Hypocrisy Bites: a Few Simple Rules for Imperfect Politicians (Updated)

Posted by The Crux | From Memeorandum: after reports on Senator Larry Craig's arrest for "disorderly conduct" toward a man in an airport bathroom, today's New York Times quotes Republican party strategist Scott Reed as follows:

“The real question for Republicans in Washington is how low can you go, because we are approaching a level of ridiculousness.... Republicans think the governing class in Washington are a bunch of buffoons who have total disregard for the principles of the party, the law of the land and the future of the country.”

Homosexuality doesn't upset most Americans: if it did, Will & Grace wouldn't have survived eight seasons. [Incidentally, Craig stated that he is not gay (WaPo).]

Stealing a line from BN-Politics' Cockney Robin: It's the hypocrisy, stupid!  We ordinary folks do enjoy hurling hard evidence of hypocrisy back at politicians who've sanctimoniously lectured us on why we're "bad" or how to be "good."

Below are a few recent examples of hypocrisy from politicians pretending to support high morals and "family values":

* Mark Foley (R-FL) said sexual stuff to under-aged boy.

* David Vitter (R-LA) used "escort" services while married.

* Rick Renzi (R-AZ) is under investigation for corruption.

In the '90s, Bill Clinton had extra-marital sex and lied about it.  What made Clinton easier to forgive than say, Newt Gingrich (who reportedly had extra-marital sex while attacking Clinton for infidelity), is that Clinton didn't publicly condemn people to hell for adultery.

This brings me to a few simple rules that politicians from all parties should consider:

The Rules

1.  If you do something scandalous, assume it'll go public.

2.  If you'd have trouble explaining something, don't do it.

3.  If you lack moral authority, don't pretend to have it, e.g.:

a) If you've even kissed someone other than your spouse while you were married, don't publicly trumpet about "family values."

b) If you've even kissed a same-sex person, don't publicly blast homosexuality.

c) If you're "on the take," don't trumpet about ethics.

4. Don't attack other politicians for doing something remotely resembling something you've done -- even if you're sure that your secrets are safe.

5.  Don't find clever ways to spin past mistakes: we aren't stupid.

We ordinary folks have been known to overlook politicians' imperfections. When running against Ku Klux Klan leader David Duke, for example, former Louisiana Governor-turned-prison-inmate Edwin Edwards printed bumper stickers that read: "Vote for the Crook: It's Important."  Louisiana voters indeed re-elected Edwards. A Cajun friend of mine stated this reason for supporting Edwards: "at least he's an honest crook." 

I'm not saying that all politicians can get away with corruption simply by fessing up. My point is that honesty (and even lack of dishonesty) scores points with us ordinary folks.  At the same time, hypocrisy is a stain that never completely fades.

Below are a few of the very interesting blogger reactions.

Conservative Michelle Malkin is understandably upset about Sen. Craig's apparently dishonest response to the press:

"He’s not just a lying crapweasel.  He’s a supremely arrogant, lying crapweasel. Blaming the press. Non-apology apologizing. How do you spell creep? C-r-a-i-g."

Ed at Captain's Quarters asks: How long before Craig checks himself into rehab or finds Jesus? It is a good question for an office betting pool.

Wizbang wonders why the media is focusing on Republican gay scandals and not Democratic ones:

"Prepare for Senator Craig to be referred to as a "prominent" or "leading" Republican extensively in the next few days, along with mention of Mark Foley and old whatshisname, the evangelist from the Mountain States, but nary a mention of Gerry Studds, Barney Frank, Jim McGreevy, or any other prominent Democrats caught up in gay scandals."

The reason, of course, is that the Democratic Party's platform doesn't include a blatantly anti-gay plank -- thus, there's no hypocrisy to squawk about. 

In a piece titled "Jesus Lord! Are They All Hypocritical Bastards," Right Wing Nut House explains that distinction pretty well:

"The point really isn’t whether he’s [Craig] guilty or innocent. The point is that this sort of thing becomes a huge issue because of the way the party talks about gays and the way many GOP stalwarts like Reverend Robertson and James Dobson talk about sex. The perception that Republicans are a bunch of bigoted blue noses stuck in the 19th century with Victorian sensibilities about the bedroom turns off a lot of voters – especially the young."

My 2 Cents also zeroed in on the hypocrisy:

"It seems to be a popular activity this year, soliciting sex from undercover police officers in public restrooms. Good, bad or indifferent in my opinion the sex part is incidental - it’s bad behavior regardless of party affiliation, orientation or gender. In the grand scheme of things hypocrisy is the larger crime and the republican party seems to be rife with it....I suppose some people think that they’ll never have to practice what they preach, but I’m afraid that hypocritical behavior will eventually come home to roost."

Reality-Based Community focused on Craig's having apparently lorded his status as a U.S. Senator over the arresting officer:

"Sen. Craig's attempt to use his official position to intimidate the officer... is an abuse of power, and ought to be grounds for his expulsion from the Senate. Men's room pickups aren't much of a threat to the constitutional order; the arrogance that tells public officials that they're too important to have to obey the law is such a threat.

"And yet the press is all over the prurient aspects of this, while the abuse of power gets ignored. Score another victory for Matt Drudge."

 

Central Sanity wonders about the validity of the charges against Craig:

"So, have you already made up your mind; already condemned Craig? Well, consider this report from CNN and then this back-and-forth between Slate editors. Apparently, even reasonable people can disagree on what happened.... The entire matter, including the police report, is just plain bizarre, and I'm certainly not prepared, sitting here, to say this case is closed. At the same time, don't get me wrong: If Craig is in fact guilty of the lewd-conduct charge, then it is what it is; yet another addition to the Foley/Haggard/Swaggart/Bakker walk of shame: prominent bully pulpiteers focus on the splinter in their neighbors' eyes while ignoring the beams in their own."

Proudly Out sheds light on a different perspective:

"On the one hand, I’m glad that Craig has been exposed for the hypocrite he is. There are too many in the GOP and the Radical Christian Right who bash us by day and troll for us at night.

"But on the other hand, I think it is a sad commentary on my community and our culture that closeted men have to resort to picking each other up in public bathrooms to get some sexual relief. For many of us there is a certain “ewww” factor in all this. I, for one, am not a great fan of public bathrooms for use. But when nature calls, it’s much better than squatting in the woods and getting poison ivy.

"It is sad for my community because our country still considers us second class citizens and coming out is still not easy....  Not having our rights and constantly being considered the “other” in our society, leads many repressed gays, folks like Larry Craig, right to the john to find a Jack."

Comments

[J. Lynne]

I'll never forget driving back from college to vote for Edwards over Duke...That's because in Louisiana politics, you vote for the lesser of two evils.

[Charles]

Did you notice that Larry Craig said he's not gay and never has been gay-- but left the door open to becoming gay in the future?

[Chris]

Thanks for the link. Well written article and great to read some other bloggers opinions as well.