In a little more than a week's time, Americans will go to the voting booth and decide nothing less than the fate of our nation. There's an out-of-control war in Iraq. The middle class is getting squeezed. Health care, energy and education costs are all escalating. The fiscal health of our country is poor.
But there's another reason too. The personal conduct of government officials is atrocious. If you are a true values voter - whatever your political stripes - then you should be all the more enraged at the recent conduct, especially among Bush administration officials and congressional lawmakers. People are breaking the law for greed, political gain and outright maliciousness. From outing a covert CIA spy to influence peddling to sending creepy e-mails to teens about sex, I'm wondering just how much lower can we get.
I'm not talking about gay marriage or abortion, but about a person's conduct in doing their job according to the law. I'm talking about a person taking responsibility for their actions or holding other people accountable. The Bush administration and Congress have failed.
In his first full day in office, George Bush swore in his senior staff and reminded
them of ethics, conduct and personal behavior:
First, we must remember the high standards that come with high office. This begins with careful adherence to the rules. I expect every member of this administration to stay well within the boundaries that define legal and ethical conduct. This means avoiding even the appearance of problems. This means checking and, if need be, double- checking that the rules have been obeyed. This means never compromising those rules. No one in the White House should be afraid to confront the people they work for, for ethical concerns, and no one should hesitate to confront me as well. We are all accountable to one another. And above all, we are all accountable to the law and to the American people. My White House counsel, Al Gonzales, is my pointman on these issues. If you have even a hint of ethical doubt, I urge you to talk to Al.
Second, we must remember that high standards of conduct involve not only obeying the law, but showing civility. As we go about our work, there's no excuse for arrogance and never a reason for disrespect toward others. People who work here are highly visible throughout the government. In many your dealings, you'll be the face and voice of the White House staff. You'll be my representative. I expect each of you, as an official of this administration, to be an example of humility and decency and fairness.
After I. Lewis "Scooter" Libby was indicted, Bush ordered his staff to take an ethics refresher.
The president has made clear his expectation that each member of his Executive Office of the President (EOP) Staff adhere to the spirit as well as the letter of all rules governing ethical conduct for EOP Staff," the memo said.
Republicans believe themselves to be of higher ethical and moral fiber than Democrats and constantly remind voters of that claim. In fact, they pound that issue. I don't have to tell you actions speak louder than words.
I got curious and complied what I believe to be a demonstrative but incomplete list of Republican congressional politicians and aides, Bush appointees and White House aides and other Republican supporters who have plead guilty or resigned under an ethical cloud in just the last year. Let me repeat I didn't bother to look before September 2005 because I think the list was enough. These are not ethical transgressions five or six years ago but ones that occurred in the last year. For most of these people, you can find an appropriate Wikipedia entry.
Oct. 17, 2006 | Former FDA chief Lester Crawford pleads guilty to lying about financial holdings and conflicts of interest |
Oct. 6, 2006 | Susan Ralston, aide to White House political adviser Karl Rove resigns over a congressional report showing many White House contacts with ex-lobbyist Jack Abramoff |
Sep. 29, 2006 | Rep. Mark Foley (R-FL) resigns over sexually suggestive e-mails and instant messages to male congressional pages under 18 |
Sep. 15, 2006 | Rep. Bob Ney (R-Ohio) pleads guilty to felony corruption charges |
Aug. 11, 2006 | Roger Stillwell, former Interior Department Office of Insular Affairs staff, plead guilty to misdemeanor charges for improperly receiving gifts from lobbyist Jack Abramoff |
Jun. 8, 2006 | Rep. Tom DeLay (R-TX) resigns amid corruption allegations |
May 31, 2006 | GOP fundraiser and Bush "Pioneer" Tom Noe pleads guilty to felonies for violating federal campaign finance law |
May 8, 2006 | Neil Volz, former Bob Ney chief of staff and former Abramoff colleague, plead guilty to wire fraud and violating House rules |
Apr. 4, 2006 | Brian Doyle, former Homeland Security Department deputy press secretary, arrested on using a computer to seduce a minor and other related charges |
Mar. 31, 2006 | Tony Rudy, former Abramoff colleague and former Tom DeLay staffer, pleads guilty to one charge of conspiracy |
Feb. 9, 2006 | Claude Allen, assistant to President Bush for domestic policy, resigns a month after he was arrested for shoplifting |
Jan. 3, 2006 | Lobbyist Jack Abramoff pleads guilty to three felony counts related to defrauding American Indian tribes and corruption of public officials |
Nov. 28, 2005 | Rep. Randy "Duke" Cunningham (R-Calif.) resigns after pleading guilty of corruption |
Nov. 21, 2005 | Former lobbyist and public relations executive Michael Scanlon, who is a former DeLay communications director, plead guilty to bribe congressional members |
Oct. 28, 2005 | I. Lewis "Scooter" Libby resigns as chief of staff and assistant for National Security Affairs to Vice President Dick Cheney after being indicted by a grand jury for obstruction of justice, perjury and making false statements |
Sep. 16, 2005 | David Safavian, former chief of staff for the General Services Administration, resigns and subsequently arrested after making falsestatements and obstructing an investigation |
I'm not an expert on ethics and I'm not a "holier than thou" type. And I'm not saying Democrats and their supporters are immune from ethical transgressions. After all Louisiana Democratic Rep. William Jefferson must answer for allegations of corruption and former Clinton National Security Advisor Sandy Berger admitted to unlawfully handling classified documents.
But I'm astounded by the level and depth of ethical misconduct among Bush supporters. They must be held accountable according to their own rhetoric. Americans should not stand for this type of behavior any longer.