The Just Answer To The DeLuca Dilemma: Say Farewell, Dear Friend by Doug Wrenn

The Just Answer To The DeLuca Dilemma:

Say Farewell, Dear Friend

By Doug Wrenn

June 18, 2007

I always say that I call them like I see them. With that juxtaposition, this column will undoubtedly hurt me more than it will you.

I do not condone Lou DeLuca's recent criminal activity at all, although to a limited degree, as he explained himself, I can somewhat understand his motivation. I do, however, proudly support the Senator's immediate acceptance of personal responsibility for his actions once they became public knowledge.

Senator DeLuca didn't whine, blame others or make excuses. He stood up, pled guilty and took what he had coming to him like a man. Bravo for that, Senator DeLuca!

After that plea, and a press conference in which he accounted for himself, Senator DeLuca stated that he would let the Republican caucus decide his fate as Minority Leader. True to his word, when the caucus spoke up, the former Republican Senate Minority Leader stepped down, and he took that like a man, too.

Senator DeLuca also said he would let the voters of his district decide his fate as their Senator. On this point, I respectfully disagree. Criminal actions, despite the benevolently misguided intentions, are still inherently wrong, Senator. Evil is not defined or justified by popularity. You also spoke of your love and the integrity of the General Assembly as an institution. If you mean those words, then back them up. Don't wait for the voters of your district, or for that matter, your jubilant, gloating adversaries from the liberal and Democrat ranks of the State Capitol and the conspicuously biased and agenda-driven liberal propaganda rag, known as the Hartford Courant to decide. Your actions already impugned the institution, and that takes some doing! Step down now, Senator DeLuca. You have come this far. Finish what rightfully needs to be done.

I take no joy in those words, but as an old friend always used to say, "You take the good with the bad." In my September 19th, 2005 column, "Figure Newton," I cited the good and the bad of then Democrat Senator Ernest Newton's demise. There is good and bad to this story as well. Facts are not partisan, but partisans are.

During the Newton saga, a then very teary-eyed Democrat Rep. Chris Caruso of Bridgeport had nothing but loving warm and fuzzies to speak of his bribe-taking legislative crony from the Park City. Now Caruso won't settle for anything less than a crucifixion of DeLuca. Ditto with Democrats Prague, Williams, et al. "Et tu," Roman Senators!

For all their previous escapades with child molestation, bribery, corruption, drunk driving, etc., the forgiving Dems are now frothing blood at the mouth because they smell Republican blood in the water. Rep. "Iron Curtain" Mike Lawlor (D-East Haven) cited his personal distinction between private deeds and public deeds, which is meaningless. Consider the source. We all now know more than we care to about the ideology and morality of Lawlor, and for that matter, the insidious manipulation of "the institution" by this contemptible Co-Chairman of the Kangaroo Court that dares to actually call itself the Judiciary Committee. The bar isn't too high to reach when it's on the ground.

To clarify what should be obvious to anyone with common sense and a moral conscience, we rightfully hold our public officials to a higher standard because of the sacred trust with which they are entrusted. Thus, there should be no distinction between errant behavior while on or off the clock. Our elected officials are never "off" the clock. That's part of the package, like it or not. While that ideal certainly does not excuse DeLuca, it does shine some light on the hypocrisy of the sniveling, finger-pointing Democrats. Ditto with the promoters of liberalism who masquerade as professional, unbiased journalists, like the broadcaster, whose name I unfortunately did not catch, on Stonington's WXLM (102.3 FM) radio station, who seemingly sarcastically referred to the Senator as "Louie DeLuca" in a recent news report. That gaffe struck me as odd, considering the conservative programming usually broadcast on that station. It also struck me as odd that as the Senate's Democrat Pro Tem Leader, Donald Williams hails from the eastern part of the state, I have never heard any of the WXLM folks ever report a news story invoking "Donny" Williams." While I am still willing to keep an open mind regarding WXLM's station management, to that broadcaster, I am wondering, was it really just an innocent gaffe, or are you, perhaps, a not-so secretly Democrat shill on a liberal crusade, or is this a not-so subtly discriminatory Italian thing? Whoever you are, and trust me, if I knew your name, you would be reading it right now, shame on you, Sir.

