Nauvoo, IL and destroyed a Printing Press (so much for the 1st Amendment, which is why he was put in jail. People took treason more seriously back then.); and polygamy today.

And Hugh Hewitt says?

I must have missed the shows where Hugh Hewitt shared all this with his listeners.

But go ahead. Vote for Mormon Mitt Romney. He'll obey the law. The only question is, which one?