When a politician is caught engaging in bad behavior, they must resign…provided they are republican, male, or both.
The latest republican under fire is Larry Craig. Discussing the scandal is pointless. By the time Michelle Malkin is done skewering him, he will be shish kabob.
http://www.michellemalkin.com/2007/08/28/the-larry-craig-mess/
Of course, the demands of immediate resignation are coming forward. While I want to make it clear that I am not defending these actions, or a Senator I know very little about, there is one aspect of this that makes me boil over.
Why is it only republicans and men that have to resign?
Republican Richard Nixon faced impeachment for covering up a crime that his subordinates committed. He did the honorable thing, which was to spare the country an ordeal. I am not saying he was an honorable man while he was in the White House, but he exited with class.
Democrat Bill Clinton promised to hang onto the job tooth and nail with every last breath. The fact that government was paralyzed, as Nixon had predicted, was irrelevant to the First Fornicator in Chief. It was all about him. He would never consider resigning.
Republican Newt Gingrich was asked to resign the day he became speaker. Yet somehow, after the 1998 election, Bill Clinton got impeached, yet Newt Gingrich lost his job. Some will say it was hypocritical of him to be having an affair while criticizing Clinton, but that is actually false. He kept his mouth shut, and did not go near the subject. Also, Gingrich committed an indecent and immoral act. He committed adultery. Bill Clinton committed an illegal act. Perjury, even lying about sex under oath, is a crime.
Bill Clinton, a convicted felon (look it up, he actually plead guilty to a felony, was fined, and lost his law license), stayed on the job. Yet not only did Gingrich resign, but so did Republican Bob Livingston. Bob Livingston in a sense got his just desserts because he tried to force out Gingrich. Yet Bob Livingston did not commit any crimes, nor was he accused of anything illegal. He was blackmailed by Larry Flynt into resigning, and yet somehow that is legal.
Republican Tom Delay was indicted for violating the rule of “thou shalt not be a conservative, and be effective at it.” Is it any wonder that nobody on the left wanted republican Denny Hastert to resign? He was a “nice guy,” meaning that he rolled over in an attempt to be fair.
In fact, one example of such rolling over is his kid glove treatment of democrat William “Weezie” Jefferson (not to be confused with the other William Jefferson that committed crimes). The FBI raided Mr. Jefferson’s home, found cash in his freezer, and Denny Hastert joined with democrats in condemning the FBI for refusing to place members of congress above the law.
Of course Mr. Jefferson is proclaiming his innocence in the face of laughably sufficient evidence. He will not resign. Liberals don’t do that. Atfer all, his constituents in New Orleans are worried that without him, life might get bad there.
Of course, it is not about sex. Sex is a beautiful act, and a rather enjoyable one…when it is between two consenting adults.
Republican Mark Foley tried to solicit sex from underage pages. They were male, but had they been female, it would have been just as disgusting. He immediately resigned. Yet democrat Mel Reynolds, accused of virtually the same thing, had everybody from the Congressional Black Caucus to the San Francisco wingnuts defending him up to the very end. Only when he was told that there was enough evidence to send him to jail did he finally throw in the towel. No, it is not racism to want a black man who solicits sex from underage girls to resign. The young girl was black, and protecting her is a bigger civil right.
Republican Bob Packwood had a lengthy career of sexually harassing women. He resigned. So do democrats Ted Kennedy and Christopher Dodd, with Teddy leading to one of the women dying. They remain in congress, and take turns running for President.
Republican David Vitter of Louisiana confesses to soliciting prostitutes, and pressure builds on him to immediately resign, despite his wife standing by him. Democrat Chuck Robb, Former Senator from Virginia, had nude massages from Miss Virginia. He was married, and refused to resign.
Republican Alberto Gonzales handles a press conference about legal firings of subordinates in an inept manner, and his resignation is demanded. Democrat Gary Condit stonewalls an investigation of an intern’s death to cover up an affair, and he hangs on until the bitter end when polling data tell him his constituents disapprove of such behavior.
Republican political consultant Ed Rollins makes some incredibly stupid and insensitive remarks about suppressing the black vote (which were untrue), and he disappears for the most part from television. Democratic political consultant Bob Beckel gets caught soliciting prostitutes, disappears for a few weeks, and is back on television screaming at what horrible and immoral people republicans are.
This is not just a political double standard. It is a sexual one, or more specifically, a sexist one. Democrats are considered the mommy party and republicans are the daddy party. To be more blount, democrats are women and republicans are men. They may need each other, but they have different values.
Democrats and women are obsessed with warm fuzzy things like animals, trees, and playing nice. Republicans and men are interested in finding the bad guys and blowing them to kingdom come. We don’t just want it. We enjoy it.
