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The Congresswoman and the Admiral
by Victor Davis HansonGeorgia Democratic Rep. Cynthia McKinney's recent run-in with a security official at the nation's Capitol reminded me of an earlier dust-up. On New Year's Eve 2002, while I was a visiting professor at the U.S. Naval Academy at Annapolis, the superintendentthe distinguished three-star Vice Adm. Richard J. Naughtontried to enter the academy without wearing the photo ID required of all military and civilian personnel. Naturally expecting that the young Marine sentry on duty would recognize his all-important superintendent, Naughton boldly tried to pass. But instead, the Marine asked him to produce identification. Angry words and some sort of altercation ensued between the admiral and the enlisted man. Later, Naughton claimed he couldn't "remember" whether he had "touched" the guard, but he did concede he "might" have done so. After a lengthy, ultimately damning investigation, Naughton resignedfirst from his post as academy superintendent and then subsequently from the Navy altogether. During the investigation, some skeptics at Annapolis had doubted whether Naughton would pay any price. But his exalted rank, along with his race and gender, won no exemption. I mention the Naughton case to illustrate that such mix-ups at government checkpoints are not unusualand that eventually public pressure catches up with aristocratic arrogance and even the powerful are held to account. Rest at link. Posted by: ed 2006-04-12 |
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