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Mark Wahlberg would get at least one vote for a pardon
By adamg on Fri, 12/05/2014 - 6:38pm
This just in from Governor's Councilor Michael Albano, who represents the western part of the state:
[Albano] stated he was "favorably inclined" to approve a Pardon for Hollywood superstar Mark Wahlberg.
Any pardoning of the erstwhile Marky Mark for racist violence when he was 16 - and drug possession - would need the approval of the Governor's Advisory Board of Pardons, the governor and the governor's council. Albano said Wahlberg's charity work as an adult is good enough reason for him to wipe Wahlberg's criminal record and make it easier for him to expand his restaurant business in California and elsewhere.
This is the type of petition I would have readily approved as a Member of the Advisory Board. If and when Governor Patrick or Governor Baker submits the petition to the Council, I am prepared to act favorably.
I am greatly impressed by Mr. Wahlberg's community service activities including work for the Veterans of America.
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Comments
Pandering and brown-nosing
No other reason. And an incredibly poorly timed request at that.
bingo
Timing could not be worse. Even if this was planned for years, did no one on his legal team think that holding off right now would be advisable?
I f I were the judge, I can't imagine saying anything except, "You got out of your arrest alive, Mr. Wahlberg. Don't push it."
OT, maybe I'm missing it, but has Wahlberg offered as proof of change/atonement anything he has done for either the Vietnamese community directly or particularly for the guy he left half blind? All I have read is that he told the board attends church every day (who cares, he can be a bigot and do that) and his work with veterans (glad he's doing that but it hardly proves he's past being an a**hole). I assume he mentioned his donations to the Boys & Girls Club. But anything that really addresses his crime?
One Guess
Governor Patrick has not pardoned anyone in eight years, and he is hoping for star power or a returned favor to get incoming Governor Baker to sign it immediately before too much information crosses his desk.
I agree
He was without a doubt a punk/thug when he lived in Dorchester but that 25 years ago and he has definitely changed. As long as he has thoroughly cleared everything up with the man he assaulted then I believe he should win this appeal.
Definitely changed in what
Definitely changed in what way? Apart from learning how to appropriate and exploit African-American culture for his own commercial benefit?
Huh?
What "African-American culture" are you talking about? Are you saying that only "African-Americans" can exploit rap or hip-hop for commercial benefit? That's racist.
The Funky Bunch?
Is that what you are referring to?
Has Mark Wahlberg
apologized to the victims and done anything for the Vietnamese community? This is an opportunistic request so he can get a liquor license and make more money. Time to revisit and reflect on what he's done.
Also important
How many people with nonviolent arrest records who have cleaned up their acts get pardons when they request them?
If the answer is few or none, then why should Marky Mark get special treatment for a fairly vile attack?
UPDATE: Governor Patrick has issued no pardons since taking office in 2007.
umm.... Vietnamese community?
If I have the story straight, he viciously attacked and permanently maimed a guy or a couple of guys who happen to be Vietnamese. He owes them all sorts of apology and restitution. But under what theory of anything does he owe anything to "the Vietnamese community," i.e. other people who, like his victims, happen to be Vietnamese but didn't suffer anything at his hands?
Marky's record
You do not have the story straight, and the couple of guys did not "happen to be Vietnamese:"
Under this exact theory does he owe something to "the Vietnamese community." Perhaps also something to atone for the...
and maybe for having...
That being said, I do generally believe in second (thirtieth?) chances, and even though I have no love for Marky Mark, I'm not against him working to rebuild his image decades later. I'd just question your assertion that his victims were random.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mark_Wahlberg#Assaults_and_conviction
Here's the theory you're looking for
While attacking the two Vietnamese men in separate places, he shouted racial epithets at both of them. He continued to use racist language after his arrest, calling the men "slopes, gooks, and slant-eyes," and admitting to police that he'd used those and other racist terms during the attacks.
He didn't beat up two guys who happened to be Vietnamese in a fight, or something. Without provocation, he smashed one in the head with a three-inch thick stick, breaking the stick. While running from the cops after doing that, he grabbed another man and put his arm around him, to appear as if they were friends. After the cops passed them, Wahlberg started yelling racial epithets and punched his "friend" in the eye.
Whatever Wahlberg is now, on that day, he was a racist thug. He attacked those men because of their membership in the Vietnamese community. That's why he owes that community an apology.
Why would you have to
Why would you have to apologize to the Vietnamese community? That's dumb.
$$$$$$$
I'd vote for a pardon if Marky-Mark gave the dude he assaulted a million dollars. Shit, why not?! Probably chump-change for Mark, but AMAZING and life-changing for the guy he beat up.
Yeh, but what good would a million dollars do?
Especially nowadays? Doing some community work for Dorchester's Vietnamese community might be the better way to go.
And another thing...
Of what benefit to society is it that another burger chain be opened, or that this guy gets to own it?
Translated
I am greatly impressed by his team reaching out to me and inviting me and my whole family to both dine at Alma Nove for free and preferred seating at the next Wahlberg premiere.
.....
Well said.
Wahlburger's & VN Cafe
A few weeks ago there was a post here on UHub about how a guy (Vietnamese guy in Dot) couldn't get a business license to open up the VN Cafe Vietnamese takeout restaurant in Dorchester at Dot Ave & Dix St because he had a record for coke possession & gun possession in the early 90s. Now you have another guy, OFD who went on to fame & fortune prancing around in his tighty-whities, singing and making funny movies. The second guy has a record for violent hate crimes from the late 80s, but he will in all likelihood get a pardon and will be able to expand his chain restaurant & get a CC permit in Suffolk County (which is normally available only to politicians, celebrities, rich people, retired law enforcement officers-those who know somebody who knows somebody who blows somebody). $$$ talks.
Not saying that Mark should
Not saying that Mark should be pardoned; but, Deval did pardon an ex-gang member who shot a person, leaving them paralyzed.
No, he did not
Governor Patrick has not pardoned a single person since taking office.
Source: http://www.bostonglobe.com/metro/2014/10/09/gov-patrick-says-ready-grant...
Yes, he did.
Governor Deval Patrick approved one commutation and granted four pardons on Monday.
http://www.bostonglobe.com/metro/2014/11/10/closer-look-governor-deval-p...