Scandals Among Parties

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Posted by Connor on October 10th, 2006

I found this JBS commentary quite interesting:

Did you ever notice that when a Republican politician is involved in a sexual scandal, he resigns in disgrace (for example, Senator Bob Packwood or Representative Bob Livingston)? And have you noticed that when a Democratic politician is involved in a sexual scandal, he tenaciously holds on to his office (for example, Senator Ted Kennedy or President Bill Clinton)?

With the disclaimer in mind that the John Birch Society doesn’t engage in partisan politics, and that we don’t endorse political parties, it is interesting to ask the following questions: Can anyone imagine what the reaction would be if this latest scandal had involved a Democrat? Could it be, generally speaking regarding sexual conduct, that Republicans appear to believe that standards are actually important, while Democrats seem to think that political opportunism is the key to winning over voters?

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3 comments so far. Care to chime in?

Now, Mr Birch, don’t begrudge the Democrats a bit of issue-traction. Republicans have been doing the dirty on issue after issue for the last six years, and every time it’s failed to register in the national psyche. And it’s been driving me nuts, may I add. Invading the wrong country! No-bid Halliburton deals! Enron! DeLay! Coingate! Scandal after scandal I watched, and thought ‘Perhaps this will be the time America wakes up and brings the whole party of miscreants down under the weight of its monumental hubris.’ And every time I was wrong. I asked myself, Is anyone paying attention?

But now this. People seem to have grasped this issue. It’s easy.
1) A Republican senator was preying on underage pages.
2) The Republican leadership helped cover it up for years rather than lose some seats and cost some money.

And now here comes the JBS claiming that Republicans are the ones who care about standards. It is to laugh.

Kennedy and Clinton never preyed on kids. Foley did. And Hastert helped. They should go down over this.

#1 fontor | October 10th, 2006 10:46 PM

I don’t disagree with your comment at all. I don’t believe that JBS was taking the Republicans’ side at all. The noteworthy issue in this commentary they offered is the reaction to the discovery of the event. When the issue is flaunted in the mainstream media, what do these gentlemen do?

I agree that those responsible for this event and those who covered it up should be removed from office, post haste. I don’t care what party align themselves with.

#2 Connor | October 10th, 2006 10:56 PM

Oh, yeah, no question.

Oh, and I wasn’t addressing you as ‘Mr Birch’, btw. Sort of addressing the JBS via this page, if you know what I mean.

I don’t know if the poster’s point really works though. They seem to say that the Republicans are more willing to be accountable (by quitting), but are they really? Rumsfeld never resigned in the wake of Abu Ghraib (or anything else), and even Hastert’s hanging in there. It’s been a while since Packwood — if they had to go back that far to find an accountable Republican, then that tells ya something! :)

#3 fontor | October 10th, 2006 11:46 PM