Editorial for August 7, 2008 edition:

Never again

The legendary Hubert Horatio Humphrey once said, "A man who doesn’t have any tears doesn’t have any heart."
The former vice president and U.S. senator from Minnesota could very well have been talking about Philadelphia Mayor Michael Nutter, who on Monday showed his human side — it’s a side of politicians few people ever see — when he became extremely emotional while discussing sanctions against workers in the Department of Human Services in the wake of the death of a 14-year-old disabled girl from West Philadelphia two years ago.
Though the mayor didn’t cry, it would have been fine if he had. Hearing him speak from the heart and soul was refreshing. The mild-mannered mayor was justifiably "pissed off" by the revelations involving the victim, Danieal Kelly, and if city workers treated his own child the way Danieal had been treated, he said, he would "kick their ass." Anybody who’s a parent understands his ire.
Danieal’s death occurred while John Street was mayor, so Mr. Street and officials who served with him should be subpoenaed, if necessary, to testify about what they knew and when they knew it. The city’s former acting health commissioner, Carmen Paris, who was in charge at the time, should be charged with obstruction of justice, conspiracy and possibly even manslaughter or murder if it’s revealed that she instructed her staff to keep mum on what happened to Danieal. Let the investigation continue and let the chips fall where they may.
Ladies and gentlemen of the Great Northeast, don’t think for even a split-second that it couldn’t happen here. Crimes against children can happen anywhere, anytime and to anyone. May the wrath of Mr. Nutter keep all of us on guard. ••

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