I will be on FOX 5 News (San Diego)6:45am PST Monday morning debating the issue of ‘Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell’.

A year ago at this time people were blush from having Obamagasms, the republican party was in complete disarray and the DNC had just taken the RNC to school on how to use the new fangled internet to win political campaigns.

Mercifully, also going on the time was an internal competition for change at the Chair position of the RNC.

Fast forward to today and we have seen GOP victories in VA, NJ, Ted Kennedy’s old seat and with likely victories looming in both Biden’s and Obama’s former senate seats.

All of which makes party elder party criticism a head scratcher?

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ttp://tinyurl.com/a7peea

PS- Apologies to Illinois Senate hopeful Mark Kirk for referring to him as ‘Kirby’ (a late night before : )

To: Members of the U.S. Army Clemency Board
From: Rick Amato
Subject: Clemency for PFC Corey Clagett
Date: January 20, 2010

Dear Clemency Board Members,

As an American who is deeply concerned about the alarmingly high number of lower listed young soldiers accused of murder in the War on Terror, I am respectfully writing to appeal for clemency for Private First Class Corey Clagett.

I understand that PFC Clagett pled guilty to murder charges against him, even though he killed no one. His former attorney believes that he was given extremely poor legal advice from his JAG attorney (defending her first-ever murder trial) who told him that he might spend the rest of his life in prison without the possibility of parole if he did not plead guilty. There were three insurgents who were killed in this case, and two other defendants have taken full responsibility for the killing of all three. His JAG attorney was aware of their admission yet never informed PFC Clagett. He had the right to be told of their taking full responsibility for all three deaths before being advised to plead guilty.

In similar cases, military members who killed the enemy outside of the rules of engagement have often been given sentences of months. I understand that one of the other two defendants in this case, who killed one insurgent, was given a sentence of six months. His commanding officer was given immunity. Although he never shot and killed anyone, PFC Clagett was given a sentence of eighteen years.

I have seen a video of commanding officer Michael Steele giving a pre-deployment pep talk in which he clearly and unmistakably states “kill all military aged males, bring nobody back alive, the enemy is breeding and multiplying, it is either you or them.”

The video was not entered into evidence at the original trial, despite the fact it is relevant to the state of mind of Corey Clagett.

A climate of political correctness has contributed in part to the high number of American soldiers accused of murder and forced into plea bargain deals. However the mood of the country is growing weary of this treatment and is beginning to change.

You as members of the board hold something precious in your hands. A young man’s life. You have the opportunity to do the right thing and give a young man his life back.

Please understand the case of PFC Corey Clagett is not going to disappear from the public eye until it is finally properly resolved. It will only grow stronger.

PFC Corey Clagett enlisted in the military at age 21 and risked his life for his country so that we may each enjoy our American way of life. Now it is time to do the right thing and grant PFC Clagett clemency so that he can return to his.

Sincerely,

Rick Amato
Radio Talk Show Host
Syndicated Columnist