McCollum: More can be done in teen death

Attorney General Bill McCollum weighed in on the Martin Lee Anderson boot camp death, saying "there is more that can be done" to give the family "the justice they deserve."

At the same time, however, McCollum closed the books.

"While we have determined there are no further civil or criminal actions this Office can bring under its authority, I pledge to keep the resources of the Attorney General’s Office at the parents’ disposal," he said in a statement. "I believe there is more that can be done to give Martin Lee Anderson’s family and loved ones the justice they deserve. I am committed to assisting the family identify new avenues of justice and calling upon the appropriate licensing authorities to either initiate or continue any investigations that will hold the parties at fault, particularly the guards and the nurse, responsible for their actions."

Anderson family lawyer Ben Crump said: "There are still many options to explore and with the Attorney General’s support, we intend to pursue every possible consequence for the individuals who were involved in this situation, including the guards, the nurse and the medical examiner."

Crump and Anderson's parents, Gina Jones and Robert Anderson, were flying to Washington on Tuesday for meetings with U.S. Rep. Kendrick Meek, D-Florida, and Rep. John Conyers, D-Michigan. On Friday, they will participate in a protest at the Justice Department over juvenile justice issues. The parents will meet with officials at the agency, which is conducting a civil rights investigation into the boot camp death.

Crump said he will petition the Florida Criminal Justice Standards and Training Committee to revoke the license of the guards who were charged but acquitted in the death. He will also seek similar action against the nurse who stood by while guards thrashed the 14-year-old at the Panama City boot camp, and work against the re-appointment of the medical examiner who ruled Anderson died of a blood disorder, not a beating.

"You've got to keep believing," Crump said. "We haven't given up on the system yet."

Comments

THAT”S IT!… I’m sending my kid to a bootcamp. I need the cash. Besides, I can make another one that looks just like ‘em.

Here's the formula: Breed irresponsibly; don't teach your kid any values. When he winds up in boot camp for being a criminal and dies of discipline, sue the state with a smart lawyer who can cow the wimpy Governor, rouse the rabble and whine. That gets you $5 million and lots of trips you could never have afforded to see important people who never would have received you otherwise.

Wow. I thought that the old south was going away. Why don't you two posters get a life. Bigotry in any form is disgusting, but you two take the cake. Why don't you and all your white sheet wearing pals just go live in the backwoods of mississippi or alabama and inbreed yourselves into the oblivion you all deserve.

10:49 angry much?

6:13, why don't you pass the law that says "The offspring of those we deem to have bred irresponsibly have no recourse or rights when in state custody. And, if it is determined that they do have rights, those rights should always be lesser than the rights of those who have bred responsibly." What's funny, or not so, is that you can probably look your friends in the face and insist that you are not a racist, pig.

[Susan S]

"die of discipline" says it all. The first two comments on this post expose a mindset that is exactly what led the guards to think it was okay to suffocate/choke/beat a child (take your pick) in order to teach him a lesson.

I wonder where all of those "Christian values" that the GOP loves to talk about are in the Martin Lee Anderson case???

[MCO]

Susan S,

Can you prove all the guards were all Christian conservatives? Or all the jurors?

No, you can't. Because when the day ends, you are just a hate spewing, uneducated broad.

Now, go ahead and play the attacked victim card.

[ALW]

It should be obvious to all that anyone who uses the term "broad" has some issues with women.

Having read Susan's comment, I can't see any claim with regard to the guards or jury being "Christian conservatives". She asked where are the values and that is a very good question. It seems to me that anyone who calls themselves a Christian should at least pretend to follow Christ's teachings.

[MCO]

Tell me, in great detail, about Crist's teachings, ALW. Not just the ones you want to use to make a point, but all of them.

I have no issues with women at all. But I would hardly put Susan S in that class, as women in general are an intelligent species. She is not.

Ill await your teachings...

[ALW]

So MCO thinks women are different species? Certainly indicative of much more serious issues with regard to women.

Here's a link to Christ's teachings. I suggest you read them and then try to find one that supports your position vis a vie women and killing.

http://www.biblebb.com/brefindex/mat.htm

i'd like to know what led the parents to believe that it was ok to send the kid to boot camp when they knew he had sickle cell anemia. you do know, don't you, that they chose this particular punishment?

how exactly did they think he was going to handle the physical nature of a boot camp with such an affliction?

seems to me their silence is what killed their child, as well as poor parenting from the very beginning.

[ALW]

Are you saying that the parents should have expected beatings and strangulation as part of the boot camp regime? Blaming the parents is obscene.

It is sad that there are still two Americas - one of the haves and one for the have nots - but that is the case.

nice john edwards pitch. sorry that doesn't wash.

not sure where you get strangulation, but if the state knew the kid had sickle cell anemia, do you think he would have been allowed into the program?

And why did the parents give up on their child? why was the kid leading a life of crime? did the parents not instill moral values into this child?

these are questions that should be answered.

[ALW]

So you are saying that we should blame Mark Foley's, Larry Craig's and Bob Allan's parents for their children's behavior or does this only apply to certain groups chosen by you?

If you don't think there are two Americas, I suggest you do a little research and get back to us on that.

[MCO]

Yes, ALW, men and women are completely different in the way we are wired. Species was a figure of speech. But then again, it takes a little bit of common sense to figure that out, which we all know you're void of.

Linking me to a site isn't what I asked for, anyone can do that. I want YOU to teach me.

