S.E. Cupp Blasts Manhattan District Attorney Vance: ‘High-Minded Activism’
Editor’s note: the following is an opinion piece by GBTV correspondent and conservative commentator S.E. Cupp.
In a 2008 letter to the editor, when he was merely an ambitious lawyer and not yet Manhattan’s District Attorney, Cyrus Vance Jr unknowingly wrote a prescient warning to his future self: “Success must be measured not simply by the number of convictions achieved by a prosecutor’s office, but also by a prosecutor’s ability to effect long-term crime reduction.”
An inauspicious year and a half into his term, and he definitely doesn’t have to worry about racking up convictions just yet. But Vance should absolutely worry about his long-term ability to reduce crime. Or win re-election.
The former criminal defense lawyer has botched nearly half a dozen high-profile cases in his short career as district attorney, embarrassing not only his office, but the city of New York and the justice system writ large.
And these humiliations should be a humbling warning to would be D.A.’s that high-minded activism and the promise of “meaningful change” are often the first casualties of ineptitude. Be good at your job — smart, steady, and fair — and don’t make promises you do not intend to keep. Or prepare for spectacular defeat.
In Vance’s case, those defeats came quickly and publicly.
A couple contractors connected to a fatal fire at the Deutsche Bank building, two police officers accused of raping a drunk woman, and two men accused of plotting to blow up a Manhattan synagogue — all the beneficiaries of Vance’s failure to temper his blood lust and zeal with smart and competent prosecuting.
And now, in what the New York Times called “another black eye” for Vance, the former International Monetary Fund director Dominique Strauss-Kahn will walk away — smiling — from charges that he raped a hotel maid who turned out to be as credible a “victim” as Casey Anthony. So eager was Vance’s office to make headlines for hammering a big fish like DSK (who probably isn’t a great guy, let’s face it) that it failed to do some basic research.
And, much as was the case in the famous Duke University girl-who-cried-rape disaster, the real consequences of prosecutorial ego visit the future and actual victims of sex crimes, who are met by skepticism and suspicion instead of sympathy.
The irony of Vance’s sorry record is that his 2009 campaign for election — backed by giddy leftwingers like Gloria Steinem, Caroline Kennedy and Betsy Gotbaum — promised the creation of a so-called Conviction Integrity Program. Now implemented, it’s been criticized as an unnecessary and expensive posture meant to make the former defense lawyer look serious, at taxpayers’ expense.
It’s hard to take Vance, who during law school campaigned for Colorado Senator Gary Hart, too seriously though. One of his few “successes” as DA is hardly anything to write home about.
Last year, Vance dedicated months of manpower and money to an undercover investigation of retail stores, including Home Depot and Eastern Mountain Sports — you know, where violent criminals love to shop — to catch them in the act of unknowingly selling illegal switchblades and gravity knives.
He strong-armed seven retail stores into avoiding charges by agreeing to remove the knives from their shelves, forfeit any profits they’d made on them over the past four years, and — get this — finance a campaign to educate the public about illegal knives. Vance said at the time he expected the operation to net the city, the state and law enforcement agencies nearly $2 million.
What good is justice for would-be rapists and terrorists when you can stick it to Home Depot?
His father, Cyrus Vance Sr, Jimmy Carter’s Secretary of State, was so mild mannered and even-tempered that he was once called “a man who leaves no footprints.” It’s a safe bet that the junior Vance will not be able to say the same, leaving New Yorkers wondering just whom he was fighting for as District Attorney of Manhattan — besides himself.
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Comments (84)
nysparkie
Posted on July 6, 2011 at 1:48pmSpitzer lead the way in how to get name recognition. Now all the Lemmings are doing it to get where they can really screw things up. The State Capital (Pick a State) or to Washington D. C. Where the cream of the crop resides. He who got there from one cities vote (Chicago) to the US Senate. District Attorney, Cyrus Vance Jr must have been drooling today when the story on Cuomo the luv of ****’s, came out about being O‘Bambam’s VP in the next election. WOW GOV of NY and THEN>>>>The WORLD! Ego’s go on and on and on. Apparently Vance‘s fits right in with Spizter’s, Wiener the waver, The Tickeler Eric Massa, The Photo Hulk Chris Lee. NY’ers have got em by the thousands.
Report Post »llotus
Posted on July 6, 2011 at 1:43pmDA`s have a lot of local power, and that power can be used to carry out justice or not. Many have been found to be nothing more than a criminal themselves. Lotus.
Report Post »Truthbeliever2
Posted on July 6, 2011 at 1:40pmGlenn where are you? We need somebody to stand up for our rights to be able to speak to each other.
Report Post »dankardas
Posted on July 6, 2011 at 4:31pmCan you see this post?
