It's time to drop tired, empty idea
Finally, someone has addressed the elephant in the room.
Last weekend Sen. Lindsey Graham veered off his talking points on NBC's "Meet the Press," where he appeared with former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney, to talk about Gov. Mark Sanford's extramarital affair. When asked if Republicans could still claim to be the party of "family values" (whatever those are), Romney spewed the usual political gibberish.
"I don't think there's any question but that we aspire to the highest standards of ethical conduct and that we aspire to values that'll make America stronger," Romney said.
Graham called him on that tripe, as well he should.
"I don't believe the Democrats are for dysfunctional families," Graham said. "We don't have any ownership. I think President Obama, quite frankly, has been one of the better role models in the entire country for the idea of being a good parent, a good father. So this idea that ... we're for good families and Democrats are silent (is) not true."
It's about time someone said it.
Good marketing
You have to hand it to the Republican Party. They've been serving the moral superiority Kool-Aid for 15 years, and people have gulped it down like mindless drones.
Listen, "family values" is not a statement of fact; it is a marketing slogan, kind of like "We do chicken right." The Republicans deserve credit for masterful public relations, but Kentucky Fried Chicken can probably back up its commercials better.
Every Republican who has feigned outrage at the considerable moral failings of Bill Clinton, John Edwards, Gary Hart and Ted Kennedy has had to eat crow when John Ensign, Mark Foley, Randy "Duke" Cunningham and Newt Gingrich lurked onto the scene. When talking heads are reduced to arguing whether it is worse to solicit men in a airport bathroom or cheat on your cancer-stricken wife, we have descended into the realm of the absurd.
Truth is, Republicans are no worse or better than Democrats. There are good and bad people in both parties. But some Republicans keep claiming to be the arbiters of morality, or just God's gift.
It's not the sex, you see, it's the hypocrisy.
A smidgen of gall
It's a wonder this myth has lingered as long as it has. Even the zombies should have seen the light during the Clinton impeachment. The GOP claimed the investigation was about lying under oath, then stuck Fabio on the cover of the Starr Report.
At the same time the House was trying to lynch Clinton, Gingrich was having his own affair. When he stepped down, Rep. Bob Livingston was tapped to replace him as speaker, but — whoops — he was stepping out on his wife too. That doesn't make what Clinton did any better, but drop the holier-than-thou act. If that's not hypocrisy, nothing is.
So let's just retire the "family values" stuff. Anyone who says their political party is morally superior to another is completely, totally full of it.
Reach Brian Hicks at 937-5561 or bhicks@postandcourier.com. To read previous columns, go to postandcourier.com/hicks/.
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Comments
martin (anonymous) says...
AMEN.
July 3, 2009 at 7:08 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
pullmyfinger (anonymous) says...
Again Brian Hicks makes me want to puke!!!
What a a one sided jerk. He would fit in better writing for the far left trash... online Republican haters... Huffington Post or maybe our own "City Newspaper"
I think we all see enough hypocrisy day in and day out. We know it when we see or hear it. Maybe we get real tired of it hearing and reading it again and again from low down shameless journalist like Brian Hicks.
How about reporting news in a unbiased manner for refreshing change.
July 3, 2009 at 7:22 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
Pinckney (anonymous) says...
Excellent points. Boy. Are you gonna catch %^&$.
July 3, 2009 at 7:30 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
postman01 (anonymous) says...
Brian, I have to very reluctant agree with you and I am a committed Libertarian/Conservative.
Morals are not a function of one's politics. One's politics are a function, to an extent, of one's morals.
Both parties are hopelessly corrupted by greed and power. Sad but true.
July 3, 2009 at 7:40 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
CompostandWourier (anonymous) says...
Wow no slant here! It is about the principles espoused by the parties not the acts of individual indescretions of idiots like Sanford. The republican party policies promote personal responsibility and charity while the democrats believe in the government providing and distributing everything. We still hold the moral high ground on issues.