[MCO]

And if you don't believe ALW,11:12, he'll send you a link so he doesn't actually have to think for himself.

Teaching your kid right from wrong has nothing to do with whether you have or have not. That's called an excuse.

Well, those guys are adults whose parents are no longer responsible for their lives, but those people you mention are just as much degenerates as MLA, who are obviously lacking a moral compass.

and mr. john edwards, as far as the 2 americas you mention...the second one doesn't exist, except in some people's minds. your life is the sum of the choices you make. in america, you have the choice to succeed on your own or depend on others. some people just happen to be better at succeeding than others.

but in liberal la-la land, everyone should be "equal"...in other words, "from each according to his ability, to each according to his need".

[ALW]

LOL @ MCO - calling women a different species is a "figure of speech"??? Maybe in your world but not in mine!

So you want me to teach you about Christianity? Are you now or have you ever been (or called yourself) a Christian? No matter the answer, it is incumbent upon you to teach yourself or, as the comments above suggest, that should have been done by your parents.

[ALW]

"""but in liberal la-la land, everyone should be "equal"...in other words, "from each according to his ability, to each according to his need"."""

If you think that is "liberal la-la land", Lucy you got some splanin to do.

yeah, you're right...let's just call a a spade a spade...it's called Marxism.

[MCO]

ALW, thank you for completely contradicting yourself at 11:38 and 10:36.

You must support Hillary.

[ALW]

I did not say I accept your definition "other words"

Equal: of the same measure, quantity, amount, or number as another (2): identical in mathematical value or logical denotation : equivalent b: like in quality, nature, or status c: like for each member of a group, class, or society (Websters)

So you are saying that our Constitution is a Marxist document. That our Laws with regard to equal treatment of Americans are Marxist.

[MCO]

I know you feel bad for being white, ALW, but do you really think whites are treated as equal as blacks?

[ALW]

"""but do you really think whites are treated as equal as blacks?"""

Treated "as equal as"? It is not, by definition, possible to treat some one as more equal. Read the definition again.

equal protection under the law - yes

equal in status, financial security, "amount of stuff", etc. - that is up to the individual (i know, if there is one thing liberals despise it is individualism and individual achievement)

you are talking apples and oranges.

"It is not, by definition, possible to treat some one as more equal."

tell that to george orwell.

[ALW]

By all means, do point to any instance where there is a contradiction. Good luck with that.

I was kind enough to, after you asked me to teach you about Christianity, to provide the course materials. Obviously you've failed to learn anything from them.

[ALW]

12:16 - Are you in favor of liberty or not? It is difficult to discern the answer from your comments.

[MCO]

ALW, in theory and by definition, no, it is not possible to treat someone "more equal". But in theory humans shouldn't kill each other, and FSU shouldn't be struggling to keep above 500 this season. So that tells you about theory.

But tell me about affirmative action and the equality it brings!

[MCO]

I'm also still waiting to hear you teach me about Crist's teachings. Avoiding your claim doesn't make you right.

[ALW]

No surprise that MCO is unable to point to a single instance of contradiction on my part. You made the claim - not me - do show us your "proof" of contradiction. We await your learned response.

[MCO]

I pointed it out in an earlier post, if you cannot read, then I am done with you.

Typical liberal, when the going gets tough, lie.

[ALW]

MCO you did not point to a single contradiction. Perhaps you do not know the meaning of the word. Here are the two posts you claim are contradictory. Put up or STFU.

------------------

So MCO thinks women are different species? Certainly indicative of much more serious issues with regard to women.

Here's a link to Christ's teachings. I suggest you read them and then try to find one that supports your position vis a vie women and killing.

http://www.biblebb.com/brefindex/mat.htm

Posted by: ALW | November 14, 2007 at 10:36 AM
---------------------------

LOL @ MCO - calling women a different species is a "figure of speech"??? Maybe in your world but not in mine!

So you want me to teach you about Christianity? Are you now or have you ever been (or called yourself) a Christian? No matter the answer, it is incumbent upon you to teach yourself or, as the comments above suggest, that should have been done by your parents.

Posted by: ALW | November 14, 2007 at 11:38 AM
----------------------
And here is your's.

ALW, thank you for completely contradicting yourself at 11:38 and 10:36.

You must support Hillary.

Posted by: MCO | November 14, 2007 at 12:03 PM

[ALW]

You have once again failed to back up your bullsh*t. It makes one wonder if attributing human qualities to MCO qualifies as anthropomorphism.

Folks here know so little about the case. The kid hadn't led a "life of crime" He did steal his grandmother's car and he was sentenced to a boot camp. The camp is now shut down. There was a coverup of the kid's death and even the cause of death. I pointed out once here that you and I, Florida taxpayers, paid for a settlement with a woman who was sexually harassed. We also paid for the Jeb Bush backed settlement of Pitts and Lee, two black men wrongly convicted of murder who spent years on death row. But those cases didn't spark the outrage that is produced by a black mother deemed worthless because her son stole a car receiving $5 million from the state. Maybe you've heard of good families who raise children who commit crimes and spend time in jail. Or, alternately, maybe the family is scum of the earth, but generally we as a country don't base our penalties on the quality of life of the victim, Lady Justice being blindfolded and all that. I guess it's too much to hope many of you would get the idea that the black mom with $5 million and even the prosecution might actually help guards not kill some teenager in the future.