Seriously, is it stealing if only a few of your friends know you did it? What if the victim never realizes the stuff is missing? Is it murder if the victim doesn't see it coming? These seem like really stupid questions, but apparently not to Chief Justice Richard Cebull of the United States District Court in Montana. Those were the essence of Justice Cebull's explanation for circulating racist anti-Obama e-mails. The Republican Justice defended his action by stating that he only sent the racist e-mails to a few of his old buddies, who he knew would appreciate the sentiment contained therein. Justice Cebull also claimed that he never intended for the e-mails to be made public – as if a person's desire to have their misdeeds remain concealed somehow negates culpability. Finally, Justice Cebull stated that he didn't send the e-mails as a racist, but because it was anti-Obama. That's like saying that it's okay for a Republican to shoot President Obama, as long as the person isn't anti-Democrat.
Every now and then, a story like this proves how insidious racism can be, and brings to light how quickly it spreads without appearing on many people's radar. The story also illustrates how pathetic people are at trying to explain away their racist attitudes. You'd think a federal court judge could do a better job of it. Apparently not!
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