Saturday, December 05, 2009

BaucusGate

What an autumn! First we get ClimateGate. Now, we get BaucusGate. Yep, another Democrat paragon of virtue, Montana's Senator Max Baucus, has been carrying on an affair while not yet officially divorced. Now, had he been a Republican, that would be sufficient to have motivated the Senate to expel him. But being a Democrat is never having to say you're sorry.

Lest you think I'm being prudish, there's more to this story. Unfortunately, there are a lot more individuals besides Baucus who run fast and loose with their marital vows. But the crux of the matter here is that while his mistress continued to work for him, presumably at taxpayer expense, he actually had the chutzpah to nominate her for a U.S. attorney position earlier this year.

Given the media's lack of interest in scandals that don't involve Republicans, it's not surprising that this minor little conflict-of-interest situation--which would have gotten you and me fired at work--it's not surprising that it took so long to come out.

Will there now be calls for a Senate investigation of Baucus? Will there now be cries from the Democrat leadership for him to step down in disgrace?

You gotta be kiddin'.

Hat tip to Volokh Conspiracy which has the whole skinny on this. Including, amazingly, a quote from the NYT that actually mentions Baucus' political party. Copy editors must've been asleep.

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