Why the Scandal at Justice is a Scandal

I keep hearing Republicans moaning that the uproar over the firings of U.S. Attorneys by the Bush Administration is just a trumped up political witch hunt because Presidents, including Bill Clinton, have routinely replaced all 93 attorneys without so much as a whimper from anyone.

This sound bite is typical of why I think the GOP has lost its sense of integrity. I know, and they know, that the move by the Bush Administration was NOT typical. Wholesale replacements of U.S. Attorneys occur upon a change of administration and NOT during an administration.

Even that wouldn’t have been such a big deal, (I mean, let’s face it, sometimes some people just need to be shown the door), if it weren’t for the apparent motive behind the firings. In other words, the issue isn’t that they were fired, the issue is WHY they were fired and, as a corollary, why some of the folks chosen to replace them were chosen.

The criteria appear to have been loyalty to the Bush Administration and willingness to use the office to benefit the Republican Party rather than competence and the ability to perform the duties of the office. Yes the U.S. Attorneys are technically political appointees, but they are also expected to be competent prosecutors and individuals that, once appointed, will operate in an independent, bipartisan manner and according to the law. Their oath of office is to uphold the Constitution of the United States and not one of loyalty to a particular administration, political party or individual.

Allow me to make a very strong statement. There is no ethical difference between the Bush Administration’s attempt to use the power of the U.S. Attorney’s office to influence the outcome of the political process and Adolf Hitler’s use of his Brown Shirts to intimidate voters and influence the outcome of the political process. One action is subtle and hidden and the other crass and open, but ethically they are both a betrayal of the electorate and the democratic process.

Talk about hitting a new low. I never thought I would be seriously comparing the actions of an American President to the actions of Adolf Hitler.

I had to shake my head at the pundits on Fox News laughing at Jimmy Carter calling the Bush Administration the worst in history and implying that he shouldn’t talk as his four years were an unmitigated disaster of their own. But there is a difference. There is a very BIG difference. Carter’s Administration may have been one of the most incompetent administrations in history, but no one could ever accuse Carter of lying or willfully trying to subvert the political process. In other words, no one ever questioned Carter’s integrity or his motives. With the Bush Administration on the other hand, it’s not just simple incompetence. It’s lying, underhandedness and deceit as well as incompetence!

They have repeatedly lied to the American people for political advantage. They have started a war for no apparent reason other than Georgie wanted to play War President. They have twisted and subverted the civil rights of Americans and others and they have consciously sacrificed the democratic principles upon which this country was founded for political gain. And on top of all that, they’re incompetent as hell! Just ask the folks that had the misfortune to be in the path of Katrina.

And that, young padawan, is WHY this is the worst administration in history.