Radio Host Tara Servatius discusses Crystal Mangum, Mike Nifong, and the Committee

On Thursday, July 8, 2010, Tara Servatius, host of the Charlotte, North Carolina’s conservative talk show bearing her name, was gracious enough to interview the Committee on Justice for Mike Nifong’s Lay Advocate Sidney B. Harr. The interview, which lasted nearly eight minutes, covered a range of topics from the Duke Lacrosse case to the current criminal charges that Crystal Mangum faces. Although I am unfamiliar with the show’s format, I believe that a longer interview session, with questions from callers, would have made for an extremely interesting and informative program.

This is not the first time Harr has given an interview on a radio talk show. Nearly a year ago he, as well as Committee member and co-founder Victoria Peterson each gave interviews on Raleigh’s conservative equivalent, WPTF. Although the appearances lasted about an hour, actual air time sans commercials, news, weather, and traffic more closely approximated 25 minutes. Although Ms. Peterson’s interview was outstanding, Harr’s performance on WPTF was less than stellar. He had been chomping at the bit to return to discuss other aspects of the Duke Lacrosse case and Mike Nifong’s disbarment, but was told that the only interview the station would consider giving in the future would be to Mr. Nifong, himself.

The interviews with WPTF’s Bill LuMaye Show covered a lot of ground, however there are so many facets to the Duke Lacrosse case that an entire show on the topic could be fit into a weekly schedule. Certainly, the unfair accusations against Ms. Mangum that occurred during an incident the night of February 17, 2010, should be extensively explored. However, this seems to be a topic that the media is not anxious to dissect, which is understandable in light of the fact that she is once again a victim. The Carpetbagger-driven media was extremely successful in transforming Ms. Mangum from a victim to a villain in the Duke Lacrosse case. It has a much more challenging row to hoe in demonizing Ms. Mangum, who is obviously a victim in this situation in which charges were lodged against her as payback for her accusations in the Duke Lacrosse case.

I would ask WPTF news director Rick Martinez to reconsider having me or other members of our Committee discuss Duke Lacrosse related topics on the Bill LuMaye Show. One thing about our organization is that it is made up of a diverse group of individuals with differing viewpoints, various political philosophies, temperaments which cover the gamut, and different methods to approach solving an issue. Each member speaks for himself/herself only, and not for the group as a whole, as reaching consensus on most issues is not realistic. Some commenters to this blog are quick to point out that “there’s dissention in the ranks.” Well there is dissention in all groups to some extent, but we feel that differences of opinion help make our group stronger. The one point in which we all find common ground, however, is that former Durham District Attorney Mike Nifong was selectively and unjustly disbarred by the North Carolina State Bar. Furthermore, our group’s common goal is to see that Mr. Nifong’s license to practice law in North Carolina is unilaterally and unconditionally reinstated.

We welcome a seat at any media table, radio or television, liberal or conservative, to discuss the important issues related to the criminal justice system in North Carolina, and the Duke Lacrosse case. Hopefully the July 8th phone interview with Ms. Servatius will not be the last with members of the Committee on Justice for Mike Nifong.

A link is provided below to our website’s Multi-media page. Click on the button marked “The Tara Servatius Show” to access the most recent interview.
LINK: http://justice4nifong.com/mmedia/mmedia.htm