July 13, 2007

StreetTalk by Carol Rosen

President Bush commuted the two and a half year prison sentence against Lewis Scooter Libby, who was convicted of perjury and obstructing an investigation last spring. Bush called the prison sentence “excessive” and Libby still had to pay a $250,000 fine and serve probation for two years. How do you feel about the commutation?
(Asked at Evergreen Village Square)

“I feel it’s unfair to everyone else that’s going to have to serve time because he [Libby] is in politics. He gets off easy.”

Paul Sanches, 35
Silver Creek
Cabinetmaker


“I think he should get the prison term by law. I believe he got off because he’s a friend of the President. That’s the way things work, isn’t it?”

John Cropper, 56
Evergreen
Dispatcher for truck repair shop


“I think that it is wrong. It doesn’t matter who you are, you have to be responsible for what you do.”

Caroline Arredondo, 39
Evergreen
Corrections officer


“The facts in the case are simply that the process is being misused. The prosecution process is overreaching an inappropriate use of the justice system. I think the sentence should have been commuted because the judicial process is being misused. He should not have been prosecuted in the first place. The prosecution process was politically motivated.”

Dave Deardorf
Evergreen
Retired


“It’s politics, but no, I don’t think his sentence should have been commuted. Everyone needs to be accountable for their actions, good or bad."

Kiran Chimni, 37
Evergreen
Homemaker and substitute teacher


“No, Bush should not have commuted the sentence. Everyone who is convicted should have to do their time. I think Bush did it for political reasons.”

Joshua Bacane, 19
Evergreen
Student at Evergreen Valley College