Senator Craig

I normally triy to avoid the sordid tales of political sex scandal and the like but the latest incident with Senator Craig is hard to pass up. Let me start off by saying that I find all the awe and shock over the "crime" ridiculous. The "crime" was a misdemeanor and in this case, the details aren't so sordid. The hypocrisy, on the other hand, is another matter and is especially damning. After the hand-wringing and grimaces about the idea of sex in public bathrooms (I must admit, the thought gives me the heebee jeebees, and not the good heebee jeebees either), the incident should serve as a reminder that the last decades of "moral leadership" propaganda have been just that, propaganda. Dictatorial forces throughout history have always relied on "moral authority" to fill in voids in political legitimacy. The Republican Party was essentially reinvented (a la Nixon and later Reagan) on the idea. Senator Craig should of course step down. But not until lampooned to death by a month of talk-show hosts who should then turn their forces on the whole idea of "moral leadership." We need leaders who do the right thing in public office. Who gives a damn what they do in the back office (or in the airport toilet stall in this case).