In a city park, over the weekend, this conversation probably occurred:

Geoffery: Did you read that Paul Krugman post?  The one about hypocrisy?

Dillon: No!  What did that old miser have to say?

Geoffery: He noticed that we seem to have different feelings about our leaders’ indiscretions depending on their political party.

Dillon: Can’t be.  I don’t believe him.  But then, I never believe him.

Geoffery: But Dillon, it seems pretty true!  Let me read it to you:

There’s a big difference between the left and the right in such matters, one that I don’t fully understand, although I’m trying. Here’s how it goes: if a liberal politician is caught behaving badly — enriching himself while preaching the need to help the poor, or just in general showing himself less than admirable by having an affair, visiting call girls, whatever — his career is over.

But if a conservative politician who preaches stern traditional morality is caught engaging in actions that are at odds with what he preaches — buying sex, taking wide stances in restrooms, or, in this case, stiffing his family even while preaching family values — he may well ride right through the scandal. Witness what’s going on now with Herman Cain.

Dillon: But see, these are just allegations against Hermain Cain because he’s the frontrunner.  If he weren’t, this wouldn’t be a big deal.

Geoffery: That is precisely his point!

Dillon: He said no such thing!

Geoffery: He’s pointing out how easy it is for conservatives to reason away the problem; that the scandal rarely seems to damage his character.

Dillon: That’s bulls— and you know it!  Remember Clinton!  He was dodging allegations long before he was a candidate!

Geoffery: But look at how much he had to prove about himself.  He showed true remorse for his actions, has gotten help, and put himself on a completely different track.  He was forgiven by liberals only after a tawdry trial and supreme acts of contrition!  For some of his supporters, it seems as if Herman Cain’s behavior is a badge of honor.

Dillon: Well, both sides are corrupt.

Geoffery: Yes, but that isn’t his point.  His point is that liberals deal with the ethical hypocrisy by destroying the person’s career while conservatives, who we are reminded over and over again are “values voters,” seem to overlook that hypocrisy come election season.

Dillon: I don’t buy it.

Geoofery: I didn’t think you would.

 

Related articles

• Genuine Hypocrisy, And Attitudes Thereto (krugman.blogs.nytimes.com)
• Rep. Joe Walsh, who owes $100,000 in child support, receives ‘Pro-Family’ Award from Family Research Council (americablog.com)