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Shameless Reaches A 6-Foot Low

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Daniel Ruth

The Tampa Tribune

Published: September 16, 2008

Using the late Ralph Hughes, the Big Daddy of Hillsborough County politics, as the template for the community's Moral Courage Award is a bit like the NAACP naming its person-of-the-year honor after David Duke.

But there was County Commissioner Jim Norman, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Hughes, proposing adding his dearly departed crony's name to the Moral Courage Award, whose value has just now plunged below the Zimbabwe dollar.

Hughes, who went to that ATM in the sky this year, was originally nominated to receive the Moral Courage Award by another acolyte of the concrete mogul, former Commissioner Joe Chillura, who certainly proved that although he couldn't be bought, a lend-lease arrangement could be worked out.

But when it became apparent the citizen review committee would rather give the Moral Courage Award to Robert Vaughn's character in "The Magnificent Seven" than a man who used his wealth as a weapon, Norman moved on to Plan B to suck up to his patron from the grave.

Checkbook Power!

This year, the recipient of the award will be Dave Brown of Sun City Center, who fought the county over regulations on using alternative water supplies.

Brown would be forgiven if he showed up to receive his recognition wearing a "Phantom of The Opera" mask.

Since 1992, past winners have included environmentalist Cam Oberting, school whistleblower Doug Erwin, Helloooooo Sucker Stadium opponent and former Tampa Mayor Bill Poe, civil rights leader James Ransom and the Egypt Lake Area Citizens Group.

To be considered for the Moral Courage Award, according to the county's Web site, one must "... demonstrate exceptional ethical behavior and the moral courage to challenge the actions of government."

It doesn't take a complete moron, or even a county commissioner, to figure out that cowing gutless pols to do your bidding - and hence, the bidding of real estate development interests - simply because one has the power of the checkbook hardly constitutes an act of moral courage.

Real Local Hero
When pressed by Tribune reporter William March to identify a single example of "moral courage" on the part of Hughes, Norman cited the big shot's opposition to the county's indigent health care plan.

When the hour was at its darkest, when it seemed that indigent people might receive health care, Ralph Hughes rose up and stood foursquare for millionaires everywhere, like the colossus of penuriousness that he was, against - poor people.

Now there's a "Man For All Seasons" moment for you.

If Hughes' commission cabana boy was truly serious about linking the Moral Courage Award with someone who demonstrated some moral courage, Norman would have proposed naming it after the late Sgt. 1st Class Paul Ray Smith of Tampa, who received the Medal of Honor after his death in Iraq.

But Smith was merely a real hero, who was too busy serving his country to write checks to out-to-lunch politicians. Never mind.

Keyword: Book of Ruth, to read and comment on Daniel Ruth's blog.

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