When two men argue, they can throw punches, and an hour later, share drinks and laugh about the entire incident while holding icepacks to their faces. When two women argue, it can go for generations. My old gym teacher in junior high school told me, “Never try to break up a fight between two girls. You’ll get your eyes scratched out.” That sounds like watching democrats to me.
Republicans are men. We allow dissent and disagreement. Democrats are women. Anybody deviating from orthodoxy gets gossiped about, trashed, and discarded, whether it be Joe Lieberman, or very liberal Brian Baird.
Republicans lose to democrats for the same reason men lose to women. Men do not have the stomach for arguments. At some point a man looks at a woman and thinks, “I will say or do anything you want, just let me watch the d@mn ball game in peace.” Even when waving the white flag, women will take that as a sign of aggression. Only women could see refusing to fight as being argumentative, in the form of ignoring them.
Yes, there are men who are democrats and women who vote republicans, but an analogy does not have to be perfect to be a reasonable parallel. Republicans simply do not have the stomach to fight the democrats. Democrats will fight to the bitter end.
The reasons for this are simple. Liberals believe conservatives are evil, and that good cannot just defeat evil. It has to destroy it. Therefore, any democrat resigning is giving in to the forces of republican evil. Any republican resigning is a victory for goodness.
The bottom line is there is a lack of honor among many individual people, and for those who never wish to confront their own moral failings, the democratic party is a safe haven for them. Both sides screw up, sometimes colossally, but republicans condemn those who screw up. Democrats blame republicans for the mistakes that both sides make.
When I think of truly honorable men, one name that comes to me is former republican Senator Mark Hatfield. Several years back, republican Bob Dole and democrat Robert Byrd were locked in a titanic struggle over the balanced budget amendment. Regardless of what may think of those men, they were both acting out of sincere principles. Dole felt it was necessary to slow spending, and Byrd felt it violated the Constitution.
Dole needed 67 votes. The day before the vote, the vote in favor of the bill was 66-34. One republican, Mark Hatfield, citing his principles, was against the bill. He met privately with Dole, offering to resign from the Senate, allowing a 66-33 vote and a passed bill. His honorable action was met with equal honor from Dole, who refused the resignation. The bill failed.
That should be held in deep contrast with how democrats treated Joe Lieberman for supporting the Iraq War, a principled stand.
Another honorable man who was unfairly asked to resign the day he was appointed was former republican Attorney General John Ashcroft. As an evangelical, people were worried he would want a Christian theocracy. When asked what he would do if his religious faith conflicted with his ability to uphold and enforce American law, he responded, “I would resign.”
This is what honorable men do.
The reasons why republicans have it tougher is because we are the party of family values. When we screw up, we are hypocrites, often rightfully so. However, does this mean democrats have an advantage because they are valueless, with no moral compass? How else does one explain that people shrug at their bad behavior? Is so little expected of them? Is it worth being held in such low esteem for a perceived political advantage?
I would rather fall short and let people down, like some republicans do, then lower the bar to the ground to baby crawl over it, like the democratic babies do.
Bad behavior should not be swept under the carpet. Corruption should be rooted out. However, the law should apply to everybody equally. When an entire political party arbitrarily decides that only one side should unilaterally be armed (the only time liberals favor unilateral anything), the other side should not roll over and play dead.
Whether it be crooked land deals (democrat and Majority Loser Harry Reid) or disgraceful visits to Damascus (Nancy Pelosi), they could be at negative 5% in the polls, and still cling to the jobs. Yet any republican short of winning 49 states like Reagan has no mandate.
So to all the Schroeders, Feinsteins, Boxers and Hillarys of the world inside the democratic party, get off our male republican backs. We are busy trying to get things done, and are tired of our carping. We will deal with our own in the appropriate way, but until you do the same, you are nothing but a bunch of hypocritical nags.
I am a republican male, and I will not surrender. When I am wrong I will admit it, but I would rather not let the woman win the argument jsut to shut her up. It is sexist. If I am right, I need to stick to my guns, regardless of her wrath…unless the ball game is on and peace and quiet trumps justice.
As for liberals, scorched Earth is the only solution. Not only does it temporarily defeat them, but anything damaging the Earth makes them more insane, which is an added bonus.
When they are on their intern pleasing knees, metaphorically bleeding from the face, I would be happy to negotiate their surrender and resignation.
eric
What’s got everyones craw about Craig was his hypocrisy, more than anything else. Most “liberals” couldn’t care less what he does, as long as it’s mutually consentual and hamrless. Sex in public places isn’t very nice, though, and now even his own party is calling for an investigation to determine if Craig tried to use his senate creds to get off the hook with the cops during the initial arrest. Moral equivilency isn’t going to help the cons on this one. It never does. So you may as well take it for what it is. Craig made a bad mistake – maybe two.