Report Post »Uncurable wound
Posted on July 6, 2011 at 1:38pmgold coin -the blaze is starting to blow…
Report Post »Change/chains
lobo2525
Posted on July 6, 2011 at 1:35pmSeriously what color is the Sky in New York that people still choose to live there 12% State tax…Sanitation Department has a platoon of enforcement agents ……..righting Garage tickets.. Wow New yorkers must go on vacation to Arizona and be amazed at the freedoms.
Report Post »Truthbeliever2
Posted on July 6, 2011 at 1:35pmI’m going to add my two cents again. NOT BEING ABLE TO REPLY SUCKS. Why would you change this Blaze? There are plenty if people here who want an explanation. Yes we are talking to you MODERATERS. Stop ignoring us and tell us what the he’ll this is all about. Your going to end up losing Blazers.
MORONS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Report Post »worthless
Posted on July 6, 2011 at 4:15pmWhat are you guys/gals talking about? Everyone now has a reply button on each comment. Is that not good? That’s how I am responding to your post.
Fill me in on this please. I don’t really understand the intricacies of comments on blogs or websites and would appreciate some understanding on this. Gold Coin’s explanation of “nested comments” only baffled me.
Thanks for the help Blazers!
Report Post »tom
Posted on July 6, 2011 at 1:32pmObama announces another gay appointment: President Barack Obama has named Brenda S. “Sue” Fulton to the Board of Visitors of the U.S. Military Academy at West Point, making her the first openly gay or lesbian person to serve there???
Report Post »JoePatriot
Posted on July 6, 2011 at 1:31pmS.E. Cupp… Conservative hotness patrolling the beat. Yea baby! Grrrrrr!
Report Post »Hefsmaster
Posted on July 6, 2011 at 1:17pm@GOLD COIN
Report Post »I complained the first week the site was up. From day one the blaze has continued to make subtle changes until one day the people woke up and saw the markings on the wall. The evolution of suppression. Irony in the fact that Glen built his fortune teaching about the evils about this very thing… Should leave you questioning the questioner.
Shoop51
Posted on July 6, 2011 at 4:31pmSeriously? No one is suppressing what you say. I get on here for the news and glance thru comments. I’m not on here to have an ongoing dialogue. If you are maybe you guys choose another site to follow up. Geez…lighten up.
Report Post »Rweb
Posted on July 6, 2011 at 1:17pmWWho cares about her cup size she’s a good reporter
Report Post »dantom
Posted on July 6, 2011 at 1:14pmThat lady has some kahonas great lady love her.
Report Post »Gold Coin & Economic News
Posted on July 6, 2011 at 1:13pm@Fly Old Glory 24/7 365
It appears that it was a purposeful change, not sure why. Lots of other news sites have nested comments so readers can respond to individual comments. This doesn‘t really work for that the way it’s now done at TheBlaze.com. Would like to see it changed back.
Report Post »Baberaham Lincoln
Posted on July 6, 2011 at 1:08pmI love how no one here has a problem with S.E. Cupp’s self-proclaimed atheism. Only liberal atheists deserve criticism on the Blaze.
Report Post »DeannaRae
Posted on July 6, 2011 at 1:12pm@Baberaham Lincoln
This article has nothing to do with atheism. I’m not quite sure what your point is, but I see no need to bring up her religion or lack thereof based on the contents of the article.
Report Post »Brenda65
Posted on July 6, 2011 at 1:56pmSE Cupp’s religion, or lack of, has nothing to
do with her reporting. We love her, because
she is a Conservative & a good reporter.
Point Blank!
Report Post »NJTMATO
Posted on July 6, 2011 at 3:04pmNot supposed to have a complaint about it….I’m not supposed to judge. Just because she’s an athiest, doesn‘t mean I can’t pray for her to find God. And…it doesn‘t mean she’s stupid although misguided…I’m hopeful that someday, she‘ll see the light and then she’ll REALLY be amazing. I pray for the liberal athiests as well Baberaham……..will even pray for you.
Report Post »SHASTADIANE1
Posted on July 6, 2011 at 3:45pmNo, I have a problem with it also. It sort of turned me off of her when I found she was a religion major, but didn’t believe in God. The two things just don’t seem to go together. Sort of like Bill Maher, although a MUCH prettier Bill Maher.
Report Post »Patriot Z
Posted on July 6, 2011 at 7:32pmits not mutually exclusive. Im athiest but i have read the bible before. unfortunatly other athiests give ones like SE and I a bad name. thoes are the ones that think if you do not crap all over christianity(notice i said christianity, cause they are too scared to do it to the real threat of islam) then you cant be athiest.
