The age-old conundrum. The question always remains. Whether to get down in the mud or not. How do those who play by the rules compete with those who refuse to adhere to rules when those constraints no longer suit their needs. If money greases the wheels of politics, then hypocrisy is surely the fuel that propels our political discourse.
Hypocrisy is endemic to both Parties, but apparently to vastly varying degree. And since it also appears that Republicans have curiously shown great immunity to both self-reflection and political repercussion, and whereas Democrats have conversely retained the ability to feel shame and regret, where does that leave us? And what does one do when their charges of smarmy hypocrisy fall on deaf ears, or worse, the vilifications are laughed off and brandished like battle stars?
Few would argue that it’s not tempting to let loose and give ‘em hell just the way one has suffered through it. There’s an even greater incentive not to be dismissed as whining and ineffective losers. Or worse, to actually lose. Realpolitik always beckons as a sumptuous, seductive, satisfying feast. The cost, of course, is that if Democrats should ever decide to rise from the muck to reclaim the moral high ground, which they are inevitably wont to do, the stench will remain. When the bar is lowered by all participants it will never be raised again.
No, the answer lies in the good fight. The clean fight. The smart fight. The Amy Coney Barret hearings present a fine example. Aside from mounting a greater, more pointed assault on the Republican nominee’s threat to Obamacare, there was not much more that could have been accomplished. Certainly, nothing to prevent Barrett’s appointment.
As you ably discuss, the judicial appointment is the point, the result more than justifying the hypocritical means. Even prolonged Senatorial outrage as to the existential threat to Roe would have been at best a temporary balm providing only a satisfying venting, unnecessary to define the stakes of which everyone is aware, and likely had the inverse effect of stoking the fire and voting zeal of the Trump base.
Counterintuitive as it may seem, the Democratic Party must continue the struggle as it has. Charges of political weakness and naivete be damned. If a party wants to lead, then an ethical struggle, albeit a politically agile, intelligent and hard-nosed campaign as one can muster, must be the uncompromised standard even when faced with unforgivable deceit by a bastardized party in its’ death throes. We must gladly assume the burden of decency and honesty and fairness, then wear it like a battle star.
