As we head into a new year and a fresh beginning, I thought it might be fitting to reflect on the past year, and gain a sense of our accomplishments and our failures as a country. After reflecting for a few minutes, I decided that the year 2003 might appropriately be entitled "the year of Republican hypocrisy." This title is slightly misleading, because it implies that there have been years that Republicans were not hypocritical. Let's be honest, the Republican Party, as we know it today, is practically founded upon hypocrisy.
If I were to document every instance of Republican hypocrisy over the course of the last 365 days, I would surely run out of energy and resources. Rather, I intend to focus on three high-profile cases, where Republican hypocrisy in undeniable. The first example requires the reader to think back only a few months. Arnold Schwarzenegger was recently elected governor of the fifth largest economy in the world, the state of California. The circus-like atmosphere that accompanied the election revealed a number of disturbing things about candidate Schwarzenegger's past. The most conspicuous was Arnold's propensity to grope his female co-workers. Now, keep in mind that in committing these egregious acts, Arnold was using his wealth and power to satisfy his desire for sex, and to exert control over others. Remember also that just a few years ago, President Clinton was almost removed from office for exactly the same type of action.
One would think, then, that Republicans, from their perch atop the proverbial "moral high ground" would be appalled that such a disgusting figure would be running for office under their banner. Well, unfortunately, this logic seemed to escape most Republicans, who adopted the attitude that what Arnold does in his personal life should not affect his pursuit of elected office. That is exactly the opposite of the argument that was used against President Clinton. The only difference between the two scenarios is the fact that Clinton was a Democrat, and Arnold was a Republican. The prodigious conservative propaganda machine ate up Clinton, while Arnold received the machine's assistance. Ladies and Gentlemen, I give you the first example of blatant Republican hypocrisy.
The second example of Republican hypocrisy comes in the form of Mr. Bill Bennett. Mr. Bennett is a bible thumping, card-carrying member of the radical Christian base that makes up a substantial part of the right wing in America. Mr. Bennett has written such books as "The Book of Virtues," in which he admonishes the American public for its slavish decline away from morality. He absolutely condemns those guilty of the sins of excess, such as prostitution and gambling. Well, for once I agree with Bill Bennett; these actions are generally immoral and wrong. So the liberals, conservatives, and everyone else seem to agree on this premise, that sins of excess are immoral. Now I generally have not taken to the pulpit to denounce the people who partake of these extravagancies, but in my own humble way I avoid gambling and prostitution (if possible). One would think that a man such as Bill Bennett would be completely and utterly disturbed at the thought of even entering a casino, but in yet another demonstration that Republican hypocrisy knows no bounds, Mr. Bill Bennett has spent millions of dollars to pay his gambling debts that have accumulated over the years. So this man is happy to stand at his pulpit and denounce the rest of humanity as sinful, but at the same time indulges in a multimillion-dollar gambling addiction. I give you example number two of barefaced Republican hypocrisy.
The third example is one over which I am tempted to gloat. Rush Limbaugh, the hateful conservative talk show host, was recently exposed as a drug addict. Drug problems do not usually evoke joyful feelings in me, but Rush is a special case. He has devoted his life to criticizing anyone and everyone who does not share in his political philosophy. He has criticized fringe groups, those who are suffering, and anyone who does not have the power to stand up to him. Here is what this detestable human being had to say about drug addicts before his own drug problem was exposed:
"And so if people are violating the law by doing drugs, they ought to be accused and they ought to be convicted and they ought to be sent up."
On Friday, October 10, Rush admitted to his listening audience, who refer to themselves as ditto-heads, that, for a number of years, he has been addicted to OxyContin, a prescription painkiller. This pie-in-the-sky moralist has spent years abusing those people who cannot help themselves, and now he is irrevocably placed in the same ranks. I feel no sympathy for Rush Limbaugh; I would also like to remind the reader that Dante reserved the eighth circle of lower hell for hypocrites. With that in mind, I present to you the third—and by no means final—example of Republican hypocrisy this year.
Ladies and Gentlemen, this time of reflection should cause us all to yearn for the year 2004, particularly the month of November. It is then that we will have a chance to toss King George out of the Oval Office and send a message to all Republicans, that those of us who love our country will stand for this bald-faced hypocrisy no longer.