JMJ
OMG! Did you all just see that press conference??? This guy’s insane! He said “I’m not gay” four times! He opened up by saying, “Thank you everyone for coming out”!!! LOL!!! He blamed everything on the Boise Statesman – a paper famous for being a stickler for fact checking! He’s out of his mind!
JMJ
Who accused him in the first place, of being Gay?
I mean, hey, he could be bi.
Joking aside-
I don’t care if he was Democrat or Republican, if it’s against the law, it’s against the law. And always remains up with the individual if they want to resign. I mean, Bush and Cheney haven’t resigned, sorry to bring up old and tired characters, but they have been under a lot of fire and scrutiny. Although there has been no impeachment, they have been attacked for quite a number of things.
I really want to get rid of all these lying idiots out of Congress, I dont care what their party affiliation is.
I think the impression that they dont have to resign is influenced by the entitlement mindset that is a main feature of most liberals.
Eric…you had the answer in the second paragraph…”By the time Michelle Malkin is done skewering him, he will be shish kabob.”
The reason why the Democrats don’t resign is because they don’t “eat” their own.
Kerry insulted the military and the entire Liberal media backed his “joke”. Lott made a toast to an old man on his birthday and the first ones standing in line to crucify him not for what he actually said, but for “what they think he meant” was the so called “conservative” media.
There’s no “double” standard…just two ways of handling a mess. The Left close ranks…the Right takes out ads to make certain that everyone sees their dirty laundry.
Hey Black Tygrrr, Great post. The reason why it’s always Republicans’ resignations being demanded is that the Left is the squeakiest wheel. They’ve perfected the art of making more noise than they actually represent in numbers. And the squeaky wheel gets the grease.
By the way, I’m a woman and I’m so not a Democrat!!
Hi Eric
Thanks for leaving a comment on ‘Point of no return’. Have linked to your site, please link to mine
http://www.jewishrefugees.blogspot.com/
Ya’ know, I was thinking – the reason, I think, why women don’t get into these sorts of trouble is because they aren’t horny all the time like men. Just a thought.
JMJ
Great commentary….Obviously on the same page…was going to write on the subject of ‘resignation’ but I hereby resign…ya beat me to da punch!
I’m curious, since Bill is a convicted felon, has he lost his right to vote ?
I am a convicted felon , it wasnt theft and it wasnt violent , and I lost my right to vote and own a gun.
That would be astounding if an ex president couldn’t vote any more
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Is Bill Clinton a “convicted felon”? I don’t recall that.
JMJ
Good point Micky2! Dunno, but worth some investigation.
And personally – I find it sad that Felons lose their right to vote, you are all American Citizens and I would hate to think that EXAMPLE INCOMING:
You are convicted of a Felony, spend 10 years in Prison. Upon leaving, you are a newly reformed person – you have a desire to be a contributing member of society. You become meagerly successful, raise a family, and once you begin to settle down, you revisit your experience in Prison. If you had a strong opinion the prison system is run wrongly – I would have to find your opinion extremely influential given the personal experience, however that same person would have no opportunity to make changes in a system that has become a business.
I think that’s wrong, even prisoners deserve their rights – perhaps not while in Prison, but if this country truly believes that Prison = Rehabilitation (not the right word i’m looking for…), then give that individual the right to at least vote.
And Micky2, while I would think that sometime in the past, a Pres or VP lost their vote due to scandal/felony – but who knows, maybe it’s Pres. Tradition to pardon Presidents in order to maintain that very prestigious Fraternity feel.
And JMJ… I have to feel that our testosterone and some innate properties do tend to get Men in trouble – especially since, if you look at the grand timeline of history, Women are just barely eeking their way into positions of power and authority. I’m sure, given 100 years, women will make mistakes due to some of their innate tendencies. I mean, regardless of what you got ‘down there’ we are all human beings – and we all make mistakes.
Well, accept me.
After a quick search, I dont believe Billy is a felon, however I came upon Scooter Libby, apparently he is a felon, I didn’t know that. The list that, I’m sure is large, would be the list of Congressmen and women (Reps and Sens) that are felons – that’d be quite the sight I bet.
Oh, and I hope you all caught my little joke there.
(accept for except?)
giggle
joe
In my 20s I was no angel. I was dealing a lot of coke and the feds spent years trying unsuccessfuly to nail me. I was standing in front of my shop, downtown San Diego and bought a nickel bag of weed from some guy I’d seen around before. Immediatly the vice squad came down on me like a swarm. They told the court that I was trying to sell weed to minor. It’s obvious that this was the only way they could nail me. They were talking about giving me five years , so I split back to Hawaii. I made the mistake of coming back 2 months before the statuate of limitations ran out. They got me back in court and the cop and witness were not around anymore, but I still had a felony failure to appear, even though the first felony could not be proven. I did 3 months and lost the rights I mentioned.
