"Candidate" comes from the same word meaning "white", or "pure", implying that candidates are motivated only by their concern for the welfare of the state. Indeed, the ancient Greeks had their government candidates wear white as a symbol of the nature of the position.
Our newest test of Psychological Homogeneity is the esteemed Representative Weiner. We are being asked to believe that a trashy, lying lowlife can, nonetheless, carry on the people's business without difficulty or conflict. And why not? The chairman of Ways and Means is a tax cheat, the head of treasury doesn't pay taxes at all, a former presidential candidate is an accused money launderer and one of the most powerful men in the house has a boyfriend who used to run a prostitution ring out of their house. Moreover, the esteemed Mr. Weiner has shown proclivities of greatness. When he was exposed his response was identical to that of a former president--he ruthlessly counterattacked and tried to discredit and defame the accuser and continued relentlessly to try to destroy him until the proverbial DNA was revealed.
One wonders if there is a link between character and outrage. We tolerate the most outrageous behavior. Syria is on a human rights committee, Saudi Arabia is a member of a women's rights organization. Now Weiner. At some point we must rise above irony.
Our candidates are pedophiles, adulterers, frauds, liars, and, if the company is predictive, probably much worse. Our sign of candidacy is not a white cloak, it is an ankle bracelet.
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