Holy Corruption!
Jack Abramoff decided to sing about his Republican (also Democratic) corrupters-in-arms in Congress and the Executive. Sensing a calamity, Republican leaders of this Republican-saturated government are telling all of us that Democrats are just as corrupt and that Republicans will clean up the system. Sure, both Democrats and Republicans seeking power are subject to the human failing of falling into the tentacles of temptation. But with Republicans, especially the super-religious, who are now ascendant in the party, they believe they are doing the right thing. If you're doing "God's will," why worry about man-made law? Holy corruption!
According to news reports, Abramoff agreed to cooperate with the government and tell all he knows about his lobbying activities and the legislators he worked with - corrupted with legalized bribery. Up to about 200 legislators have taken money from him. Many are busy returning the money or giving it to charity. A boon to charity.
Republicans claim there are a few bad apples and that they would make the system more ethical. So Frist appoints Rick Santorum to come up with ethical guidelines. Santorum, this is the guy in the Senate that is in charge, together with DeLay in the House, of the K-Street Project. DeLay and Santorum have made K Street lobbyists a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Republican Party. DeLay and Santorum are in thick with Abramoff. Santorum is going to spout ethics?
Many people, not only Republicans, say that all politicians are crooked. I don't think so. I'm sure there are a few honest politicians. But all of them, Democrat and Republican alike, are seeking power. If the hunger for power becomes strong enough, a politician is likely to do almost anything - including selling his vote - to achieve it. This is unfortunate, but it does happen. We guard against this by constantly watching what politicians do and then voting them out when they misbehave. We did this when Republican Gingrich got into power. We are ready to do this again.
I've described what may happen with ordinary politicians who may go astray. But the current Republican Party has been taken over by the super-religious. These religious extremists see the world in black and white, good and evil, right and wrong, "you're with us or with the terrorists." And they KNOW they are right because they are following "God's will."
When you KNOW you are right and you are following "God's will," why should you be deterred by laws written by human lawmakers? Forget about them. You are on a divine mission. Though Congress may not agree with you, you insist upon using both torture and warrantless wire tapping to fight terrorism. Though ordinary people frown on it, you build the K Street Project because you KNOW that God wishes Republican dominance in American government. If you must conspire with a crook like Abramoff in order to accomplish this worthy task, you KNOW you are doing the right thing.
Notice, I am an equal-opportunity basher. Abramoff is an Orthodox Jew. Holy Moses! Bush talks to God, who told him that he should make the Middle East democratic. Holy Jesus! Tom DeLay and Rick Santorum have instructed us not to allow a brain-dead Schiavo to die. Holy Jesus! again. As many as 200 legislators may be implicated in what promises to be one of the greatest scandals in our history. Holy cow!
Don't get me wrong. I want every single person to be allowed to pursue his or her religious life, unfettered by any person or any law. But I'm against anyone imposing his religious ideas on anyone else. I'm against a faith-based government that may lead to faith-based disasters. Holy corruption!
