How can you show that you’re insincere about apologizing, issue your apologize via Twitter

A bank robber wouldn’t expect to be pardoned if he or she returned the stolen money to its original owner, but Virginia’s Gov. Bob McDonnell hopes that the people of Virginia will forgive him for accepting what is clearly an unethical amount of political ‘gifts’ in terms of the cumulative monetary value of all of the gifts and donations combined.

McDonnell announced (via Twitter!) on Tuesday that he and his wife, Maureen McDonnell, have repaid over $120,000 to Star Scientific CEO Jonnie Williams Sr. and also gave an apology for the entire controversy surrounding Williams and his prolific gift giving.

McDonnell said this: “I am deeply sorry for the embarrassment certain members of my family and I brought upon my beloved Virginia and her citizens. I want you to know that I broke no laws and that I am committed to regaining your sacred trust and confidence. I hope today’s action is another step toward that end.” Now on to the next controversy, objectivizing Virginia as a woman!

Setting aside the question of how and where McDonnell managed to scrape together $120,000 out of thin air, and also putting aside the insincerity of a Twitter apology for the time being, it isn’t enough as a career politician to put the hens back in the coop once they’ve already been kidnapped and whisked away without the farmer’s knowledge. There has to be some reckoning, right?

The vast majority of us know right from wrong and we also have enough good judgment to know that taking over $100,000 from a political donor who is the CEO of a business vying for political brownie-points could possibly be seen as an ethical conflict, or even an act spiraling into a legal infraction. If I gave you over $100,00 in political gifts, wouldn’t you be a little suspicious about my motives or concerned that others might perceive this excessive spending in the wrong way?

It could be that Gov. McDonnell was so high on cloud nine and so used to being showered with political gifts that Mr. Williams’ gift-giving was just another day at the office. I can’t think of how else to explain this amount in political gifts and McDonnell’s other questionable actions.

I’d say this regardless of the individual’s political affiliation: I can forgive you, but it’s time to turn in the badge, sheriff, the town don’t trust ya’ to keep the peace anymore!