Well Said, Mr. Cosby

Bill Cosby on Thursday did what only he could do: attempt to put an end to the shameless pandering by California politicians who sought to make hay out of his son’s tragic death.

The 27-year-old Ennis Cosby was fatally shot in Los Angeles two weeks ago by an unknown assailant. A national outpouring of sympathy to the renowned entertainer’s family naturally followed. But then came the unseemly reward offers, encouraged by Los Angeles police officials no doubt anxious to quickly solve a high-profile crime.

It’s one thing for tacky tabloids to offer huge cash rewards; it’s another for politicians to offer taxpayer funds in a highly publicized case that certainly doesn’t lack for attention.

Yet that didn’t stop Lt. Gov. Gray Davis, acting as governor while Pete Wilson was out of the state, from offering a $50,000 reward in taxpayer funds. The Los Angeles City Council offered $25,000, and the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors offered $12,500.

A Cosby spokesman said the entertainer and his wife “hope that all three [government bodies] withdraw the reward. This is all about dignity for them.” County officials said they will reconsider in light of the family’s request. The city indicates its reward offer will remain, and Davis too presses on, insisting through a spokesman that “this is designed to help a public police agency solve a crime.”

The Cosbys said clearly in a statement that “we do not wish to utilize taxpayer money for the reward.” Still, they expressed their “heartfelt thanks for [the] good intentions.”

Even in grief, Bill Cosby chooses to try to see the best in people. We’re not sure at all that all the politicians’ intentions were so pure.