I know DU will oppose this because of "ethics, ethics, ethics"

[RB TexLa]

Maybe everyone can support good legislation from someone who has not been convicted of a crime. We'll see, maybe the love affair with ethics can be put aside for something good.

http://www.wdsu.com/news/13490168/detail.html


NEW ORLEANS -- Despite the threat of losing his congressional seat, U.S. Rep. William Jefferson has introduced four new bills aimed at improving mental health care in south Louisiana.

One bill would allow Medicare to pay for therapy services. A second measure addresses mental health issues in juvenile detention centers.

Two others would provide money to help children deal with the emotional effects of emergencies.

[Donnachaidh]

1. that IS the problem --too easy to put ETHICS aside

Jefferson suddenly worrying about his 'legacy'? Or is he going to use mental health as an excuse for taking bribes? :sarcasm:

[Warpy]

2. Nobody's all good or all bad

although some people, like Stupid, come awfully close.

He is innocent until he is convicted of a crime. If he uses this period to do some good for his constituents, more power to him.

If he is convicted, then he has to accept punishment for the crime. We will be grateful to him and more disposed to an eventual pardon if he drags the rest of the scum down with him.

If Jefferson blows the lid off the whole Nigerian scandal including the part Halliburton played in it, he will have redeemed himself. However, I am not going to bet on his longevity if he starts to.

[Bucky]

3. The article wrote "Despite the threat" but the truth is it's "Because of the threat"

If Jefferson cared about these issues at all, he'd hand over a copy of the proposed legislation to a colleague who wasn't already dead in the water. Jefferson is on his way to losing his seat in Congress. If healthcare is more important than his own personal career to him, he'd drop the grandstanding and take his punishment without bringing disrepute to a needed law.
.

[RB TexLa]

4. take what punishment? If he is not guilty there is no punishment

[DefenseLawyer]

5. Off to the gulag. Take your punishment like a man.

You might at least give the guy his day in court before exacting your pound of flesh. If he is convicted (and I have no opinion on that one way or the other) there will be plenty of opportunity for him to take his punishment in a manner that you will no doubt approve.

[TahitiNut]

6. Good public policy is good public policy, regardless of source.

While we're advised to "regard the source," it's fallacious (logical malfunction) to conclude that a proposal is wrong merely because of who makes the proposal. This si, of course, the essence of an ad hominem fallacy - attacking the person rather than the argument. It's also one of the most common fallacies (brain farts) on DU, imho.