Florida Sheriff SHOULD Be Censured For His Palin Rally Introduction

I may shock some of you with what I am about to say. I agree with the left that Sheriff Mike Scott of Lee Country, Florida should be censured for what he did at the Sarah Palin rally on October 6.

But first the background. On October 6 Sheriff Scott appeared in uniform to introduce Governor Sarah Palin at a rally held at Germain Arena in Estero, Florida. As he introduced Gov. Palin, Scott told the cheering crowd, "On Nov. 4, let’s leave Barack Hussein Obama wondering what happened."

Naturally the far left is all upset that Scott's use of Obama's actual middle name is somehow "racist."

And now my shocking agreement with the left... well, at least near agreement. I agree that Sheriff Scott should be censured by the Country Sheriff's department for his actions.

There. I said it.

But, there is a crucial difference between why I want such a censure and why the left does. It is where I disagree with the left on why he should be censured that matters most.

The left wants Sheriff Scott censured for the absurd reason that he used Barack Hussein Obama's full name. This is a stupid reason to get mad at Sheriff Scott.

There is, however, a proper reason to want him slapped down by his bosses: He wore his uniform and was on duty while he introduced the Governor and as he participated in partisan activities at the same time.

Now, I want to be consistent, here. I would no more want a Sheriff to appear in uniform and on duty at a rally to introduce Barack Hussein Obama than the left would want him to introduce Sarah Palin. I think it is a misuse of his uniform and authority to appear at a partisan rally while wearing it. Fair is fair, after all.

No public servant in uniform should be allowed to wear their uniform to participate at a partisan political rally. Period.

I would have had no problem whatsoever if Sheriff Scott had appeared in civilian clothes and participated at the rally, just as I would have no problem with any other public official appearing at a political rally when in their role as private citizen. Public servants have just as much right to their freedom of political choice as anyone else.

But, while in uniform, it is an abuse of their position to use their uniforms representing the public trust to engage in partisan political activity.

Certainly a federal probe (as it looks like is being threatened now) is going too far, but he should be reprimanded just the same.

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