July 3, 2009 at 7:42 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
LuckyDay (anonymous) says...
Right on-Go Brian!!! There are so many idiots who believe, deep in their hearts, that God is a republican. Make no mistake; the republiCON party has pandered to that mindset. Brian, I'm sure that you will catch hell from those who can't stand to confront their narrow bias. Thanks for standing up in a sea of hypocrisy.
July 3, 2009 at 7:49 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
realamerican (anonymous) says...
The big difference I can see between republican and democratic sex scandals is that the republican men seem to prefer other men or boys (Foley).
After Bush and Cheney the republican party has little left to suggest any "christian" or moral superiority. They have flaunted the laws of both god and man. Those who have overlooked these failings in order to promote republicanism have aligned themselves with evil.
Until Bush and Cheney are behind bars the USA will have zero claim to any sort of moral superiority. It is like Hicks says, just a slogan. Freedom and democracy my behind, it's all about the money.
July 3, 2009 at 8:04 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
Jagolet (anonymous) says...
There are so many politicians, D's & R's, that portray this type of behavior, Sanford is one of those who 'just got caught'. This behavior goes way back - look at the history of the political unfaithful. Hey if Clinton can get away with it and still serve as President of the US why is the public pouncing on Sanford?
July 3, 2009 at 8:33 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
uscfan1976 (anonymous) says...
I agree 100% with Brian Hicks. Well done. It is about time someone said it!
July 3, 2009 at 8:52 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
dhalfen (anonymous) says...
Republicans: we do chicken wrong! No, wait, we do "family values" wrong, at least in the case of Governor Sanford, who is just looking weirder and weirder with each new revelation. (Which is why he apparently shut his clam.) Politicians -- at least those who garner the largest media spotlights -- seem to be involved with a lot of "dysfunction," whether in private or public life -- this must come with the territory. General rule: let's just hope they can do their jobs competently, so don't look to them for role models (or chicken).
July 3, 2009 at 8:55 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
uscfan1976 (anonymous) says...
I have just one thing to say to pull my finger, actually 2 things. Get a life and a new username. So original.
July 3, 2009 at 9 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
WSM (anonymous) says...
Columnists are not journalists. He can print opinion, its okay.
At least for now.
As far as Graham, he is an excellent Democratic senator, so even if he has an "R" by his name.
All this does is make me yearn for something wholly absent in the US Constitution and present in another: Term Lmimits, a supermajority of votes to pass law and taxation. Yep, the Confederate Constitution is looking better and better every day.
Something to remember: Power corrupts, and the Founding Fathers understood that. What we have is something that the voting public is largely responsible for. People vote parties largely bacause parties stand for certain things. It can't encompass everything. Case in point, I see abortion as nothing less than something out of Dr. Megele's laboratory, but am wholly against this "international free trade" nonsense (there is NO international "free trade," we're cutting off our own nose to spite our face)! I am definitely for prosecuting this war to nothing less that a victory (I happen to be fighting it on occasion), but am wholly unsatified with the ways both parties have handed it. The Republicans started out right, but caved in to political pressure from the Democrats who...in all frankness...want to make war on the US Armed Services. The Republicans then began to make war on the American people! I am for lawful immigration, but am wholly against surrendering my nation's soveriegnty to a bunch of gate-crashers that Mexico is purging their own country of!
Now, what party is going to encompass that?
Definitely not "D" or "R." Besides, people vote like the Clemson V. Carolina droolers carry on. Coke v. New Coke. Never mind we're talking about the adulteration of the Constitution, here!
To all of the politicians: That is precisely why I am a Modern Whig. All of those pi$$ed-off Soldiers, Marines, Sailors, and Airmen both parties screwed like a blow up doll are starting a new party, jack. And you ain't invited!
July 3, 2009 at 10:18 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
beefsaver (anonymous) says...
