Republican Hypocrisy 101

Since I'm preparing for classes, my mind is on how to teach. If I were teaching a class on Republican Hypocrisy, which would have to be a multi-semester intensive seminar, I'd start with John Ensign on the first day.

Nevada Sen. John Ensign — who voted as a congressman to impeach President Clinton for lying under oath about his extramarital affair — said Wednesday he saw no reason to resign in light of his own affair, because he had not violated any laws.

The Republican senator told the Associated Press he realized some would take issue with his vote in light of the revelations about his own personal life, but defended his position, saying he believed Clinton had committed perjury.

"But if you look at the times … I was in the House of Representatives but basically was sitting in judgment of the president evaluating the case," he said. "I was basically a jurist at that point. I thought there was a violation of a felony."

Ensign said he had not "done anything legally wrong," while "President Clinton stood right before the American people and he lied to the American people. You remember that famous day he lied to the American people, plus the fact I thought he committed perjury. That's why I voted for the articles of impeachment."

Sure John.

Republican Hypocrisy, Exhibit 38,910,382

Republican leaders in New York are begging Vito Fossella to run for reelection to the House in his Staten Island district.

For those of you who don't remember, earlier this year Fossella was busted for drunk driving and was exposed for having a second family on the side.

But of course, actual social and sexual behavior doesn't matter to Republicans, despite everything they say. It's about which side of the fence you are on. So Eliot Spitzer has to resign in embarrassment. Bill Clinton is impeached. But Newt Gingrich is a Republican hero. David Vitter is still in the Senate (and he also purchased the services of prostitutes, the same thing Spitzer had to resign for).

Fossella rightfully decided not to run for reelection. But Republicans are about to lose the seat, which they have held for 30 years. So they've decided to throw the narrow thread of decency they were barely holding on to into the wind and beg Fossella to run.

No doubt, traditional family values would be a core part of his platform.