Sheriff's tirade violated Hatch Act

Mike Scott is the right-wing sheriff of Lee County, Florida. (His physical resemblance to Men At Work lead singer Colin Hay has been noted.)

Scott is the reactionary beezweezer who appeared at a rally featuring Sarah Palin and made fun of Obama's middle name. Now that remark has resulted in a formal complaint about Scott violating the Hatch Act.

The Hatch Act is a longstanding law that prevents government employees from engaging in partisan political activity. The sheriff - whose department receives federal funds - violated this law by engaging in political activity while on duty and in uniform. He also wore political buttons while he was on duty.

Scott so clearly broke the Hatch Act that a government investigation against him has now been launched.

He also appears to have violated Lee County's own code of ethics. This rule says county employees may not campaign in a county uniform, even if they're off-duty. However, one county official says Scott is not a county employee because he's an elected official.

Are you following that? They actually claimed the sheriff isn't a county employee because he's elected.

As an another example of Lee County right-wing doublespeak, Mike Scott said he was justified in ridiculing Obama's middle name because he had to give his own middle name to the Secret Service to speak at the event. This is relevant how? Obama wasn't at the Palin rally, and giving your own middle name to the Secret Service is a bit different from making light of someone else's in front of a crowd.

And this guy's a sheriff?

(Source: http://www.news-press.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20081006/NEWS0107/81006002&s=d&page=3)