An old saying from my youth goes that the Lord looks out for fools and babies.
Well, a rapping fool from Brooklyn named Ronald "Ra Diggs" Herron must have slipped out of the Lord's reach.
This clown, facing federal indictment on drugs charges, gave prosecutors the best evidence they could ever have with his own Twitter postings and YouTube video bragging of his criminal exploits.
Herron, 28, and eight others are charged with running a drug ring that sold cocaine and crack in Brooklyn's Gowanus House apartment complex. Herron, who beat a 2002 murder charge, faces a life sentence if convicted.
In one Twitter posting, Herron said he had "5,000 niggas with them lorcins [handguns] ready to turn the pigs' kids into orphans."
Youtube videos show Herron firing guns at a target range while bragging that he ordered a shooting from his hospital bed. Herron also referred to a murder of a government informant in the housing project while warning against snitching to police.
Published reports say that police made more than 60 undercover buys from Herron associates at Gowanus House units since 2008. Police say that Herron and his crew are also suspected in four murders at the Gowanus Houses, but they aren't part of the drug indictment.
Now does the fact that Herron talked all this nonsense online mean he definitely committed the crimes?
No.
He will probably testify that he was just talking smack online, because that's what today's rappers do.
But does the fact that he talked all that mess increase the likelihood he will spend the rest of his life in prison?
Sure thing.
In my experience, most people who will be sitting on a jury don't want to see a young black man talking about killing cops or beating murder charges while firing guns. It just rubs people the wrong way.
Maybe I'm just getting too old for this modern online world.
Ra Diggs aside, it seems that the vanity of the YouTube/Facebook/Twitter generation knows no bounds. Why do so many people who constantly tweet and YouTube the world updates of their daily doings think that we care?
28-Sep-10 - Trying to get various black public figures to speak out for or against Bishop Eddie Long has been harder than getting 4-year-olds to go to the dentist. No one is talking, but everyone is paying attention.
27-Sep-10 - Jessica Moore, 19, was hanging out at an off-campus frat party Saturday, when a man who was angry about not getting in to the party, came back with a gun and started shooting. Moore was shot in the head.
23-Sep-10 - Some really "interesting" pictures of Bishop Eddie Long, which were allegedly sent by Long to one of his "spiritual sons," were made public last week.
22-Sep-10 - According to federal authorities, Jesse Jackson Jr. not only tried to buy President Barack Obama's former Senate seat from Rod Blagojevich, but he also had a fundraiser pay for two airline trips for a blond mistress.
17-Sep-10 - James Jones was arrested and charged with disorderly conduct and disturbing a school function for protecting his disabled young daughter from heartless bullies.
16-Sep-10 - Vancouver police confirmed that Bethany Storro lied about a black woman throwing acid on her face. Storro actually threw the acid on herself.
An old saying from my youth goes that the Lord looks out for fools and babies.