Right and wrong — GOP style

August 10, 2007

In 2001, the president gave an interesting speech about what Americans should expect from their government. “We must always ask ourselves not only what is legal, but what is right,” Bush said. “There is no goal of government worth accomplishing if it cannot be accomplished with integrity.”

I kept thinking about that speech when I watched Ezra Klein’s appearance on MSNBC’s Hardball, alongside conservative GOP pundit/consultant Karen Hanretty. C&L has the clip, which is painful but worth watching anyway, because it speaks to Republicans’ attitudes about right and wrong in 2007.

In the first part of the interview, Hanretty explained that Scooter Libby’s felonies shouldn’t be punished at all and the former Cheney aide “probably” deserves a full pardon. In the second, Hanretty and Ezra discussed Alberto Gonzales’ conduct.

MATTHEWS: Let me ask you about this more tricky question of Albert Gonzales. The president said the guy has done nothing wrong. Point to something he has done, Ezra. Because either that or the president is right completely. Point to something he did wrong.

KLEIN: Aside from the firing of the prosecutors?

MATTHEWS: No, what did he do wrong?

HANRETTY: That wasn’t wrong.

KLEIN: Well, there you go.

MATTHEWS: What crime did he commit? (CROSSTALK)

KLEIN: I’m not going to speak on whether or not he committed a crime, I’m not a lawyer. But what he did wrong was fire prosecutors for political reasons. I think we can agree on whether that is an ethical violation.

MATTHEWS: And that has never been done before?

HANRETTY: That is not illegal…. Yes, you absolutely can fire someone midterm for political reasons. It is not against the law.

It went on from there. Libby did break the law, but should be pardoned, and Gonzales merely politicized the justice system, which is inconsequential because it merely undermines our democracy without being “illegal.”

“We must always ask ourselves not only what is legal, but what is right”? That’s so 2001.

When Ezra had the nerve to suggest that perhaps the government hold itself to a slightly higher standard — scandalous, yes; criminal, no — Hanretty made it personal.

HANRETTY: How old are you and how naive are you that you honestly think that this town is not built on political patronage? Give me a break.

KLEIN: And how cynical are you that you believe you should support that political patronage and excuse anything they do? … How far have we fallen?

Apparently, pretty far.

Hanretty clearly embarrassed herself through the course of the show, but her comments were revealing and worth remembering — ethical conduct no longer matters in government, according to her philosophy. Appropriate behavior is a punch line, not a goal.

As Digby put it:

There is no such thing as ethics. And hell, even if they do something blatantly illegal, the president ought to pardon them. They admit it. They’re proud of it.

Sadly, I’m not sure the old fashioned notion of a non-partisan federal judicial system is going to be able to recover from this. I always knew US Attorney’s were “political.” But you relied on the fact that most of them had a higher calling to the law and had an interest in keeping the system free from this sort of blatant politicization. The Bush administration and its ethics-free supporters, have quite successfully destroyed that. It’s now out in the open any action a Republican takes in any branch of government is nothing more than an exercise of self-serving, raw political power. That’s probably a good thing for everyone to finally internalize and learn to deal with.

If anyone wants to know why young people are running away from the GOP in droves, this is it. They are a nasty group of cynical jackasses who make the future look like a dark and hideous prospect.

Any questions?

Any questions?

Yeah, can We, The People, have our country back now? Or is it naive of me to think that?

  • Is there a point to any of this?
    Exposure of hypocrisy is futile when exposure of full-blown corruption merits no action by anyone we would think could do something about it.

    Maybe I’ll stop reading this Blog.
    Moreover, maybe it shouldn’t be written until 2009 when new people may do something as a result of exposure of criminal behavior.

    I have “evil fatigue”.

  • Republicanism has revealed itself for what it truly is in Bush’s time in office: it’s the bald-faced abuse of power and authority for the sole sordid benefit of party supporters. It is telling the rest of the world to go f*ck itself because they have the power.

    Nixon first exercised this, Reagan glossed this over with a smile and a veneer of charm, Bush took off the gloves and smirked about it.

    Right is anything a Republican says it is and their moral compass tilts directly to the selfish and the cynical. Wrong is anything that does not benefit their sense of personal greed.

    Digby’s point, “If anyone wants to know why young people are running away from the GOP in droves, this is it. They are a nasty group of cynical jackasses who make the future look like a dark and hideous prospect,” is spot on but needs to be expanded upon. I’d also mention that yound people will also stay away from Republicanism for fear that they will be sexually assaulted in their sleep by the president of the Young Republicans.

  • I think it was before the elections that we had a discussion here on the blog about the US Attorneys being one of the saviours of our system in the midst of the Republican corruption chaos. Et tu, Brute?

  • 3. On August 10th, 2007 at 1:07 pm, petorado said:
    I’d also mention that yound people will also stay away from Republicanism for fear that they will be sexually assaulted in their sleep by the president of the Young Republicans.

