Blunt blames Nixon for Ferrell fiasco

Anyone looking for a textbook example of how not to handle a political controversy should study how Governor Matt Blunt has handled the sexual harassment charges against his former Director of Agriculture Fred Ferrell.
First, Ferrell stays on the job for nine months after a Highway Patrol investigation indicated that not only was he guilty of sexual harassment and some long-outdated thoughts that women are inferior to men, but also that some department officials lied to back up their boss with stories that were strangely similar. Also, an attempt to buy off the victim was halted by State Treasurer Sarah Steelman.
Instead of facing up to his mistakes, the governor is now saying that part of the problem can be blamed on his potential 2008 opponent, Attorney General Jay Nixon:

At issue, is a decision by Blunt's administration to write a $70,000 settlement check from a Department of Agriculture account that is typically used to pay for equipment. Critics — including Republican state Treasurer Sarah Steelman — say the check should have been written from a legal expense fund, set up by the state to handle such settlements.
But Blunt told reporters last week that the refusal of Nixon's office to get involved in the case made it impossible to access the legal expense fund.
"I think this would have been much better if the attorney general had immediately exercised his duties and met his responsibility and represented the Department of Agriculture," Blunt said.