One after another become the latest in an increasingly esteemed list of upstanding lefty citizens hoping the voters put the big "D" before personal integrity.  Consider a few of the paragons of liberal virtue on the ballot right here in Michigan:

We've got Bernard Jocuns, "criminal lawyer turned lawyer criminal." (Name that Michael Mann movie!)  Jocuns first made headlines a few years ago while he worked as the defense attorney for convicted torturer and mass murderer Patrick Selepak. Swell, right?  Bernie hasn't killed anyone himself but that alone doesn't make him a boy scout.  In fact, he'd have a hard time earning his integrity merit badge.

That right there is an official State of Michigan Attorney Discipline Board Notice of Reprimand.  Jocuns took it home last Halloween after pleading no contest on charges he'd forged a client's signature and failed to notify the Attorney Grievance Commission he'd been tagged with the misdemeanor.

In other words, the man is the kind of defense attorney who gives other lawyers a really bad name.  Forging signatures on legal documents?  That's serious business.  But hey, it's tough to get anywhere in Michigan Democrat politics without having your record stained by some sort of major ethical black mark.  I'd say a criminal conviction fills that line on the MDP candidate application pretty well.

But Jocuns story doesn't end there... it gets downright strange.  After the Michigan Republican Party yesterday drew the state media's attention to his tiny little legal problem I'm told the man literally picked up the phone and called MRP demanding they tell his "side of the story."  

Not sure if that means he expects an MRP press release offering his excuses for his no contest plea or the questionable idea that he's really really sorry he's a criminal. Either way, the Party said they'd be happy to expand their discussion of Bernie's past and released new documents, tax liens from the Michigan Department of Treasury and the IRS showing that the big-time defense attorney has refused to pay nearly $30,000 in back taxes.  Because nothing says "responsible enough to create tax policy" like a long-standing refusal to pay one's own tax bill.

     

Careful what you wish for, Bernie.  Of course, the list of shady Dem characters goes on... Other Michigan Democrat House candidates include: