While Michael Cohen has been offering public testimony to Congress today, I’ve been bothered a little bit by the CNN headlines, which have been quoting Cohen as using the words ‘racist,’ ‘con-man,’ and ‘cheat.’ I’ve finally figured out why.
Racism is not in the same category as con-man and cheat.
While the former is repugnant and, to tell the truth, stupid, the latter two are indicative of illegal behavior. And that’s the truly important part of this testimony. The racism doesn’t really matter when it comes down to the nuts and bolts, unless you can prove a hate crime has occurred, and that somewhat dubious category of crime is difficult to prove because it requires insight into the state of mind of the alleged criminal. This can be available, of course, but it’s always a bit more arguable than a bloody knife and a body.
So don’t let me get off point here. Cohen is testifying to possible illegalities and lies by the President, and those are important as a basis for sending him on his way in two years, and possibly even for an impeachment, although honestly the GOP has no spine in the matter. His racism? It may be true, but it’s not relevant, really.
And that’s just me being obsessive, I suppose.
