Dennis Hastert, the former Speaker of the House and second in line to the presidency is going to prison for fondling, jerking off, and sucking cocks of underage boys. This needs to be spelled out because what follows is an adult observation of American politics during an era when the Moral Majority harangued and pushed the American electorate far to the right.
No less an authority than Hastert's successor, Texas Republican and former pesticide salesman Tom DeLay, whined that Hastert has been made to suffer "too much" for his crime. Nothing, of course, about one of Hastert's victims who committed suicide or others whose shame at Hastert's hands is indelible.
Hastert rose to his formerly high position when, in 1998, another former GOP speaker of the house Newt Gingrich abandoned his wife dying of cancer for another woman. The official chosen to succeed Gingrich had to drop from contention because he, too, was found out while Republicans coalesced around Ralph Reed and the Moral Majority.
This is not just about Dennis Hastert being "found out".
The Republican mantra of personal responsibility led to framing of federal authority as "evil". The states' rights movement dovetailed with GOP philanderers and child molesters in public office. Don't "tread on me": do tread on women, children, and the weak.
To be sure, frailty is part of the human condition. Hypocrisy is, on the other hand, a matter of choice. To wear morality on its sleeve like GOP leaders have done since Ronald Reagan is hypocrisy bleeding far outside its borders.
No less an authority than Hastert's successor, Texas Republican and former pesticide salesman Tom DeLay, whined that Hastert has been made to suffer "too much" for his crime. Nothing, of course, about one of Hastert's victims who committed suicide or others whose shame at Hastert's hands is indelible.
Hastert rose to his formerly high position when, in 1998, another former GOP speaker of the house Newt Gingrich abandoned his wife dying of cancer for another woman. The official chosen to succeed Gingrich had to drop from contention because he, too, was found out while Republicans coalesced around Ralph Reed and the Moral Majority.
This is not just about Dennis Hastert being "found out".
The Republican mantra of personal responsibility led to framing of federal authority as "evil". The states' rights movement dovetailed with GOP philanderers and child molesters in public office. Don't "tread on me": do tread on women, children, and the weak.
To be sure, frailty is part of the human condition. Hypocrisy is, on the other hand, a matter of choice. To wear morality on its sleeve like GOP leaders have done since Ronald Reagan is hypocrisy bleeding far outside its borders.
1 comment:
If Has-turd and Delay believe in Christianity, do they think there is a special place in hell for them?
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