According to his own explanation, Senator DeLuca's granddaughter married an allegedly abusive husband, many years her senior and with a criminal record. DeLuca spoke to Waterbury Police Chief Neil O'Leary, on several occasions about this situation, seeking help. When allegedly turned down by O'Leary, DeLuca turned to reputed mob figure James Galante, currently under investigation by federal officials in connection with mob influence of the trash hauling industry in Connecticut. Galante previously donated large sums, both to DeLuca's campaign and to a charity associated with DeLuca. DeLuca supposedly wanted his granddaughter's husband visited and scared, "Soprano's" style," or in the parlance of Don Corleone from "The Godfather," to be given "an offer he couldn't refuse" to stop (allegedly) beating his wife. Shortly later, DeLuca was visited by an undercover agent, posing as a mobster, offering the now compromised legislator a "wrinkled McDonalds bag filled with $100 bills." The pseudo-mobster asked for compliance from the legislature for the mob's endeavors. DeLuca refused the bribe, explaining that it could be traced back to him, but said he would give the mob future favorable consideration in the legislature.

Chief O'Leary admitted speaking to DeLuca on the matter of his granddaughter, but denied that spousal abuse was ever mentioned. DeLuca explained that he made the statements he did to the undercover operative because he was supposedly scared and suddenly realized the hole he had dug for himself. When called in for a meeting with the FBI, DeLuca initially denied the accusations lodged against him until confronted with the evidence that the mob "tough guy" with whom he previously met and negotiated was really an undercover law enforcement official.

Both Chief O'Leary and Senator DeLuca are adamantly sticking to their conflicting recollections of their conversations. DeLuca's statements to the undercover agent could have been understandably said solely out of fear, but as none of us can ever truly know what is in a person's mind, for the sake of the state, we must only accept the premise that DeLuca did intend to play along with mob influence in his duties as a very influential State Senate leader.

Whether such is actually the case or not, DeLuca, his emotions, motivations and intentions aside, nevertheless willingly placed himself into that very precarious position, and thus compromised the (gulp) integrity of the General Assembly. Attorney Hugh Keefe, who is representing Galante, correctly stated in his client's defense that donations, despite the geographical distance of the recipient, are perfectly legal. Ronald Reagan once said, when questioned about a donation he accepted, that donations presumably only reflect agreement with the agenda of the candidate, and not necessarily the candidate's agreement of the donor's agenda. When a Saudi Prince offered then New York Mayor Rudy Giuliani a $10 million dollar donation for a 9/11-relief fund shortly after that tragic event, an irate Giuliani immediately returned the donation after the Prince blamed the US and its Middle East foreign policy for the catastrophe and suggested a more favorable approach to the Palestinians in the future. In Buckley vs. Valeo, The Supreme Court ruled that campaign donations are indeed, free and protected speech. The daunting question that remains is what that speech says. In the public arena, for better or for worse, perception is reality.

Recently commenting on the larger trash hauling corruption federal probe, US Attorney for the District Of Connecticut, Kevin O'Connor, mentioned that several unnamed lawmakers were also being looked at. It appears that the very long tentacles of the big calamari known as La Cosa Nostra is successfully reaching across our tiny state's geography, across the lines of many legislative districts, and undoubtedly, across the partisan aisle. Say what you will of the mob, but it is an equal opportunity employer and corrupter. For those hypocritical cheerleaders from the left side of that political aisle, if charges do in fact come to fruition, make no mistake about it, I will take great joy in throwing the first rocks at your glass houses, and when I throw them, I will be aiming for those pointing fingers of blame that are clearly visible through the panes.

Meanwhile, Senator DeLuca, the strong, brave and staunch supporter of the Republican Party, conservative values, the pro-life, pro-family and pro-religious freedom causes, the integrity and efficiency of free government and the betterment of life, liberty and prosperity for everyone in the State of Connecticut, it is with a very heavy but earnest heart that I say you have not yet quite gone far enough in your noble and exemplary personal accountability. Please, Senator, resign now. You must do it. It's simply the right thing to do. While your farewell will likely end your tenure in politics and government, it will not end our prayers for you. Nevertheless, it's time to go. You must move on and government, unimpeded by the heavy, enveloping and suffocating shadow of scandal, must continue for the good of the people. Leave now, on your terms, before the salivating, double-talking, carnivorous wolves in the institution you so love and have previously so honorably served get the coveted opportunity to pounce on you and then dictate their terms. Rest assured, after you're gone, the rest of us will maintain a fervent watch on all of them. Every wolf, like every dog, has his or her day. We're waiting, and we'll be ready.