By Paul Shepard on May 13th 2010 11:12AM
Filed under: News, Interviews, Profiles
I've got some friends with some very shady pasts, and I bet they might say the same about me. Maybe it was some of the clowning we did in our more youthful days that helped bring us together.
But I would like to think that no matter how big or famous they got, they would never deny me. Now they wouldn't want me trying to hawk some sleazy tell-all book on Oprah about our earlier exploits, but I'm sure we could share our stories among the boys over a stiff drink with a good laugh.
It is that sentiment on the importance of friendship that has me feeling a little sorry for Jeff Greene, Democratic Senate candidate from Florida, who had the baddest of bad boys serve as his best man a few years back.
That bad boy would be Mike Tyson, with his past pugilistic glory, rape conviction and charges of spousal abuse.
Women's groups in Florida are attacking Greene for his association with Tyson, even though it came years before his run for political office. I can understand their position. Their constituency demands that Tyson (and anyone near him) be pilloried for his past sins against women.
But do the members of these women's groups really think that Greene is any less worthy of a candidate because he had Tyson stand at his side at the altar in 2007?
As his recent appearance on 'The View' revealed, Tyson is a complex and fascinating figure. The audience, made up almost entirely of women, applauded him at several points as he honestly talked about his past, flawed as it may be.
I hope this mini-controversy blows over Florida and doesn't take away from the serious discussion of who is the right person to represent the Sunshine State in the U.S. Senate. If Greene is the best candidate, the fact that Tyson was his best man shouldn't change it.
To his credit, Greene didn't distance himself from Tyson, when people started complaining. And he makes a good point that if he were just another politician, he wouldn't have let Tyson within a 100 yards of his wedding back in the day.
That reasoning alone makes me like Greene, even though I have to admit I know little of his qualifications for office.
I do know this, though. No matter what's at stake, you never throw your boys under the bus. And Greene didn't.
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Comments: (7)
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By: meanvee on 5/13/2010 11:59AM
We have all made mistakes i the past, bad decisions, bad associations etc. At some point you have to let it go and move on with life, Tyson has made some huge mistakes in the past when he was still young and dumb, he has since paid for his past aggressions, at some point these women groups have got to forgive (not forget) and move on. He's married now and treats his wife with the upmost respect because of the mistakes from the past. Being associated with Mike Tyson now is not the same as being associated with him 15-20 yrs ago.
http://www.JustWaffleMakers.com
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By: Wilson on 5/13/2010 2:11PM
Mike Tyson is now a nice person and deserves a chance to remain one.
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By: stare k on 5/13/2010 6:29PM
Give me a break . You all are doing just what the BIBLE SAY. That man looks on the out-side ,But GOD looks in the HEART. You see man try to hold things over your head . Think about it .
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By: Jeannette on 5/13/2010 9:46PM
The Republican Canidate, Rubio, has ads condeming the now govenor, Charlie Crist for shaking hands with President Obama. Governor Crist is running for a Senator seat also. Crist has changed his party affilliation from a GOP to an Independent. Rubio feels that Crist should not have excepted any stimulus money from Obama, even though a lot of teachers would have been laid off, and more shools closed had the stimulus money had not been accepted. Rubio has painted Obama as the anti-christ, and associating with him(shaking hands) makes you an enemy. I guess that he thinks that it is fashionable to treat other human beings like garbage simply because you have a difference of opinion. I can not understand why he acts that way, because he is the son of Cuban Immigrants, and we all know what type of freedom of speech Castro allowed.
I do not know what type of background Jeff Greene has, but I do know that Tyson has paid his debt to soceity. I would be more inclined to vote for a person that would step up and do what is right for a state, rather than hold the party line and be a conservative, when you are doing well, and the constituents of that state goes without. Rubio has been accused of using tax payors dollars for his own personal use, however, he paid it back when he got caught. Now had his skin been a little darker he would been labeled a criminal, and sent to jail. Now as far as Jeff Greene goes, I will be checking him out.
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By: bentcolv01 on 5/14/2010 9:38AM
bentcolv01
The one who haven't, cast the first stone! Stop trying to bring up the past of others!These women groups need to clean their home and do something positive and keep their ass ooout of other ppl business! I do not believe Mike committed what they say he did, And Greene was 1000% correct, do not forget your friends! A friend is better than money!A true friend is like diamond, precious and rare, false friends are like autumn leaves, scattered every where! If because of who he is friend with, ppl will not vote for him, than all of those criminals in congress, he better not go there, because they are #1 in every way possible!
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By: bentcolv01 on 5/14/2010 9:43AM
bentcolv01
THE ONE WHO HAVEN'T SIN, CASTY THE FIRST STONE!
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By: Jessica on 5/18/2010 7:14AM
The republicans are always looking to find something wrong or dishonest on a democratic candidate but I'm glad Greene let it fly and remauned a true friend with Mike...I love Mike he is a true and honest man who got into a relationship/marriage with a golddigger (Robin whatever her name) and tried to destroy him..Glad hes doing well now..
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