My blogging is a way to make up for the loss of that priveledge.
I’m curious as to how mant this has happened to.
And if it happened to Bildo, will it stick ?
I agree with the testosterone thing, but make no mistake. Women and their goodys have always played a major role in getting what they want.
Mostly because they are well aware that guys tend to wear their genitals on their foreheads.
you know what they say:
Behind every great man is a woman rolling her eyes.
Micky2:
Sad to hear man – I think it’s totally unfair someone who participates in understanding the Political System would lose their right to vote.
My wife said she would vote for me, in one way that was sweet. But there’s something about actually taking her offer that would bug me, actually a couple things.
She loses her vote and I will feel cheap for some reason.
Yeah, sorry to hear that too Micky. I too got into a lot of trouble when I was kid. Same kinda stuff as you but in the NYC area back in bad ol’ days of the 80’s when NY was a hellhole. The state came after me, but I had inside contacts, so I found out when they were coming for me and I made a run for it, but they caught me. I was very, very lucky to have come from an extended family that could afford good legal representation for me. But the standing felony indictment is still on my record. I also agree with Joe in that I find it abhorant that we deny felons, who’ve done their time and paid their due to society, the right to vote. I can understand the gun ban, but for violent criminals though. Not non-violent and victimless criminals. Really, I find the drcaonian sanctions on victimless crime, like drug dealing, offensive and counter-productive. When will Americans realize that the main reason violence and drugs converge is the very illegality of drug dealing?
Like you, I imagine, I did put all that behind me many years ago and am happy and married and well-adjusted now. Good for you, Micky.
JMJ
Oh, and Joe, I don’t think women will ever catch up with men when it comes to thst sort of behavior. I think evolution has programmed them otherwise. Yet another reason the misogyny of the Bible is so wrong. But insecure men rule the world, so whatcha gonna do?
JMJ
Cool, its nice when people feel sorry for me. Not really.
But I’m glad people understand. I live the white picket fence dream now, own a house,married with kids etc…
Having kids really makes you want to be effective all of a sudden.
I should (and the others) be able to make that investment in my kids future.
It’s just one vote, but it would do wonders for my pride as a citizen if I could make that one vote. It would be good feeling.
Hammering moonbats feels pretty good though.
Well, just so it’s not totally lost then – I didn’t mean to pity or feel sorry for you literally, you don’t seem like the type of person that really needs/wants it (barring certain circumstances, of course) – I meant it more generally because while I did remember in the back of my mind about a Felony costing someone their vote, I’ve never given it the thought regarding contributing members of society.
And a great point about our collective future. I’m 24, but sometimes I’m uncertain as to the future of some industries and policies, what they might lead to, or what type of hinderances are going to surface, whether we’re going to have a economic boom or depression..
Sometimes I feel our present situation is mortgaging the future for some unreachable goal today. While I understand that my father’s generation had to live through some pretty scary stuff (Just watched a special that touched on those certain 13 days during JFK’s administration), I still feel worse for the even younger generations.
Humor doesnt always come across well in print, no biggy Joe. That s not how I meant it.
I was watching TV when Kennedy was asssasinated. I remember everyone around the house being all upset. .I also remember hiding under my desk.
Nuke against desk, Hmmm.
“Democrats and women are obsessed with warm fuzzy things like animals, trees, and playing nice. ”
A bit generalized and sexist…don’t you think?
I don’t flipping play nice yet I like warm fuzzy things. Very broad stroke you just painted.
[…] WAS I JUST CENSORED!!?? […]
All I know, is I’m as sick of the democrats as well as the republicans. But what are your ideas about the middle ground? Do independents irritate you as much as women and democrats?
P.S. I’ll tell you a secret, I learned long ago. Help a woman around the house and they consider that foreplay. No kidding, I think every man should know women are just as horny, if they feel that the man in their lives respects their thoughts and doesn’t treat them like slaves. Trust me, your hand around a vacuum means much more to her!! By the way please send a nickel for every time it works to….
By the way Eric,
“I am a republican male, and I will not surrender. When I am wrong I will admit it, but I would rather not let the woman win the argument jsut to shut her up. It is sexist. If I am right, I need to stick to my guns, regardless of her wrath,”
wow, you better be good with your Eureka then!! you know otherwise, I predict a long long dry spell. I’ll pray for some rain for you…or a better ball game than the wrath raining down upon you.
Sometimes being happy(sex), overides being right, it just takes too long to learn that. Hopefully I’ve brought you a lifetime of happiness!!
[…] http://blacktygrrrr.wordpress.com/2007/08/28/liberals-and-women-never-resign-or-surrender/ […]