Republicans can be for fiscal conservatism, rule of law, and voluntary charity and Democrats can be for fiscal liberalism, offender rehabilitation, and public programs... two sides of three coins. No where in there is anything that demands one party "loves families" and one doesn't. Our politicians can no longer hide their skeletons as in days of old; information travels too quickly and there is too much money to be made by the scoop.
As long as we have type-A, power-hungry people drawn into politics we will have politicians being unfaithful to their spouses. Just feel good if that is the worst of their transgressions. Neither party relishes it, neither party celebrates it, but one party pretends that it never happens. Lindsay Graham was right: that needs to stop.
July 3, 2009 at 10:20 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
CNSYD (anonymous) says...
When I saw the headline for Hicks' latest I thought he was going to say he was the tired, empty idea and the P&C was going to dump him. Well no such luck.
July 3, 2009 at 10:26 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
zekemire (anonymous) says...
Your opinion is about as intelligent as the democrat spew that they are for the little man, the working poor, greater equality! Fact is dems have and are pushing every socialist program they can bring to mind! THAT MY FRIEND IS AN ANVIL AROUND THE NECK OF ALL POOR, MINORITIES AND THE MIDDLE CLASS! Welfare, medicare, medicaid, adc, wic, affirmative action, all the various civil rights and other provisions designed to make everyone equal has done just the opposite! The Declaration of Independence, the Federalist Papers and the Constitution guarantee that evryone is seen as an equal in the eyes of the law, ONLY! You cannot make everyone equal in intelligence, desire to succeed, wealth or other areas! In fact, trying to do so only seperates them more!
July 3, 2009 at 10:32 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
Liberals_Are_Maroons (anonymous) says...
Congratulations, you've done the Pravda & Comrade proud today, moron.
But you do seem to have looked into a mirror there at the end of your own spew: "Anyone who says their political party is morally superior to another is completely, totally full of it."
Indeed. Indeed.
July 3, 2009 at 10:40 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
LuckyDay (anonymous) says...
zekemire>
You spew republicon bile like a master. Sanfraud should use you as a spokesman.
July 3, 2009 at 11:44 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
UrGatorbait (anonymous) says...
Trying to run on "family" values when the human condition is anything but predictable is a recipe for disaster. Gotta love politicians of either flavor telling us how to live our lives.
Feel better zeke?
July 3, 2009 at 11:48 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
scgaffer2u (anonymous) says...
Very well done. Thanks.
July 3, 2009 at 12:14 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
postman01 (anonymous) says...
I don't understand why realamerican and CNSYD are incapable of understanding that Brian's opinion piece actually transcends politics and is factually accurate.
Luckyday posts like trailer trash.
WSM, excellent post and right on. My only further observation is that being a modern whig is operationally useless. Why not look into some kind of political affiliation--such as the Libertarian or Constitutional parties or maybe contributing to forming one that is yet unnamed.
I am a student of history and I believe you may be too. You should know from history that the Whigs are dead and buried. Learning from them is a very good idea and this includes understanding their mistakes. Being a whig dooms you to operational irrelevance in the politics of today and tomorrow. WE (meaning other Americans that think like you) need you here OPERATIONALLY in the 21st century. Just a serious suggestion.
July 3, 2009 at 7:48 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
CNSYD (anonymous) says...
postman01, I see you have emerged from your cave. What is all this "Brian" and "Mark" stuff anyway? Who, besides yourself, are you trying to impress? You act like they are your old school pals or you are their campaign manager. Hicks jumps position as the wind blows and tries to act like he has always been there. He is not quite but is almost as phony as Sanfraud.
July 3, 2009 at 9:36 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
angelesc (anonymous) says...
It's easy to be cynical. I don't know Graham's standards or basis for his socalled "better role models in the entire country for the idea of being a good parent, a good father" but the fact is Romney's parenting/fathering style has been well exemplified in his five upstanding children. As regards Pres. Obama's, well, time will tell.
July 4, 2009 at 12:09 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
signseeker17 (anonymous) says...
Excellent colunm, Mr. Hicks, thoughful and insightful.
July 4, 2009 at 3:31 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
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