It’s not a partisan thing: Neither indicted Trump nor Menendez belongs in public office | Opinion
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Our democracy is supposed to be the envy of the world, but something has gone awry. Elected officials are being indicted for serious crimes — and not only staying in office, but proudly running for re-election, too.
And, in the case of disgraced ex-President Donald Trump, with voters’ endorsement.
Is the default setting for election to public office these days having no standards at all?
The prospect of crass and self-centered Trump — indicted by grand juries four times on 91 felony counts in criminal cases in Washington, New York, Florida, and Georgia — returning to the White House is terrifying.
What kind of a leader praises, from the comfort and safety of West Palm Beach, the terrorist group Hezbollah and attacks Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu while he’s dealing with the aftermath of one the worst times in Israel’s history?
Trump’s an incurable narcissist interested only in self-service and seeking the shelter from prison that the presidency would provide him.
Trump already has shown us how much damage he can do. Yet, he pretty much has the GOP nomination in his pocket.
Why would anyone even consider an ex-president who tried to subvert democracy and praises dictators and terrorists the right candidate for re-election?
Perhaps because, in the view of Americans, corruption isn’t a partisan thing.
“They’re all corrupt,” is the excuse I most often hear from jaded voters.
Sen. Robert “Bob” Menendez, of New Jersey, a once-respected Democrat, is handing over evidence of bipartisan corruption to the skeptics.
Democrats could’ve rolled their eyes at Republicans and say, at least we run our corrupt politicians out of office. They could point as an example to Sen. Al Franken, forced to resign for appearing to touch a sleeping woman’s breasts in a photograph in the midst of the #MeToo movement.
But Menendez is still resisting calls for his resignation after being indicted on federal bribery charges, allegations that escalated this week with the filing of an additional charge of conspiring to act as a foreign agent for Egypt.
Evidence is mounting: Piles of cash and gold collected from a federal raid of his house, and now, photos of him and his wife Nadine in the company of Egyptian officials at a restaurant and his office.
Menendez should resign, but all the Washington veteran has done is temporarily step down from the chairmanship of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee. He’s up for re-election next year, and one can only hope he has enough vergüenza to sit out the 2024 election and not pull a Trump.
No wonder Franken reports feeling “absolutely” regretful about resigning over allegations of unwanted touching.
Santos & Co.
Accepting corruption seems so trendy these days. U.S. Rep. and fraud-magnet George Santos of New York might be a more minor character in terms of political pedigree, but shouldn’t be forgotten.
He, who pulled the miracle of landing a $700-a-night room in the South Beach W for a mere $199.99 and reported it as a campaign expense.
He, who lied to voters about basic biographical facts, such as his mother being a 9/11 survivor who died of an illness related to the terrorist act.
A superseding indictment to previous allegations of financial crimes against Santos was just made public. It alleges that the congressman stole family members’ identities and used donors’ credit cards to spend thousands of dollars on personal items, such as a new wardrobe.
He needed to be booted from Congress — like, yesterday.
From D.C. to Miami
The poverty of ethics in Washington has its own manifestation at the local level in Florida. Crooks in public office have always existed. But in post-Trump world, no doubt they’re feeling more empowered than ever to misbehave.
If the highest office-holder in the land can be found guilty of sexual assault and lead the score board, if he can incite an attack on the U.S. Capitol by egging on crazed masses, then why can’t politicians in “Trump Country” Florida demand pay-to-play salaries be a part of their compensation package?
Think Republican Miami Mayor Francis Suarez, under investigation over undisclosed gifts and collecting a salary from people with city business, not batting an eyelash as he both ran for the GOP presidential nomination and said he supported Trump.
Think Republican City Commissioner Alex Diaz de la Portilla, arrested last month on a host of corruption charges, including bribery and money laundering.
It wouldn’t be if voters were not complicit, their blind eyes giving politicians partisan consent.
Or, if wealthy donors didn’t have out-sized power and budgets to purchase elections. Their ability to fund a candidate widened after the 2010 Citizens Supreme Court ruling, opening the doors wider to dark money in political campaigns.
Where has voter outrage gone? I suspect it’s being entertained to death by streaming services, TikTok videos and messenger chats. Maybe that’s where good-government advocates should go to ask for resignations.
Voters need to be more discerning of who gets a seat at the political table.
The names Trump, Menendez and Santos don’t belong on any ballot.
