Double-Standard Watch

Well, I was going to label it "hypocrisy watch" and then I thought: "That's exactly what's wrong with extremist American politics, a deadly combination of cynicism and absolutism that cries 'Hypocrite!' in every instance that someone finds grey between black and white, or makes an exception to a rule for the greater good." Plus, somewhere buried in there is a pun on 'standard time.'

So, who has best exemplified the double-standard this week? We'll let you vote on the winner; here are this week's candidates:

• (a) The 75th Secretary of the Treasury, Tim Geithner, who is in charge of administering the IRS while having "accidentally" forgotten to pay $35,000 in self-employment taxes.

• (b) The Pope, for graciously de-excommunicating an irregularly ordained bishop , Richard Williamson, who also happens to be a rabidly paranoid, anti-semitic Englishman who believes most of the holocaust was faked. Former Hilter Youth member, Pope Benedict, is rapidly backpedaling from Williamson's statements, but the damage seems to already be done.

• (c) The Obama Administration for naming William J. Lynn, until a few months ago a lobbyist for major defense contractor Raytheon, as deputy defense secretary -- just a few days after announcing that former lobbyists would not be allowed to government agencies they have lobbied in the past two years. True, Lynn will be subjected to a year of ethics reviews...

• (d) The congressional GOP for claiming to be the party of Family Values while objecting to SCHIP, which would help provide health insurance for 4 million previously uninsured children.
  

Look for the poll in the top right hand corner and cast your vote!