"Politicians of both parties stray. The Democrats actually seem to punish their strayers more harshly."
So said -- with a straight face no less! -- the New York Times columnist Paul Krugman on Sunday's "This Week."
Even more laughable, for at least the third time in so many days, former Clinton advisor, and current "This Week" host, George Stephanopoulos agreed.
Make sure there isn't any food or drink in your mouth before you proceed (video available here, relevant section at 18:10):
GEORGE STEPHANOPOULOS, HOST: One of the things we didn’t see -- now Kathleen, Paul, says this was shocking. You write about this a little bit on your blog this week and almost suggested that this shouldn’t be shocking, given the record of a lot of Republicans here.
PAUL KRUGMAN, NEW YORK TIMES: Politicians of both parties stray. The Democrats actually seem to punish their strayers more harshly.
STEPHANOPOULOS: More recently, that’s been true.
KRUGMAN: Yes. At least recently, that’s been true.
Well, George and Paul, how do you define "recently"?
Furthermore, how do you define "straying"?
After all, as NewsBusters' Brad Wilmouth pointed out Thursday:
[T]here are some obvious differences in the cases of people like former New York Governor Eliot Spitzer, ex-New Jersey Governor James McGreevey and Republicans such as Senator John Ensign. For example, Spitzer used campaign funds to stay in hotels where he met with prostitutes. Former Detroit Mayor Kwame Kilpatrick committed numerous illegal acts and ultimately received a 120 day prison term for a sex scandal that also included felony counts of perjury and obstruction of justice.
And, Mcgreevey resigned in 2004 under threats of a sexual harassment lawsuit by his gay lover who also happened to be his homeland security advisor.
As such, comparing Sanford's transgressions to those of Spitzer, McGreevey, and Kilpatrick is absurd.
Yet, as Wilmouth noted, there's an even larger hypocrisy being exhibited by Stephanopoulos:
The fact that Stephanopoulos ignored the elephant in the room, the example of his former boss at the White House, is astounding.
Yes it is.
—Noel Sheppard is the Associate Editor of NewsBusters. Follow him at Facebook and Twitter.
Editor at Large
Comments Policy
What a Risible Canard
June 28, 2009 - 14:49 ET by allanfDemocrats have no standards. Everything is permitted unless the current dialectic says its forbidden. Jesse Jackson was punished, for what, a weekend?
Good point about
June 28, 2009 - 15:08 ET by bigtimerGood point about Jackson...plus of course we still have Edwards out there...and good heaven's we can never forget the Kennedy's and ALL of their scandals to this day...Clinton's still just fine....blah blah blah...
As non-affairs we still have Jefferson whose trial is going on and NOT A WORD of coverage, Rangel is still head of the Ways&Means Committee....Zilch to Dodd or Reid with his land dealings, DiFi and Pelosi both with behind the scenes back-dealings, profit making schemes....nothing to Barney regarding Fred and Fan...Wexler in Florida who never really lived there....on and on you could go...
Doubling down on stupid is not a particularly good idea. ~Andrew Breitbart
I cannot believe Steffie is
June 28, 2009 - 16:09 ET by motherbeltI cannot believe Steffie is still trying to make that ridiculous point credible. I said in the last posting on this...him of all people!!
I'm surprised his face doesn't crack when he tries to pull it off! Does he really think people are falling for this B as in B, S as in S???
But for the second week in a row, that's his story and he's stickin' to it!
I didn't think it was physically possible, but this both sucks and blows. -Bart Simpson
Falling for BS?
June 28, 2009 - 18:10 ET by allanfWell they voted for Obama ...
Amidst all the problems with Democratic Congressmen, the Justice Department did find enough to indict Ted Stevens.
That they did, in little or
June 28, 2009 - 18:24 ET by bigtimerThat they did, in little or no time, he has charges dropped, the prosecutors in big trouble, and we lost a Senate seat, yet Jefferson's problems started before that, he is just now going to trial, and not a word...NONE.
