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Ethical Relativism, Again

By Mike Surrusco
Posted on Mon Oct 24, 2005 at 09:56:32 AM EST

More on the ever-diminishing ethical standards in Washington. Ms. Kay Bailey Hutchison:
On Sunday, Republicans appeared to be preparing to blunt the impact of any charges. Senator Kay Bailey Hutchison, Republican of Texas, speaking on the NBC news program "Meet the Press," compared the leak investigation with the case of Martha Stewart and her stock sale, "where they couldn't find a crime and they indict on something that she said about something that wasn't a crime."

Ms. Hutchison said she hoped "that if there is going to be an indictment that says something happened, that it is an indictment on a crime and not some perjury technicality where they couldn't indict on the crime and so they go to something just to show that their two years of investigation was not a waste of time and taxpayer dollars."

This is the "he-didn't-kill-anybody" defense. Such is the new low for ethical standards in our nation's capitol. Last I checked, perjury was a crime. For that matter, obstruction of justice is also a crime. Right? I'd have to say this line of defense smacks of desperation.

Update: Contrast Ms. Hutchison's feelings about perjury here and here.



Tags: Government Accountability (all tags)


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Ethical Relativism, Again :: 5 Comments

Hypocritical Politicians


I would bet that Sen. Hutchinson took a different view of perjury when the subject was whether to impeach Pres. Clinton for perjuring in his deposition to Special prosecutor Kenneth Starr.

Once again, the rule of law becomes a matter of convenience for the party in control.

by Blagfly on Mon Oct 24, 2005 at 10:14:29 AM EST


Re: Senator Hutchinson on perjury

On February 12, 1999:
The edifice of American jurisprudence rests on the foundation of the due process of law. The mortar in that foundation is the oath. Those who seek to obstruct justice weaken that foundation, and those who violate the oath would tear the whole structure down.

Every day, thousands of citizens in thousands of courtrooms across America are sworn in as jurors, as grand jurors, as witnesses, as defendants. On those oaths rest the due process of law upon which all of our other rights are based.

The oath is how we defend ourselves against those who would subvert our system by breaking our laws. There are Americans in jail today because they violated that oath. Others have prevailed at the bar of justice because of that oath.

What would we be telling Americans--and those worldwide who see in America what they can only hope for in their own countries--if the Senate of the United States were to conclude: The President lied under oath as an element of a scheme to obstruct the due process of law, but we chose to look the other way?

I cannot make that choice. I cannot look away. I vote "Guilty" on Article I, Perjury. I vote "Guilty" on Article II, Obstruction of Justice.
Via Air America.

by Murshed Zaheed on Mon Oct 24, 2005 at 10:38:00 AM EST
[ Parent ]


Re: Senator Hutchinson on perjury


Thank you Murshed.  I wonder if any reporters have asked Sen. Hutchinson to rectify her recent comments with those she made regarding the Clinton matter?

by Blagfly on Mon Oct 24, 2005 at 07:22:11 PM EST
[ Parent ]


Re: Senator Hutchinson on perjury

Apparently Senator Hutchinson's office issued a clarification yesterday afternoon on what she meant in her Sunday talk show appearance, but I haven't seen it.

by Murshed Zaheed on Tue Oct 25, 2005 at 08:27:44 AM EST
[ Parent ]


Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison's own ethical problems

Kay Bailey Hutchison's comments aren't surprising... she has a huge looming ethical problem of her own.

On November 10, the Senate Aviation Committee (on which Sen. Hutchison sits) will hold a hearing on the Wright Amendment.  

This is a crazy, one-of-a-kind law which has effectively granted American Airlines a monopoly on long-haul air travel out of North Texas.  One of the primary beneficiaries of the Wright Amendment is DFW Airport, which is the only airport in the DFW metropolitan area allowed to provide long-haul commercial air service.

Sen. Hutchison's husband is the DFW Airport Board's attorney, and has been for nearly 40 years.  By some accounts, he's earned millions off of his position.  Now, his wife, Sen. Hutchison has indicated that she will aggressively work during the Committee meeting to defend her husband's client, the DFW Airport Board.

"Coincidentally," the DFW Airport Board's law firm, Vinson & Elkins (the same guys who got tangled up in the Enron scandal), are Sen. Hutchison's largest source of campaign contributions.

Looks like a pretty clear violation of Chapter 37 of the Standing Rules of the Senate, but... sigh... what do I know, I'm just an ordinary citizen.

by True Texan on Sun Nov 06, 2005 at 03:46:52 PM EST


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