Ethics reform in Washington... or, not?

[unixronin]

Every four or eight years a new president arrives in town, declares his determination to cleanse a dirty process and invariably winds up trying to reconcile the clear ideals of electioneering with the muddy business of governing.  Mr. Obama on his first day in office imposed perhaps the toughest ethics rules of any president in modern times, and since then he and his advisers have been trying to explain why they do not cover this case or that case.

“This is a big problem for Obama, especially because it was such a major, major promise,” said Melanie Sloan, executive director of Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington.  “He harped on it, time after time, and he created a sense of expectation around the country.  This is exactly why people are skeptical of politicians, because change we can believe in is not the same thing as business as usual.”

And so in these opening days of the administration, the Obama team finds itself being criticized by bloggers on the left and the right, mocked by television comics and questioned by reporters about whether Mr. Obama is really changing the way Washington works or just changing which political party works it.

[...]  “Is this really the message he wants to convey to voters in just his first month in office, a message that it’s O.K. to break or skirt the law just as long as you’re a good guy with a special skill set?” asked Andy Ostroy, a blogger writing on The Huffington Post, a liberal Web site.

Meet the new boss
Same as the old boss ...?

It's easy to talk the talk, but ultimately it doesn't mean much if you can't, or won't, walk the walk.

Comments

[ithildae.livejournal.com]

In American politics, the graft is institutionalized and audited. There are many ways built into the system for payback to a supporter. Work outside those lines in public politics, and you are done. One of the many reasons that most people shun politics (and politicians.) For the talent and ability most of them have, they get paid practically nothing.

If you want to set up new, stricter rules, fine do so. It is not really too much to ask that you live by the new rules, you made them.

I am willing to overlook these kind of snafu's for the next eight months or more. Our President may not have bitten off more than he can chew, but it is more than he has ever bitten off before, by a lot! Being President is hard. Watch, but let it be for a while. This kind of stuff is just distraction. There is far more important stuff in the works right now.