Doubling down on stupid is not a particularly good idea. ~Andrew Breitbart
Want to Scare the Democrats ... ?
June 28, 2009 - 18:55 ET by allanfWhen the Republican's regain power, propse a "waste cutting" law that allows civil service employees to be discharged. The infrastructure of many Federal agencies appears to be overwhelmingly Democratic.
To the victor goes the bureaucrats?
...and name a Czar to do
June 28, 2009 - 19:07 ET by bigtimer...and name a Czar to do just that allan.
I'm telling ya....I've never seen anything like what is happening to us/this country at lightening speed.
Btw...I've wished we could rid ourselves of a few Fed. agencies myself for a long time...for all the good wishes do.
Instead more have grown, more created....and now we have a SCM, a walks on water messiah and Czars....and the puppet-master(s) behind it all.
Lovely
Doubling down on stupid is not a particularly good idea. ~Andrew Breitbart
No more Czars. Cringe. We
June 28, 2009 - 19:24 ET by danboNo more Czars. Cringe. We have too many czars.
Maybe we should rename the czars, disciples.
Limited Disclosure: I used to belong to the Sierra Club untill they went crazier. Worse of all, I was bribed by Exxon with free New Orleans Saints glasses with fill ups in the 70's.
danbo... Disciples fits
June 28, 2009 - 19:31 ET by bigtimerdanbo...
Disciples fits now doesn't it...either way, it's sickening what is happening with The One and his crew...power-grabbing destructive ba$t*rd$ all.
Doubling down on stupid is not a particularly good idea. ~Andrew Breitbart
Dictators
June 29, 2009 - 07:14 ET by Red JeepCzars = Dictators. Energy Dictator, Car Dictator etc.
Good evening BT
June 28, 2009 - 19:13 ET by cocodrieThe local "reverends" are busy trying to get together a recall on Joseph Cao even though you cannot recall a congressman. Rep Cao is the wrong kind of minority.
Jesus Loves You so much He died for you
Hi coco... I've heard a
June 28, 2009 - 19:25 ET by bigtimerHi coco...
I've heard a little bit about that, not much though, one thing you said that is oh so true...he's just not the right minority.
Funny how dems work that way and nary is said in the SCM.
Doubling down on stupid is not a particularly good idea. ~Andrew Breitbart
Recall Him
June 29, 2009 - 05:48 ET by allanfHe has been in office for six months. Freshman Congressmen don't set policy, they just vote on bills. What could he possibly have done to so offend?
So what was any Kennedys' punishment?
June 28, 2009 - 20:12 ET by reelman46I guess you get a democrat pass after making about 9 CYA phone calls while a woman drowns in a car in less than 6 feet of water...PLEASE...they lie 24-7...its just genetic with them...
Did I mention JFK was the 1st serial adulterer? Yeah, the guy enshrined as great, classy, visionary and pass be a barf bag. Klinton, the 30 year serial adulterer soils 4ever the White House and the Office...PLEASE.
Doug Schexnayder, Ph.D. (theconservativecrawfish)
I saw this today...I
June 28, 2009 - 14:56 ET by bigtimerI saw this today...I laughed, I also clicked the channel for a bit...just not worth the absolute spin the dems have been and still are doing with their attempts at trying to remake the repub party into them....I heard the same sentiments elsewhere today...in fact all over the place.
At least the political shows today mainly were about what is important, Nationalizing Health Care, Iran, and of course the Cap and Trade pile of sh!t bill as Boehner so aptly stated, and of course they had to include Sanford ...
...at least they weren't all about Jacko...which is what I partially feared.
Doubling down on stupid is not a particularly good idea. ~Andrew Breitbart
What did Stephanopoulos do with the Clinton women...
June 28, 2009 - 18:24 ET by ThalpyWhat did Stephanopoulos do with the Clinton women after he was dispatched by Hillary to "deal" with them, bt?
