The Daily Background
| Republican Double-standards
by Arlen Parsa
Okay, you already know how I feel about Rep William Jefferson (D-La, almost certainly corrupt), and you know that I don’t hold back on expressing these feelings (he’s a son of a bitch). But I don’t hold any illusions as to not pre-judging him; due to the overwhelming and consistent evidence that has been leaked to, confirmed to, and officially announced to the press.
Many Republicans and conservative commentators, on the other hand, seem to yap on and on about the importance of being innocent until proven guilty. But only in the cases that they find it convenient to. For instance, it’s very convenient to yap on and on about the importance of not “prejudging” Tom DeLay (despite the absolutely overwhelming evidence against him). Or the importance of not “prejudging” the investigation of the Haditha Massacre (despite the absolutely overwhelming evidence that a war crime has been committed).
It’s funny that this noble spirit of waiting for the courts to pass judgement doesn’t extend to Democratic congressman William Jefferson of Louisiana who has not been even charged yet. Now, I know that he’s almost certainly a crook, and I know that he’s almost certainly going to be indicted and convicted sooner or later (preferably sooner), and I say as much. But I don’t pretend as though I have a lofty ethic of not “prejudging” court cases.
Jefferson was caught red handed. DeLay has been caught red-handed too. And there certainly appears to be overwhelming evidence that Marines at Haditha committed a terrible, terrible act. Why can’t conservative commentators and Republicans admit this? It’s a case of hypocrisy and selective judgement.
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