Don't Cry For Me, Argentina

Mark Sanford, Governor of South Carolina, has admitted to an extramarital affair. As a member of the party of family values, he is about to learn anew the cost of being a hypocrite when claiming to be a conservative. Many conservatives bemoan the treatment of fallen brothers by both the left and right while “Lefties” are given a virtual pass. But we all need to understand that hypocrisy is a core value for liberals while being a despised vice for conservatives. This is just how the universe works and as good will eventually triumph over evil, this quintessential difference will lead to the inevitable triumph of conservatism over liberalism. I think this would be a good opportunity to illustrate via examples how liberals embrace hypocrisy and then explain why.

Example 1:

Nixon used his power as president to cover up a crime. The media reported it that way. One of the articles of impeachment accused him of lying to the American people. When Republicans were convinced the charges were true, they pushed him out of office.

Clinton used his power as president to fix the outcome of a court case in which he committed the underlying crime. He lied to the American people and to American courts. When Democrats were convinced that the charges were true, they urged him to stay on and pledged a dismissal in the Senate, regardless of the evidence. The abuse of power and usurpation of our court system was reported as a boondoggle over an obscure sex scandal.

Example 2:

Rush Limbaugh became addicted to pain medication prescribed to him by doctors. The liberal press excoriated him, calling for him to be fired. An overzealous prosecutor illegally released his medical records to the public. Charges have yet to be brought in as many years but assumption of his guilt for any number of crimes is asserted.

Congressman Patrick Kennedy of RI used drugs and alcohol before driving his car to the Congressional parking lot and crashing. The liberal press pitied him and heralded his courage for checking into rehab. No charges were filed or even considered. His medical records remain private. He retains his seat in Congress.

Example 3:

President G. W. Bush exercised his prerogative to fire federal attorneys en masse, a practice done by predecessors. The press was apoplectic and accused the president of covering up some unspecified crime.

President Obama fired an inspector general after the inspector finds evidence of wrong-doing on the part of one of Obama’s friends and cronies. The firing was done in violation of Federal law which requires a thirty-day notice and a reason given to Congress. Ironically, this legislation was one of very few that Senator Obama participated in and voted for. This illegal act to thwart justice is barely a footnote in the press where Obama’s late pejorative assertions are treated as fact above challenge.

Liberals view life as “us versus them”. Conservatives are more principle driven; you only get to be one of us if you abide by our rules. Liberals have rules too but they are more tolerant of their own breaking them if it’s an established liberal star. For example, polluting the planet with green house gases is bad, but if you are Al Gore, it’s ok to release tons of CO2 in every trip of his private jets. It’s bad to make derogatory comments about handicapped or minority people, but Obama got away with such a comment about Special Olympians after a light apology. VP Biden (aka Gaffe Machine) bemoaned that convenience stores were overrun with Indians and at a NAACP meeting in a hotel joked that he had never seen so many black people in a hotel not wearing maid uniforms. People just shake their head and say “Oh, that’s just Joe!” Don Imus, however, found out what happens when you are not a big enough star. For liberals, as long as you are one of us, we go to the mat for you (Just ask Bill).

Conservatives are less supportive of those that break their moral code. They are more interested in agendas than personalities. Because of the “us versus them” mentality, liberals come quickly to bash the latest conservative fallen hero but better tolerate inaction with their own agendas. For example, the civil rights movement has become a cottage industry where the complaints of the last 50 years drone on unchanging with ne’er a criticism of the so-called “leaders.” But the bloated spending and growth in the Federal government under Bush and a Republican Congress have angered conservatives (and independents who generally lean conservative), causing the power to shift in the last election in a “throw-out-the-bums” fit. Even conservative criticism of the massive Obama spending is rebutted by liberals by claiming it started under Bush (and it did). It is as if they expect us to defend Bush’s fiscal mismanagement with the fervor they defended Clinton's sins. But conservatives do not defend their own when their own stray from the path and liberals are often disappointed when their accusation is rejoined with a “So?” And while right-leaning Independents approved of Obama by about 60 percent in January, his overall inaction on issues they care about has dropped the approval to 40 percent in five months. Liberals, however, still hang adoringly on his promises, hoping he will deliver someday.

Mr. Sanford, I loved you at one point and I feel sorry for the tragedy you have caused for your family but if conservatives do not laud your admission with the fanfare liberals give the latest Hollywood starlet or Kennedy going off to rehab, please understand we have a country to save and our precious trust will have to be re-earned. As for the liberal wolves beating down your door, you heard them howling before you left the country. Yes, don’t cry for me Argentina and Mr. Sanford, I won’t be crying for you.