Ethics, politics and 'real world'

The ethics deficit in politics is maddening and frustrating in many ways, but mostly in the sense that it is simply allowed to continue.

The situations surrounding Rep. Charlie Rangel, D-N.Y., Rep. Maxine Waters, R-Calif., and former Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich are just the latest reminders of the culture of entitlement and corruption that just never seems to be scrubbed from the political arena. All three are Democrats, but make no mistake, there have been plenty of Republicans who have gone astray.

Rangel has been charged by a congressional panel with 13 ethics violations. He has been accused of using his office to solicit lobbyist donations for a policy center named after him; of using a rent-subsidized apartment for his campaign office; for failing to report $600,000 in income; and for failing to pay taxes on rental income from properties he owns in the Caribbean.

Waters faces congressional ethics charges for using her position on the House Financial Services Committee to direct $12 million in taxpayer funds to a bank in which her husband owns stock.

In both cases, it’s unlikely that either will get more than a reprimand from the ethics committee. Both insist they are innocent of any intentional wrongdoing, but if they are found guilty, it seems they should lose their jobs. That’s what would happen to someone who committed similar offenses in the “real world.” But Congress isn’t the real world, partly because there is the unfortunate existence of something called “safe seats.”

Rangel has held his safe seat for nearly 40 years and Waters has held hers for about 20 years. They are considered invincible because their constituents simply won’t vote them out, no matter what.

That is absurd. Americans voters have a responsibility to hold their elected officials accountable, no matter what political stripes they wear. We like to think that Montana voters do just that.

Recall that former Republican Sen. Conrad Burns was knocked out of office a few years ago, and it’s likely that his affiliations with convicted influence peddler Jack Abramoff played a part in his loss, even though Burns was never indicted or convicted of any wrongdoing.

At least in the case of Gov. Blagojevich, the law has stepped in to administer some accountability. He was impeached and removed from office, and a jury is considering corruption charges that the former governor attempted to sell President Barack Obama’s former Senate seat, because he had the authority to appoint Obama’s replacement.

It is unreal that this stuff actually happens in America today. One way or another, all tainted politicians should be tossed from office.