Lol Thalpy...don't
June 28, 2009 - 19:33 ET by bigtimerLol Thalpy...don't know...maybe good ol' Sidney Blumenthal will write a book and tell us all.
Doubling down on stupid is not a particularly good idea. ~Andrew Breitbart
Economics, history,
June 28, 2009 - 14:57 ET by fitzfongEconomics, history, literature, statistics...Paul Krugman is the Renaissance Man of Ignorance. A true man of letters...unfortunately, the letters are always F.
"I spent a lot of money on booze, birds and fast cars. The rest I just squandered." -George Best
I wonder
June 28, 2009 - 15:04 ET by doug1950what color the sky is in their world? Snakes would have trouble getting under the bar set for Liberals. They don't punish their members. They celebrate them and their behavior. They circle the wagons and then have a tailgate party (pun intended), elect the offender to some kind of Chairmanship positions. These are the same people who had to drag Kennedy the Younger out of rehab where he was making potholders and leather wallets so he could vote on the Cap and Trade Bill. I hope someone else drove him back to Center and did not let him take the wheel just for old times sake.
"Here, Uncle Teddy, you drive." "Take the long route to stay off them bridges".
Uh huh...
June 28, 2009 - 15:05 ET by ToaYeah, the idol status attained by Bill Clinton, Barney Frank, Gerry Studds, Ted Kennedy, etc. are mute testimony of the heavy correctional hand the D.N.C. lays onto its misbehaving members.
And wasn't there a
June 28, 2009 - 16:04 ET by motherbeltAnd wasn't there a congressman who had an affair with a staffer that started when she was only 16 or 17?
I can't remember the name, but if it was a Democrat, the quick burying of the story would explain that....
I didn't think it was physically possible, but this both sucks and blows. -Bart Simpson
HMMMM
June 28, 2009 - 15:57 ET by rick007If he wasn't already deceased JFK would die laughing at this idiot.
Projection...
June 28, 2009 - 15:58 ET by FuzzlenutterI am absolutely astounded that lowlifes like this can continually say things that are so obviously and completely false on national TV and actually get away with it. I mean, these public displays of fellatio (Paul and George, don't forget your knee pads!) for Obama from these so-called "journalists" should be making the American public sick to their stomachs. But does it? Unfortunately, the answer is "No".
Welcome to Obama La-La-Land...
" don't forget your knee
June 28, 2009 - 16:02 ET by danbo" don't forget your knee pads" We know that's not included in the democRATic dictionary under the word sex. So it doesn't count.
Limited Disclosure: I used to belong to the Sierra Club untill they went crazier. Worse of all, I was bribed by Exxon with free New Orleans Saints glasses with fill ups in the 70's.
This all depends of what
June 28, 2009 - 15:59 ET by danboThis all depends of what your definition of the word is, is. We know the word sex in the democratic dictionary doesn't include Lewinski's. And apparently not sexual predator.
Limited Disclosure: I used to belong to the Sierra Club untill they went crazier. Worse of all, I was bribed by Exxon with free New Orleans Saints glasses with fill ups in the 70's.
Up is down
June 28, 2009 - 16:06 ET by Free StinkerDid Stephanopolis also report that the sun is not warm, water is not wet, ice is not cold, and Vodka makes you sober?
So right you are
June 28, 2009 - 16:23 ET by LetFreedomRingI feel like everything that is going on is a bad episode of the Twilight Zone.
I want more
June 28, 2009 - 17:54 ET by BlueCat57Any chance Noel or someone else has done a detailed comparison of how each party treats its "strayers"? Maybe we could do it as part of this thread.
My impression is that the Republicans immediately denounce the behavior as wrong, the Democrats denounce the getting caught as wrong.
Republicans ask at a minimum that the offenders resign their leadership roles, the Demcrats dig in and might even promote the offender.
