When Politicians Commit Crimes, They Must be Punished

[Ichingcarpenter]

Political harmony v. the rule of law: an easy choice for the political establishment
By Glenn Greenwald


Former Congressman Harold Ford appeared at the Netroots Nation conference yesterday, argued that Bush officials shouldn't be held accountable for crimes they committed while in office, and then insisted that Democrats shouldn't be expected to defend civil liberties and Constitutional rights because "the Constitution doesn't poll very well." In arguing against prosecutions for Bush lawbreaking, Ford said that Bush officials already have been subjected to accountability for their lawbreaking: "'I think that accountability was brought in 2006 when lost in the House and the Senate,' Ford said. 'And we have only eight more months of George W. Bush . . .'"

Regarding Ford's argument, casual_observer says in comments:

I think this is it, in crystallized form. "Accountability" equals loss of majority for one's party. Majority -- power -- is all that matters. 'Law' comes in a distant second, if it is considered at all.

Ford proudly terms himself a 'centrist' in the Democratic Party, but this position is radically un-democratic, and when viewed logically, is every bit as bad as the logic of Rove, Yoo, or Addington. It is anathema to a truly functioning democratic government.


>>>>snip

Why would we expect political officials to do anything other than break the law if we continuously tell them -- as we've been doing -- that they are exempt from consequences? And how can Bush -- or Nixon -- be criticized for conceiving of the Presidency as being above the law when that's how our political establishment, including many Democrats, explicitly conceive of it as well?


>>>>>snip

http://www.salon.com/opinion/greenwald/2008/07/19/law/index.html

[KansDem]

1. It's the "Catch me if you can!" approach to public service...

Sadly, over the last couple of decades I've come to the realization that the concept of morality and ethics is a fleeting one, and that we are now governed by a group of hoods and con-artists. I used to believe our "leaders" were "the best and the brightest" our nation could offer. I was wrong. I now believe that to enter public service, one must have a "what's in it for me?" attitude.

I used to think public servants, from the POTUS on down, entered service with a "what can I do to better the American people?" attitude. I used to think that this call to duty was tempered with a strong sense of morality (this does not mean "religion"--we've seen what kind of a con-game that has turned out to be), ethics, and, above all, a sense of decency and fairness. I was wrong.

Mr. Ford's assertion here is aped by the GOP as a whole--that "I can only do wrong if I'm caught and held accountable for it." It is, unfortunately, and incorrect assertion. We know what's right and wrong as we are guided by our conscious. If we choose to do wrong, then we need to be held accountable. Sorry, Mr. Ford--just because you aren't caught and held accountable for your criminal acts does not make you innocent of committing those acts.

Mr. Ford and others like him would do well to slip from public view and discourse and pursue a livelihood more conducive to their "philosophy."

[sam sarrha]

2. THIS IS HOW IT WORKS.. they dont sign their oath of office, if caught resign, if prosecuted they

plead impersonating a judge/senator/congressman.. a misdemeanor.

Gingrich started a program to raise money for poor black kids to go to college.. he looted the fund to produce a series of taped lectures at a white racist extremist collage to brainwash students into NeoConism.. for profit.

i recall he committed at least 4 felonies, 15 years hard time each. all he had to do was resign, and promise to stay out of the media theater for a few years.. and he's back. the legislature was dominated by the ReThuglicans at the time.. out come was NO SURPRISE. BECAUSE THEY ARE ABOVE THE LAW

[kentuck]

3. Politicians, especially, should be punished..

if they break the laws.