Political Season off to a (not so) Great Start

If the last the Congress wasn’t ethics and scandal ridden enough for you, don’t worry, because this summer and fall are shaping up to be stellar shows in their own rights. Of course in typical Washington DC fashion, partisanship is expected, but in the case of ethics (or the lack thereof), it appears both Party’s can agree. On the right we have the Senator Vitter and Senator Craig scandals- the former caught in a prostitution ring and the latter who, of course, just has a “wide stance” relieving himself. On the left there’s Senator Hillary Clinton- the leading Democratic candidate for her Party’s nomination- accepting campaign donations from 15 year-fugitive, Norman Hsu.

Vitter, a Republican senator from Louisiana, recently admitted to “serious sins” in his past after it was revealed his name was present on the phone records of the DC Madame- a woman charged with running an escort service (read: high class prostitution ring). His quick admission of guilt seems to have spared him the gallows, because the Senate Republican leadership did not call for his resignation.

The same can not be said of Senator Craig of Idaho, who recently plead guilty to disorderly conduct after he allegedly sought sex from an undercover police officer in a public airport bathroom. Senate Republican leadership quickly jumped on the matter after news broke, calling for Craig’s resignation.

If it sounds funny, that’s because it is. Both Senators plead guilty to equally serious moral and ethical lapses, yet Senate Republican leadership only called for the resignation of one of them. The reason? Some speculate that the calls for resignation were based, sadly, on sexuality. That being Vitter, caught in a “straight” scandal, was “pardoned” by Senate Republican leadership while Craig, caught in a “gay” scandal, was almost forced to resign. I find it difficult to believe Senate Republicans would base their calls for resignation upon this alone, however.

Instead, I find it far more likely that Republicans called for Craig’s resignation because he would be replaced by a Republican (Iowa has a Republican Governor- the appointing authority) and failed to call for Vitter’s because- can you believe it? - he would be replaced by a Democrat!
Unfortunately the Senate Republican leadership has decided to put politics over ethics. From the get-go they should have allowed the judicial system to sort these matters out, but since they decided to call for one resignation, it is only to right to call for two. Craig and Vitter were both caught in equally morally reprehensible acts. There is nothing more immoral about Craig’s “gay” antics than Vitter’s “straight” ones, and interestingly enough, Craig is defending his innocence a hell of a lot more than Vitter.

Senate Republican leadership calls in to question their motives when the scandals are so similar, and make this entire episode reek of hypocrisy.

Of course, Hillary Clinton is caught in a scandal of her own. The difference between her scandal and the Senate Republican leadership: the latter is guilty of hypocrisy; Hillary is just doing business as usual.

Hillary may believe that giving the $23,000 she accepted from Hsu to charity will somehow wipe her sins clear, but the fact is that Hsu has been a fugitive from the law for the past 15 years!

Perhaps best of all, Clinton’s scandal prompted CT Senator and presidential candidate Chris Dodd to release a statement saying he would, “…refuse to accept or possess campaign contributions raised, solicited, or delivered by fugitives from justice.” Genius! Maybe that will matter, Senator, if anyone every actually donates to your campaign!