Some of our friends in Washington have a new strategy now that we're less than 90 days out from the midterm elections: focus on corruption. That's actually a great idea. Newspapers do this very thing, may their tribe increase. Somebody's got to be a watchdog. But let's not pretend, as some try, that one party has a monopoly on ethical, um, hiccups.
After the papers reported that U.S. Rep. Chris Collins, a Republican from the state of New York, was arrested on suspicion of inside trading, some Democrats were quick to jump on the "corruption in Washington" train. Stops on this route include: Crooktown, Guiltyville and the ever popular Hypocrite Junction.
If Chris Collins is found guilty of the crimes he's been accused of--and let's remember being a Republican doesn't strip him of his constitutional rights--then he'll be punished. Eventually.
But after Mr. Collins' arrest, the ever-pure Nancy Pelosi was heard from. And reminded us all that the corruption in Washington is solely a Republican factor:
"The charges against Congressman Collins show the rampant culture of corruption and self-enrichment among Republicans in Washington today," Pelosi said.
Puh-leeze. There's a U.S. senator from Jersey, Robert Menendez, who has been in the public prints lately. His corruption trial last year ended in a hung jury. Do we even need to mention Anthony Weiner? Rod Blagojevich? Jesse Jackson Jr.? Democrats all. We'd go into former congressman William Jefferson's troubles, but if we start getting into corrupt Louisiana politicians, we'll be here all week.
Still, the game plan has been announced. And the players have taken the field. Nancy Pelosi set a letter to House Democrats the other day, urging them to use this August recess to draw a "sharp contrast" between Republicans' "cesspool of self-enrichment, secret money and special interests."
Uh-huh.
Self-enrichment? Has she met the Clintons? Special interests? Like the pro-abortion and anti-gun lobbies?
We suspicion that voters know that there are bad actors in both parties. As long as there are positions of public power and influence, there will be men and women who try to take advantage of those positions and tarnish their office. That's why this two-party system works so well. When one party is in power, and taking advantage, the other barks like mad. Until it takes power, and overreaches, and becomes the focus of the opposition in turn.
It's never safe to mount that high horse in politics. It hurts getting bucked from a bronco, and the mud you land in does little to break your fall. We think Nancy Pelosi has been around long enough to know all this. She just doesn't have enough esteem for the voters to think they do.
Editorial on 08/11/2018