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Op-Ed: What's Worse?
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Recently re-elected Nassau County District Attorney, Democrat Kathleen Rice could certainly be criticized by her opponents for many reasons, but especially for not prosecuting one case at all.
Although she easily won re-election, some may believe her to be a one-issue politician. Her biggest focus issue is to crack down on drunk driving on Long Island.
In the process of being a crusader for eliminating drunk driving, other cases which have captured the attention of the public seem to take a backseat.
For example, Rice decided not to prosecute the young woman who accused five men of raping her in a Hofstra University dorm.
The young men had been facing heavy jail time, and one young man even lost his job when he was arrested. The whole thing turned out to be a hoax, the young woman later confessed.
Rice said she was not going to prosecute the woman for lying to police, because the woman had taken responsibility for her actions and she would instead get counseling.
On the other hand, Rice doggedly prosecutes people accused of drunk-driving. Even if they, like the Hofstra University victim, do accept responsibility for their actions and admit their guilt.
So, a girl lies to authorities, not only ruins her own reputation but also attempts to ruin the lives of others and gets off with a counseling card?
One of the great ideas Rice was behind was the infamous "Wall of Shame" designed to humiliate anyone who made the mistake of drinking too much over a holiday weekend. That whole project backfired when a woman who was arrested for "drunk driving" turned out not to be drunk at all.
Drunk driving is not to be condoned.
Millions of people every year make the mistake of getting behind the wheel after having drank too much, but that does not make it right. Lives can be ruined because of drunk-driving.
The Hofstra University case also ruined lives-namely the one of the "victim," who has now ruined her own reputation and nearly ruined the lives of others in the process. Many drunk drivers too also end up hurting themselves, and their own reputation.
People who drive drunk probably also need counseling and sometimes they too deserve a second chance. Much like the one that the young woman in the Hofstra University "rape" case were given.
Rice should think more carefully about just how many people deserve a second chance in life in the future.
