Does it Matter that a Congressman Is a Liar?

Congressman Anthony Weiner, D-N.Y., has resigned.

So, what had he done that required him to do so? Sent inappropriate photos of himself to women? Demonstrated deplorable judgment? Lied?

Rep. Charlie Rangel, D-N.Y., himself censured for ethics violations by the House a year ago, purports to be nonplussed at all the fuss. He sees Mr. Weiner's conduct only as something of a sexual nature. Mr. Rangel describes himself as someone who "knows immoral sex when I hear it." Mr. Rangel also sees the bright side of things: "(Mr. Weiner) wasn't going with prostitutes; he wasn't going out with little boys; he wasn't going into men's' rooms." Rangel would have us believe that he doesn't "know why they're selecting Anthony;" and adds "he can be an effective congressman, if the press just gets ... his back." Rangel ostensibly appears to be blissfully unconcerned that Mr. Weiner might have demonstrated deplorable judgment, or that he has now confessed to being a willful liar.

So, is it important for a member of Congress to always act with integrity and good judgment? Fifty-two percent of the people polled in Weiner's district apparently don't think so.

Would they reach the same conclusion if Mr. Weiner were a judge?

Assume "Judge Weiner" enjoyed the best of health, was a brilliant, tireless worker and possessed a saintly judicial temperament. Would they vote for him, if they knew he was a persistent liar with deplorable judgment?

Years ago, a prominent local attorney told me that "a man has no business being a judge if he lacks integrity." I unreservedly agree. And I would also add that the bench is no place for a man with puerile judgment.

Judges with integrity decide cases on their merits. They don't take bribes. They recuse themselves if they feel they can't be fair to both sides. They don't listen to ex parte communications. They don't accept "gifts" from attorneys or litigants, and they don't make rulings calculated to advance their judicial careers. Judges with good judgment don't do things, on or off the bench, that they know will cause embarrassment to themselves, their families or to the judicial system.

Integrity is the public's guarantee that the judge will conscientiously apply the law, and exercise his best judgment to determine the facts so as to make the legally correct ruling.

But what about Congressmen? A judge without integrity harms or improperly benefits only the litigants who appear in his court. A congressman by voting for the passage of a law can harm -- or benefit -- millions.

On June 6, 2011, Weiner faced the press and admitted, "I lied."

Weiner said he panicked when Andrew Breitbart revealed a picture that Weiner had put on the Internet, so he made up a story about his account being hacked.

Only when the noose tightened, did Mr. Weiner admit, , "I have made terrible mistakes. ... I have not been honest. The picture was of me and I sent it... I lied because I was embarrassed."

Supporters argued that his sexual proclivities are private matters (even though the congressman published them on the Internet?). They've told us he's "smart," and suggest his brilliance makes him indispensable.

I'm sorry. I don't buy it. Either a man has integrity, or he doesn't. There is no middle ground. Or should we be satisfied with congressmen who lie only 50 percent of the time, or just when it is to his advantage to do so?

Equally bad, is Mr. Weiner's appalling lack of judgment. What he is really saying is that he used terrible judgment by making salacious suggestions online, and in putting pictures of himself on the Internet. Then when it looked like he would be embarrassed by what he did, he used more bad judgment and decided to lie to see if he could get away with it. Then he used even more bad judgment by lying to the press at a press conference. Then he used even more bad judgment by lying from his congressional office. And now he has been forced to admit that by his lies and bad judgment, he brought himself and his office of public trust into disrepute.

Before resigning, Mr. Weiner asked forgiveness. Implicit in that, is that was that he expected us to forget that he is a brazen liar, and a man of reprehensible judgment. But why should we? We had conclusive evidence that he would repeatedly lie to save his skin. We were asked to believe that in other matters he would act with integrity in the future. But why should be believe that a congressman who has demonstrated me-first ethics will put the public welfare first in all matter?

The real question is can the republic survive if we entrust it to politicians who lie and attempt to cover their lies whenever it is to their advantage to do so?


Posted Online: June 28, 2011, 5:00 a. m. - Quad-Cities Online.com

By John Donald O'Shea


Copyright 2011
John Donald O'Shea