Letter: American people demand worst from politicians

Friday, July 27, 2001 | 9:53 a.m.

Far be it from me to agree with anything Brian Greenspun says, (especially his hissy fits against the Review-Journal), but his July 22 column about Rep. Gary Condit just happens to be right.

The facts are not yet out, and for people to offer endless speculations just has the effect of reversing the presumption of innocence.

But as for the notion that Condit's constituents will vote him out as the price for his deception, I wouldn't be so sure. The voters in Washington, D.C., did re-elect Marion Barry mayor, after all. The D.C. political class did defend the indefensible conduct of Bill Clinton, after all (even when the rumors did turn out to be true, and even after he perjured himself on TV).

And this is all because people have bought into the left-wing notion that private greed is more evil than a public servant who lies to the taxpayers.

Fact is, the system is supposed to be self-correcting. If unethical people had real reason to think they'd be punished for abusing the public trust, they wouldn't run for office. What's really odd is that many of the same people who say "it's none of the public's business" are the same ones who eat up the tabloid garbage offering ever more lurid rumors about what went on behind the scenes of Condit's career.

Ever since the Nixon administration, the public has indulged in a vicious cycle of not only expecting the worst from politicians, but actually demanding it. If Condit doesn't get re-elected, I may believe that has changed. But until then, these scandals really say more about the American voters than the politicians involved.

JAMES GILLEN