On Casting Stones - Democratic Underground

H2O Man

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Tue Jun-07-11 07:31 AM
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On Casting Stones

In 2008, a District Attorney from my area ran for Congress. We live in a heavily republican region in upstate New York, where it is almost impossible for even a person of my friend's stature to beat the typical republican slime. I remember in the final two weeks, at campaign headquarters, when Mike was thinking the campaign was going so well, that he was actually almost tied with the opposition.

I told him that he would win by the exact margin of the number of voters my two daughters, pictured above with him, spoke to during their door-to-door efforts to get out the vote. On election day, his wife pointed out that my prediction was pretty accurate. Then, off to Washington they went.

My daughters and I did not hesitate to use our direct line to DC. There were times that his staff welcomed our calls, and a few times when they politely disagreed with the opinions that I expressed. When I had opportunity to speak directly to Mike, the number one thing I remember is his saying how corrupt the system in Washington is.

When it came time for his re-election bid, it was evident that he wasn't sure he wanted to remain in a system he knew was rotten to the core. One afternoon, while my wife, daughters, and I had lunch with Mike and his wife, I remember saying that I thought he should at least try speaking out about what he saw, more in the style of another young Congressman from our state, Anthony Weiner. My impression was that he did not appreciate that suggestion. He went on to lose a close contest, decided by a margin of less than he had won by two years earlier.

It's a sick system that keeps an honest man from telling the truth. I suspect that a lot of citizens, no matter what their political affiliation, would appreciate a DA-style representative in the House, speaking out about the absolute corruption that has undermined our federal system of government. I thought that Weiner showed the potential to over-turn some tables in the DC temples.

I have mixed feelings now. There are some character issues, at least in the area of owning up to one's deeds, rather than allowing supporters to defend you against charges – serious or not – that you know to be accurate. At the same time, I'm not particularly interested in anyone else's sex life. The numerous instances of “family values” republicans being caught up in a web of hypocrisy are only of interest in that they want to hammer others for the very things they do in secret.

Most people outside of the porn industry would likely be a tad bit uncomfortable having their sex lives placed on the table for public consumption. I can remember that when I was a young, unmarried man, I sometimes gave in to the temptations of the flesh. Chief Waterman told me that, if one is going to take on any role of “leadership” (for lack of a better word), that there were were basic laws of behavior. Included among them were that, other than one's girlfriend/wife, virtually all women had to be treated as one's sisters. It wasn't exactly what I wanted to hear at the time, of course, but I always accepted Paul's teachings and instructions.

Today, I can see how sick the Washington style of “leadership” is, compared to the organic leadership of traditional society. I'm not about to cast stones at this fellow, Anthony Weiner. Instead, I'd suggest that we keep those stones, and use them to build the foundations for a different type of society.

Peace,
H2O Man