More Dirty Tricks at MikeNifong.com?

On May 2, 2006, the eve of the primary election for Durham County District Attorney, Bomani Jones, writing for ESPN.com, ran a story entitled, Voters to weigh in on Duke lacrosse case. Relevant to the piece you are now reading, the ESPN article stated:

Of the 11 endorsements listed on Nifong's Web site, eight mention his ethics, integrity or courage.

Even Butch Williams, who represents some of the lacrosse players, supports Nifong's candidacy, and says the DA is "honest and forthright, firm but fair. It is never personal with him."

Ah, yes, Nifong's website.

The quote attributed to Mr. Williams in the ESPN piece was not the product of conversation between writer Jones and Mr. Williams. It was lifted directly from Williams' pre-primary endorsement of Nifong.

Including the two pre-primary endorsements published on April 13, 2006 by the Durham Herald-Sun, eleven "endorsements" yet adorn Mikey's personal publicity portfolio. Eight mention his ethics, integrity or courage. Quotation marks frame the word "endorsements" because each of the eleven were made before the primary election. These "endorsements" do not necessarily represent the present sentiments of their makers.

Certainly it would be misleading, at best, and lying, at worst, to portray entities and individuals as endorsers of one's election campaign a month before the general election if those entities and individuals do not, in fact, currently support one's candidacy.

The two endorsements published in The Herald-Sun were, clearly, made before the primary.

Further, the allegedly current "endorsement" of The Independent Weekly ("The Indy") newspaper was actually printed in that publication on April 19, 2006.

As an intermittent peruser of Nifong's website, I recall there having been approximately ten clickable icons at the bottom of its "Endorsements" sub-page since before May 3d. The endorsements of the Herald-Sun, Indy Weekly, and the Fraternal Order of Police were there before the primary. Ditto those of Mark Edwards, Esq., Williams, Duke law professor Robinson O. Everett, and Hon. Marcia H. Morey, DCJ.

Something looked different, however, when my focus was directed back to the "Endorsements" sub-page of Nifong's website last week. I wasn't sure if I'd seen click-accessible "endorsements" of local attorney Pat Evans, and Nifong family friend, Dr. Kallianos, on the page in the past. Further, it seemed as if other individuals, whose "endorsements" had been once present, were now missing.

A review of the website's "Endorsements" index, however, was somewhat enlightening:

Most of the pictoral and text data housed there was "last modified" on June 14, 2006. This includes the Herald-Sun endorsements, The Indy "endorsement," the FOP logo and endorsement text, and facial closeups (gifs) and endorsement text (jpgs) of: Edwards, Evans, Kallianos, Everett, Williams, and Sharon Thompson, Esq.

Interestingly, although you won't now see them on accessing the "Endorsements" sub-page of Nifong's website, facial closeups (gifs) and "endorsement" text (jpgs) of two other people were modified on June 14, 2006: retired Durham County Sheriff, Roland W. Leary, and the mommy of Mikey's former boss, Carolyn C. Hardin. More on them in a sentence.

Judge Morey's facial closeup (gif) and "endorsement" text (jpg) were last modified on June 27, 2006.

On 16-June-2006, at 15:03, Sheriff Leary's "endorsement" was apparently removed from view upon the "Endorsements" sub-page.

On 16-June-2006, at 15:05, Sharon Thompson's "endorsement" was apparently placed in view upon the "Endorsements" sub-page.

On 13-Sep-2006, at 16:56, Momma Hardin's "endorsement" was apparently removed from view upon the "Endorsements" sub-page.

On 13-Sep-2006, at 16:57, Pat Evans "endorsement" was apparently placed in view upon the "Endorsements" sub-page.

Confused? Me too. Why would pre-primary "endorsements" have been "modified" in June? Why were Sheriff Leary's and Mrs. Hardin's "endorsements" apparently removed in favor of those of Evans' and Thompson's? Have any of the pre-primary Nifong endorsers changed their opinions of the man (and the propriety of his election) in the intervening five months? Do any of the "endorsers" currently touted on Nifong's website even realize that their pre-primary endorsements are still being used on the site, with the implication that they continue to support him in the coming general election?

I hate being confused. Which is why I yesterday e-mailed the following letter to Indy editor, Richard Hart (rhart@indyweek.com), managing editor, Jennifer Strom (jstrom@indyweek.com), and associate editor, Denise Prickett (dprickett@indyweek.com); James "Butch" Williams (jwilliams@jdwlaw.net); Mark Edwards (Medwardslaw@hotmail.com); Sharon Thompson (stlawgroup@aol.com), and; Robinson Everett (everett@law.duke.edu):

4 OCT 06

Dear [alleged Nifong endorser]:

I note that your pre-primary endorsement of Mr. Nifong yet remains linked to his website:

[link to each particular alleged endorser's alleged on-going "endorsement"]

If I might intrude on your time to ask three questions:

1) Do you still endorse Mr. Nifong for D.A.?

2) Did you know that your pre-primary endorsement yet adorns his website?

3) If the answer to "2" is "no," would you like it removed?

Thanks in advance for your anticipated coming response,

Mike McCusker

I decided not to correspond with the two organizations whose endorsements were published by the Herald-Sun on April 13, 2006, the Fraternal Order of Police, or Nifong's pal, Kallianos. Why bother?

I couldn't find a valid e-mail for Pat Evans or Judge Morey yesterday.

So I called them today.

I left a message at Ms. Evans' law office (919.688.1920) with the most delightful receptionist, who let out the cutest little "ohhhhh" when I identified myself as the writer and publisher of Crystal Mess. As JinC would say, it made me smile. Ms. Evans, apparently, would be out of the office through the end of business today, but I was assured that she would be back to me as soon as possible.

To the voice-mail message at 919.564.7240, x5, which said, "Hi. This is Marcia Morey. Please leave a message and I'll get back to you as soon as I can. Thank you," I left a polite response generally outlining the questions framing the reason for my call.

By the way, did you know that Marcia Morey represented the United States of America as co-captain of the 1976 Olympic Swimming Team? I will be most surprised if she still supports the very un-American NiFuhrer.

I'm keenly interested in her response, and those of Duke law prof Everett (not even a "Group of 88" signatory), the editorial staff at The Indy, and super-agent to the stars, Butch Williams.

Awaiting their further advices, I'll keep y'all posted.