Republicans make it hard for offenders to regain power (evidenced by Sen. Stephans, Newt, etc.), Democrats offer up powerful, lucrative jobs (Clinton, Stephanopolis, et al).
Sounds like a good book, or Master's Thesis. Any publishers want to advance me a few million to write the book?
You better ask for more money.....
June 28, 2009 - 21:05 ET by doug1950"a few million" aint worth what it used to be.
I almost watched "THIS WEEK MISSES David Brinkley"
June 28, 2009 - 21:26 ET by 10 2 oI haven't seen that show since Brinkley. I don't know how George Will can take it. The pay must be great. I miss hearing Will, do read him every week and have heard him speak.
I almost watched this morning. Then said "NO".
Did Stephie bring up the Gov of NJ? Was he a D? Did the MSM tell us that? And his lover made 6 figures? And was not qualified for the position(understatement).
Krugman's opinions have always been worthless to adult conversation.
A good source of info
June 28, 2009 - 22:11 ET by b4m4wyI don't know what is all the big fuss about Stephanopoulos. He strikes me as a good source of info. I don't know another 'reporter' that could be wrong every time. All I have to do is listen to him to hear a story, believe the exact opposite and I have the truth. Now isn't that easy?!?!?!?!!!
Government's first duty is to protect the people, not run their lives.
Ronald Reagan
Maybe these partiosan media
June 29, 2009 - 09:11 ET by NL207Maybe these partisan media hacks would do well to remember Gerry Studds, Barney Frank and Bill Clinton. What punishment, if any, did the Democrats administer to these fornicators?
Senator Schumer. Criminal. Censured for diverting public funds into his congressional campaign. He is now a Senator. What punishment did the Democrats visit upon him beyond a slap on the wrist?
Corruption!
June 29, 2009 - 11:07 ET by iveseenitallThe list of dirty Democrats goes on and on and on. The list of dirty Republicans is about one-quarter as long. Of course, if there were a list of those not "caught in the act" it might be longer than both these lists. Term limits would clean the house. But the bums own all the vacuums, brooms, and mops. Sad.
NEVER,NEVER trust a "liberal"
Yeah, right. They get
June 29, 2009 - 11:09 ET by mattmYeah, right. They get scolded and told not to do it again (nudge, nudge,wink, wink, say no more).
All republicans ever do is lose their careers. No biggie.
All you need to say is....
June 29, 2009 - 11:47 ET by sam12663Ted Kennedy. This buffoon of a lowlife is actually responsible for the death of another human being. Not being able to keep your schlong in your pants is a crime against humanity, but I guess manslaughter is forgiveable. Liberal bias at its best.
President Obama is nothing more than a lying empty suit; a Hollywood
style special effects smoke and mirrors show that has shown itself to
be a total fraud.
WAKE UP AMERICA! SAVE OUR CONSTITUTION!
Hypocrisy? Of course not!
June 29, 2009 - 20:29 ET by wjneillThe Palindrone parades her pregnant unwed teenage daughter before America, knowing that said daughter was having unprotected sex in HER house, and calls such conduct FAMILY VALUES. How sweet. You betcha wink wink!
-
Newt has an affair with a young staffer while simultaneously castigating PRES Clinton for having an affair of sorts with Ms. Lewinsky. Of course, the then-current Mrs. Newt is in a hospital bed with cancer but, hey, Newt's got those GOP FAMILY VALUES.
-
SEN Vitter cavorts with a prostitute while wearing diapers and calls it FAMILY VALUES.
-
GOV Sanford goes to Argentina for a fling while having previously touted with great ferocity against Bill Clinton's lack of FAMILY VALUES and VIRTUE.
-
And then there's REP Randy "Duke" Cunningham who displayed wonderful GOP FAMILY VALUES by selling his office to multiple high bidders.
-
Is there a problem with a VALUES plank in the GOP policy platform? Or is this just an exercise in gallows politics by the GOP?
