In fact, this white collar thief was actually compared to the black victim of a brutal racial lynching:
[Rev. William Lawson, pastor emeritus of Wheeler Avenue Baptist Church] likened Lay to James Byrd, a black man who was dragged to death in a racially motivated murder near Jasper eight years ago.
"Ken Lay was neither black nor poor, as James Byrd was, but I'm angry because Ken was the victim of a lynching," said Lawson, who predicted that history will vindicate Lay.
Could you make this up?