Ethics

The Return of Mark Foley

By Ed Brayton

One of the oldest rhetorical tricks in the world, when one finds oneself in trouble, is to point to other people who are doing even worse things and then wonder aloud why you're being so persecuted when others are allowed to get away with (fill in the blank). But when you do that, the person you point to needs to actually be doing worse things.

I'm sure by now you've heard all about this little tempest about Max Baucus allegedly being drunk while giving a speech on the floor of the Senate. I have no idea whether he was or wasn't, nor do I particularly care. He certainly would not be the first or last legislator to have a few drinks before hitting the floor; hell, if I had to spend all my time with politicians I'd be shooting heroin in front of the C-Span cameras.

Full post as published by Dispatches from the Culture Wars on January 01, 2010 (boomark / email).