Letter: Reid puts hypocrisy on display at ringside

Saturday, June 3, 2006 | 7:40 a.m.

Sen. Harry Reid's latest error in judgment, that of taking free tickets from the Nevada State Athletic Commission, and there have been so many others lately, reeks of hypocrisy despite his defensive posture in stating that "I represent the state of Nevada ... the Nevada Athletic Commission is part of the state of Nevada." Ergo, his argument continued that anything good for the state athletic commission is good for the state of Nevada. Our senator is the poster child for the double standard enjoyed by Congress.

Interestingly, Congress, including the likes of Mr. Reid, does not find the double standard it sets for itself, as opposed to the rules that physicians, such as myself, must live under, to be an issue. I represent my patients. Generally, what allows me to grow in my knowledge of the profession, helps my patients.

But heaven forbid if a drug company offers me an expense-paid weekend to a nearby state for a medical seminar. Heaven forbid they invite me to a local dinner meeting, of course without my wife, whom I rarely saw during the first 30 years of our marriage, due to days on end in the hospital and private practice. That would be a violation of federal law.

But, on the other hand, Reid can enjoy expensive ringside fight tickets, Rep. Bob Ney of Ohio can enjoy a lavish golfing trip to Scotland, paid for by lobbyist Jack Abramoff, and Rep. William Jefferson of New Orleans can ... well, let's just say that I store frozen foods in my freezer, not stacks of $100 bills.

Wasn't it just a short time ago when Sen. Harry Reid took great joy in declaring that the Republican Party was corrupted to its very core? Well, senator, people who live in glass houses perhaps shouldn't ...

Jack Kane, Las Vegas