In the world of well, reality, there are mistakes and then
there are intentional lapses of memory for the sake of one’s personal agenda.
On Wednesday, Virginia Attorney General Ken Cuccinelli tried
to explain why he initially failed to disclose gifts from Star Scientific
CEO, Jonnie Williams Sr., claiming in essence that he’s not perfect. What a
revelation.
Cuccinelli told NBC News, “I’m not running for office as
somebody who doesn’t make mistakes. I certainly do make them and one thing
voters can count on is when I do, I’ll ‘fess up to them’.” If Virginians have
been taught anything about Cuccinelli, it’s that he’ll ‘fess up’ when he’s been
caught red-handed acting unethically.
How often have you (or would you) forget about being given
thousands of dollars?
Could it be that in the world of Virginia politics, these
kinds of ‘gifts’ are the rule rather than the exception for Republican
politicians?
I still remember Gov. Bob McDonnell playing golf at a club I
used to work at, a club whose membership costs upwards of $200,000. McDonnell
was playing as someone’s guest, with his family, and without the member who
sponsored his visit to the club. Some kind of friend, huh? Do you think the
member was allowing Gov. McDonnell to play a round under his sponsorship out of
the kindness of his heart?
Whether they’re Republicans, Democrats, Independents, or
whatever political designation floats your boat, political gifts like these
must end in Virginia. Our political system cannot maintain fairness amongst the
different socioeconomic classes if millionaires essentially buy the attention
and policy favor of Politicians A-Z.
You don’t need to be a political scientist to figure this
one out, wherever the money goes, so too will the politician unless there are
incentives to do otherwise or barriers to halt their efforts. As long as
Virginia chooses neither, the Commonwealth also chooses a lopsided political
system that will eventually undermine itself with excessive corruption and
unconcern with the lives of average Virginians. I give you a great
example: Ken Cuccinelli.
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