Friday, August 31, 2007

I for One am Bored With Larry Craig

This is a scandal that profoundly affects a single Senator and his family and his constituents. Why then is it story number one for a week? I think that is because it gives the MSM and the TV and radio talkers a subject to bluster about. From the left this proves once and for all that Republicans are hypocrites. From the right it is no big deal, if you compare it to perjury by a President or the exploits of Barney Frank.


There is talk of him resigning. I think it is the right thing for him to do, but not because he may or may not have played footsie with an undercover cop. It is the right thing to do because he violated the trust of his constituents. He put his own job security above the reputation that his voters entrusted to him. He made himself a target of possible blackmail (although this is not charged) and extortion.


He also kept an important detail from his family and staff. This shows serious lack of judgement. All history shows that he was a good Senator and good to his constituents. That does not override the dishonesty he showed in this incident.


If he does not resign, should he be removed? I don't know about that. If we as a society held leaders to account then maybe. We have proven many times that we do not have any desire to hold public officials accountable for their actions. The voters return Ted Kennedy to office dutifully every six years. The voters returned Barney Frank after admitting to basically running a gay brothel out of his apartment. (The key offense being the virtual brothel not being gay). In Ohio we didn't require any accountability to Bob Taft for ethics violations. Washington D.C. elects Marion Barry every time he runs. He is a walking indictment. The list goes on and on. With precedent being what it is, he probably should not be removed. That does not mean he should ever hold office again.


As I write this I am reminded of what I have written many times in many forms, and that is, we get the leaders we deserve. If we don't hold them accountable, why should they be accountable?

Oh well lets move on.

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