There they go again. Why is it that disgraced politicians - let's see, we have Boston's Chuck Turner and Diane Wilkerson and Illinois Governor Rod Blagojevich among the recent bumper crop of failed public servants - always spin appropriate legal and public reactions to their wrongdoing as an assault on the people? Remember when Senator Larry Craig (R-ID) said that "a cloud hangs over Idaho" when he was caught in that Minneapolis men's room? No cloud there, Senator. Idahoans had nothing to do with your unfortunate conduct. (See Where Do Clouds Hang?, September 1, 2007)
The utterly preposterous Blagojevich said on Friday, "Afford me the same rights that you and your children have - the presumption of innocence." As any self-serving politician knows, it's always good to work "children" into the conversation. Okay, if a child-Governor was saying and doing the things Blagojevich has been saying and doing, that child's parents would insist that he or she resign from office. Blagojevich may be legally exonerated someday, perhaps on a technicality. Who knows? But his ethical and moral breaches coupled with his sociopathy means that he must leave the public arena, now and forever. It has nothing to do with legal guilt. Otherwise, Governor, what lessons are the children of Illinois to learn from your conduct? And what costs will Illinois incur over the coming days and weeks as a result of your selfishness?
The utterly preposterous Blagojevich said on Friday, "Afford me the same rights that you and your children have - the presumption of innocence." As any self-serving politician knows, it's always good to work "children" into the conversation. Okay, if a child-Governor was saying and doing the things Blagojevich has been saying and doing, that child's parents would insist that he or she resign from office. Blagojevich may be legally exonerated someday, perhaps on a technicality. Who knows? But his ethical and moral breaches coupled with his sociopathy means that he must leave the public arena, now and forever. It has nothing to do with legal guilt. Otherwise, Governor, what lessons are the children of Illinois to learn from your conduct? And what costs will Illinois incur over the coming days and weeks as a result of your selfishness?