Author Topic: "Duke" Cunningham is crying like a little girl. (Read 1059 times)

DiabloTX · « **on:** October 07, 2006, 09:22:08 PM »

SAN DIEGO - Disgraced former congressman Randy "Duke" Cunningham lashed out at the reporter who uncovered the corruption scandal that sent him to prison, telling him in a letter that his "constant cruelty" had nearly destroyed Cunningham's life.

The former Navy "Top Gun" pilot also blasted defense contractor Mitchell Wade, who helped implicate him to authorities.

"Wade is the absolute devil," Cunningham wrote in the four-page, handwritten letter, excerpts of which were published Saturday on the San Diego Union-Tribune's Web site.

Wade has pleaded guilty to giving Cunningham more than $1 million in bribes and is awaiting sentencing. His lawyer said he would have no comment on the letter.

Marcus Stern, the Copley News Service reporter who broke the news last year of Cunningham's corruption, said he didn't take the former congressman's remarks personally.

"I just felt this was a guy in anguish," Stern told The Associated Press on Saturday.

Stern said he wrote to Cunningham in early September, requesting an interview. The Union-Tribune said Cunningham's letter was dated Sept. 15.

"I hurt more than anyone could imagine and without my faith your constant cruelty would destroy me," Cunningham wrote.

The Republican, who held seats on powerful House intelligence and appropriations committees, admitted last November that he accepted $2.4 million in bribes from defense contractors in exchange for government contracts and other favors.

Among other things, Wade said he gave Cunningham expensive rugs, furniture and jewelry, as well as cash, in exchange for support for his company's efforts to win defense contracts.

"I should have said no to the gifts. For that, I am truly sorry," Cunningham wrote.

Cunningham was sentenced in March to more than eight years in federal prison and is being housed at a low-security correctional center in North Carolina.

"Each time you print it hurts my family and now I have lost them along with everything I have worked for during my 64 years of life," Cunningham wrote. "I am human not an animal to keep whipping."

I have absolutely no sympathy for another crook, errrr, politician that gets caught with his hand in the money jar. Boo hoo hoo...maybe you should have thought about that before you said "yes" to the 2.4 million in kick-backs, "Duke". What's even more disturbing is he is still calling the kick-backs, "gifts". Still hasn't learned a thing.

FUNKED1 · « **Reply #1 on:** October 07, 2006, 09:26:59 PM »

Now for 150 posts about how the Democrats are worse so Duke is actually innocent.

AquaShrimp · « **Reply #2 on:** October 07, 2006, 09:28:11 PM »

See, mentally ill people really do make the best pilots.

icemaw · « **Reply #3 on:** October 07, 2006, 09:32:57 PM »

if he was just a politician i would agree 100%. but the man put his life on the line for this country at a bad time in this countrys history. his efforts in the top gun program most likley save many pilots lives during the war. he is in jail now and paying for his crimes so me personally i cut him some slack. hes 64 and got a more than 8 years sentence its more than likely a life sentence.

Maverick · « **Reply #4 on:** October 07, 2006, 09:54:19 PM »

Just because he got stupid late in life does not erase the good he did prior to that point. He's serving his time instead of stretching everything out in a state of denial.

DiabloTX · « **Reply #5 on:** October 07, 2006, 10:03:24 PM »

There's no denying his service to his country.

But that does not balance out the crimes he's committed since then. I am a veteran as are many people on this board. Does that mean we get to get away with things because other's here aren't veterans? He did his service and God bless for that but he's been a selfish salamander since then. His first or second wife (maybe both?) had to file a restraining order on him. When he was preaching to be tough on drug dealers what do you think he did when his son was busted with a bunch of pot with the intent to distribute? No, he begged the judge for leniency.

No, I will not buy into this "he served, he's untouchable" school of thought. He did the crime, he'll do the time, he just needs to take it like a man and quit crying like a *****.

Dago · « **Reply #6 on:** October 07, 2006, 10:48:44 PM »

I have no sympathy for a public official taking payoffs.

I respect his military service, but his crimes were crimes against the American public, and he must serve his time.

It's sad that he is blaming others for his present situation instead of just taking the blame and accepting that it was his actions that put him in prison, not a person who turned him in or testified about him.

Toad · « **Reply #7 on:** October 07, 2006, 10:56:20 PM »

Yep, a great pilot; an excellent example to wanna-be fighter pilots in the Navy.

I'm glad he's serving out his time for being a crook too; an excellent example for politicians considering going on the take..

rpm · « **Reply #8 on:** October 07, 2006, 11:19:35 PM »

Any and all good he has previously done has been wiped out by his crimes against our nation.

bj229r · « **Reply #9 on:** October 07, 2006, 11:24:59 PM »

Only thing about it-- ive seen people commit murder--get it reduced to 2nd degree, out inside 7 years--kill again

Thrawn · « **Reply #10 on:** October 08, 2006, 12:59:50 AM »

Quote

Originally posted by Toad
Yep, a great pilot; an excellent example to wanna-be fighter pilots in the Navy.

I'm glad he's serving out his time for being a crook too; an excellent example for politicians considering going on the take..

Damn, if I could consistantly live my life with the attitude demostrated in this post I would be extatic.

Yeager · « **Reply #11 on:** October 08, 2006, 01:03:33 AM »

cunningham absolutely knew better and allowed himself to be corrupted. He deserves every one of those eight years in prison, and if he has truly lost "his family" over this then he never truly had "a family" to begin with.

He drove gimself off the cliff. No pity from me.

~~to those kills Duke~~

WhiteHawk · « **Reply #12 on:** October 08, 2006, 06:21:25 AM »

they really oughta smash the peopel who offer the payouts. Good grief, youd have to be a saint not to try to pocket millions of dollars.

Shuckins · « **Reply #13 on:** October 08, 2006, 07:17:30 AM »

Whitehawk,

That level of greed is something I don't fully understand.

Here is a man who had everything: membership in Congress, the respect of his peers, the gratitude of his nation for services rendered in combat, and more than adequate income needed for comfort and leisure.

Yet, he wanted more. He risked it all, and prison time to boot, in order to live like Croesus.

Did he get some type of vicarious thrill out of tempting fate, perhaps? Or is this just a case of someone taking leave of their senses...in effect, taking their brains out and playing football with them?

Regards, Shuckins

WhiteHawk · « **Reply #14 on:** October 08, 2006, 08:15:11 AM »

I certainly am not siding with the guy, however, if the companies that were involved with these bribes were cut-off from all future govt contracts, there would be far less temptation to try to wiggle a cupple of under the table contracts.