    And that’s just one of the ways the Reps will screw them. I’m sure the Reps will say that Murphy’s victim was just “asking for it” by wearing those tightie whities to bed. Hmmm Tightie Whitie sounds like a good nom de scum for the Republican Party.

  • These mendacious fools are the worst thing that ever happened to this country. When the Justice department becomes the “Just Us” department, the death knell sounds for the Republic.

    These people must be mocked, criticized, rebuked and driven in shame from the public stage. They have proven themselves unable to organize even a one car parade. Think about it this way…Things are this bad and they are inept. Can you imagine the damage they could have done with even a modicum of competence?

  • Right or wrong has nothing to do with it. It’s party politics only for the GOP. Win at any cost. The only time the law matters is when it works to their advantage. They want no oversight and accountability for others only. They truly are the Party of Hypocrisy.

    Gonzales lied so much that it’s difficult to hone in on just one lie. What about when he said he would not appoint another USA through the patriot act provision without Senate approval and then went on to appoint Griffin. Then while the repeal of that Patriot Act provision was sitting on the President’s desk waiting to be signed, Gonzales appointed another USA for the district of Columbia without Senate approval like a slap in the face to the Senate. There’s more evidence to prove than to disprove that some USAs were fired to stop investigations and influence elections.
    Republicans refuse to admit being wrong on anything. They scream successes while the country goes down the tubes and then blame everyone else for their failures.

    It’s Plame’s own fault she got outed, Next time…do what you’re told. God it is sickening and painful that this is what passes for a Republican…absolutely no integrity…unethical behavior doesn’t make it illegal. Just pathetic.

  • People like Hanretty and Matthews perpetuate the notion that, unless something can be explained in under 15 seconds, there could not be any wrongdoing. It’s why many people still do not understand why Scooter Libby was put on trial, and those same people will never understand why Alberto Gonzales should, at a minimum, lose his job, should certainly be impeached, and then criminally prosecuted for the crimes. And there are more than a few of his co-workers who should be facing criminal indictment, as well.

    For Hanretty and others, it will always be “there was no underlying crime and Libby was not the original leaker,” (neither of which are correct) and “the US Attorneys serve at the pleasure of the president, and Bill Clinton fired ALL of the US Attorneys when he took office” (true and true, but not even close to being the point).

    I find shows like Hardball and people like Matthews to be worse than useless – they end up doing more harm than good because they don’t come close to doing justice to the complexity and importance of the issues, they think politics and power are all that matter, and they are sloppy with the truth and ignorant of the facts; they all ought to come with a warning at the beginning (“the show you are about to watch is based on real events, but is a work of fiction”) and Matthews should be wearing a sign around his neck that says, “Do not assume that what I am saying bears any resemblance to the truth; I’m just in it for the money.”

  • To the fRight Wingers there is no Right or Wrong, there’s only Right or Left.
    If you’re on the Right, everything you do is right. If you’re on the Left, you get left out.

    Those of you who’ve dealt with Talevangicals know what I mean.

  • … why young people are running away from the GOP in droves ….

    Given “the cave” by the Democrats recently I don’t think we have any reason for gloating.

    The reason everyone is running away from politics in droves is because government is no longer where “it’s happening”. Corporations control everything. Even the “entertainment” they use to distract us from our interests.

  • CB wrote: ““We must always ask ourselves not only what is legal, but what is right”? That’s so 2001.”

    Jeez, CB, you make it sound like Republicans think the only things that are truly improper behavior are things which are explicitly illegal. If that were true, Republicans would be lying like crazy, cheating on their spouses, screwing over everybody they could economically, and standing up for any of their buddies who are exposed doing the same.

    Oh, wait… I see…

  • Just wait until January 21, 2009, when these same Bobbleheads will be screaming bloody murder about all the “immoral”, “wrong”, “unethical” and “improper” things being done in the new Democrat (sic) administration.

    IOKIYAR

  • Here’s another “so 2001” speech from the collection of President Bush. From “Remarks at a Swearing-In Ceremony for New White House Staff” (Jan. 22, 2001):

    …As we serve, we must always remember three things.
    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, doublechecking 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’re all accountable to one another. And above all, we’re all accountable to the law and to the American people. My White House Counsel, Al Gonzalez [sic], is my point man 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 is no excuse for arrogance and never a reason for disrespect toward others. People who work here are highly visible throughout the Government. In many ways, in many of your dealings, you’ll be the face and voice of the White House staff. You will be my representative. I expect each of you, as an official of this administration, to be an example of humility and decency and fairness.
    And finally, we must all remember that we are here for a reason. You and I and the Vice President share the same goals for our country and the same commitment to achieving them. We are here to make progress. We are not here just to mark time. The next few weeks, we’ll affirm the central policy goals of this administration, beginning this week with education reform.

    Al Gonzales as the point man on ethics — what a surreal idea.

    Source: Remarks at a Swearing-In Ceremony for New White House Staff, Jan. 22, 2001, available in the the Weekly Compilation of Presidential Documents at the Gov’t Printing Office.

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