Report Post »The_Eye
Posted on July 6, 2011 at 5:54pmWho cares? I have no problem with anyone’s atheism. It is their choice. I have no business telling people how to find their faith or lack thereof anymore than the government does. That is the point of a separation of Church and state. If you want to be Christian…good for you. It shouldn’t affect your interactions with another person if they seem to be a good honest person.
Report Post »In the end they will find HIM or they won’t, it isn‘t your problem to help them unless you are a member of some branch of Christianity that does the Muslim ’convert the unconverted’ thing. (I know some off-shoots of Anglican and Evangelical Churches do that and it is as wrong as when the Muslims do it. Forcing your faith on someone is disgusting and a perversion of the WORD)
Patriot Z
Posted on July 6, 2011 at 7:26pmim an athiest too. contrary to popular belief conservatives do not want a theocracy. you do not believe in god fine, what we DO believe in is smaller govt and personal liberty.
Report Post »FANGS
Posted on July 6, 2011 at 1:07pmThis guy took a Payoff from the Obama administration to set up and Charge Strauss for Rape. Why, You ask? So that a New Female Chief Could take over the IMF. BTW, That new Female Chief Was a Long time Lawyer for the Same Chicago law firm Obama worked for. Lets see, Obama is also Bribing The World bank So that Clinton will Be president of that as well. I dont See a World take over happening here, Do You?
Report Post »I Hear the Wolves
Posted on July 6, 2011 at 1:05pmCrap mo stank? Bartle doo…
Report Post »MONICNE
Posted on July 6, 2011 at 1:05pmGreat Cupps, SE.
Report Post »Robert-CA
Posted on July 6, 2011 at 1:01pmGOLD COIN & ECONOMIC NEWS
Posted on July 6, 2011 at 12:52pm
Seeing less comments lately?
Report Post »__________________________
Yes .
Richard Compton
Posted on July 6, 2011 at 1:01pmI love it, she is sooo right on this, go get em S.E. Cupp tear him a new one!
Report Post »Fly Old Glory 24/7 365
Posted on July 6, 2011 at 1:00pm@ Gold Coin: was the comment thing changed purposly? I’m not on here much anymore for several reasons that being one of them. That 50 posts would respond to the 1st poster drove me nuts. Poorly run site to say the least. Not what I expect from a GB entity…
Report Post »bethsioux
Posted on July 6, 2011 at 1:32pmI agree wholeheartedly!
Report Post »change it back–please
LadyIzShy
Posted on July 6, 2011 at 12:49pmfunny how defense lawyers try to change the world if they become prosicuters.. they rarely transition well
Report Post »Aaron in Polk County
Posted on July 6, 2011 at 12:47pmI don’t even know what she said. I can’t get past the Cupps.
Report Post »Al J Zira
Posted on July 6, 2011 at 1:20pmYeah, most fifth graders are like that.
Report Post »Al J Zira
Posted on July 6, 2011 at 1:28pm@ Aaron of Polk County: Yeah, most fifth graders have that problem.
Report Post »BBomber66
Posted on July 6, 2011 at 4:52pm@Aaron
Again you bring any discussion down to sophomoric levels of pruient prattle. Phew!
Report Post »bullcrapbuster
Posted on July 6, 2011 at 12:44pmKeep em squirming S.E.
Report Post »Aaron in Polk County
Posted on July 6, 2011 at 12:44pmShe is much larger than a S.E. Cupp. At least a D Cupp.
Report Post »mmont50
Posted on July 6, 2011 at 3:33pmwhat?…are you 12
Report Post »SheriS
Posted on July 6, 2011 at 4:13pmThat is a disgusting comment!
Report Post »Gold Coin & Economic News
Posted on July 6, 2011 at 12:42pmJustice simply doesn’t matter any longer. Sadly, we learned that in the Casey Anthony case. We are in serious decline.
Report Post »Gold Coin & Economic News
Posted on July 6, 2011 at 12:52pmBTW, TheBlaze comment moderators, your change to non-nested comments really sucks for interaction with other readers and fostering a conversation. Seeing less comments lately?
Report Post »Docroxall
Posted on July 6, 2011 at 2:24pmJustice has been redefined…to that which destroys free enterprise by systematic punishment…after all, the criminals are being driven into that behavior by evil capitalists!
Report Post »TRONINTHEMORNING
Posted on July 6, 2011 at 12:42pmGet ‘em S.E! You need to come on my show again–my audience loves you and your book.
Report Post »Rugnuts
Posted on July 6, 2011 at 2:33pmse cupp is just so damn sexy with her hair blown back like that i cant even read the article…
Report Post »drphil69
Posted on July 6, 2011 at 4:58pmI love your straight forward matter of fact style, S.E.!!
Report Post »