Tony Blankley of The Washington Times follows up on his previous editorial explaining why Hastert should go:

And if it is unfair that Democratic voters often give their politicians a pass on such matters (e.g. former Massachusetts Democratic congressman Gerry Studds got re-elected by his liberal voters after a similar incident was made public), that is just the price we have to pay in this wicked world for holding fast to our values and principles. If virtue were profitable, the whole world would be virtuous.
How in the world will Republicans be able to champion our values in the future if we weasel and excuse the cover-up of such conduct in one of our own? We have more to protect than the next election, we have our historic reputation among more than half the country for our principles.
It has been excruciating watching Republicans on television in the last few days grimly and ineffectively trying to defend Mr. Hastert. Better to take a stand on principle, and elect a new speaker for the last three months (the retiring Henry Hyde, a man of principle who is held in esteem on both sides of the aisle, would be ideal). We may or may not take a political hit, but better to go to the electorate with our heads held high for doing the right thing, than to slink around like a pack of phonies.

Here, here! I would much prefer to do the right thing no matter what the political cost. Republicans should stand for something, and not be reduced to trying to spin something like this. The Democrats are politicizing this issue as we speak. Now is the time to put the kibosh on that and stand for what is right.

Posted by Ryan S. on Wednesday, October 04, 2006 at 10:23 AM | Permalink |