-
Ask Rush. He knows. After he recovers from his Oxycontin high.
wj... Blah blah
June 29, 2009 - 21:08 ET by bigtimerwj...
Blah blah blah...trolling again I see.
Troll on.
Doubling down on stupid is not a particularly good idea. ~Andrew Breitbart
blah blah blah
June 29, 2009 - 21:42 ET by wjneillBigtimer:
Who is Andrew Breitbart? What is the implication of "Doubling down on stupid is not a particularly good idea"?
Care to refute, with factual citations, the comments I tendered instead of "blah blah blah . . . trolling again I see"?
How about showing some intellectual self-reliance and competency as well as knowledge of the subject matter?
wj... Shut
June 29, 2009 - 21:55 ET by bigtimerwj...
Shut up.
Troll
Doubling down on stupid is not a particularly good idea. ~Andrew Breitbart
Shut . . .
June 29, 2009 - 23:01 ET by wjneillTroll?
So, is that the extent of your intellectual fortitude, you ability to interact with the world beyond your grasp of reality?
My cat leaves fecal matter in her litter box that has greater social and intellectual potential than you will ever fantasize about, smalltimer.
You've done a proverbial bang-up job of demonstrating just where you'd fit into North Korean or Iranian society. The political mores in those nations are better suited to what you and your fellow travelers expect.
Doubling down on stupid is
June 29, 2009 - 23:13 ET by bigtimerDoubling down on stupid is not a particularly good idea. ~Andrew Breitbart
Doubling down on stupid . . .
June 29, 2009 - 23:26 ET by wjneillmeans that mr. smalltime doesn't have the competence or knowledge to explain the implications of the statement of the mysterious Andrew Breitbart whom he quotes robotically.
What an embarrassment this must be to this Breitbart fellow if he really exists.
Small minds just don't have expansive capabilities. Whatta waste of perfectly good time, space, and oxygen. Must be a Palindrone.
Doubling down on stupid is
June 29, 2009 - 23:39 ET by bigtimerDoubling down on stupid is not a particularly good idea. ~Andrew Breitbart
Alas....must once again school the KosKids
June 29, 2009 - 23:53 ET by BlondeIt really is too bad that you must post here, leave insignificant (and what you perceive to be "provacative" leavings....Sarah Palin, yet again?).....and then make up silly stuff like you haven't a clue whom Mr. Brietbart is.
Since you asked....Andrew Brietbart.....and yes, KosKid, he does exist.
And I'm sure he'd be pleased at the use of his quote here, too.
Silly liberal.....do we have to teach you everything?
I hope he fails, too.
The dkos troll isn't even
June 30, 2009 - 00:05 ET by bigtimerThe dkos troll isn't even worth the link....never has been.
Thought about it...decided why waste the time.
They are all so typical...nothing like being obvious.
Soon as one goes 'poof' another appears...they never quit...amusing little creatures though at times.
Doubling down on stupid is not a particularly good idea. ~Andrew Breitbart
I know
June 30, 2009 - 00:09 ET by BlondeI just can't stand insufferable rudeness.
I hope he fails, too.
Be nice to wave a magic
June 30, 2009 - 00:14 ET by bigtimerBe nice to wave a magic wand wouldn't it, to stop that from the wittle twollsies?
Poof! ......Dust in the wind.
Doubling down on stupid is not a particularly good idea. ~Andrew Breitbart
I hope he fails,
June 30, 2009 - 00:29 ET by BlondeI hope he fails, too.
Same here... In this
June 30, 2009 - 00:45 ET by bigtimerSame here...
In this trolls case....Doubling down on stupid is not a particularly a good idea. ...
Of course we know there are back-ups in the waiting...and heck...some already crawling around here and there.
What a pathetic way to live one's life.
Doubling down on stupid is not a particularly good idea. ~Andrew Breitbart
True
June 30, 2009 - 00:49 ET by BlondePathetic is a perfect word in this case.
Pathetic trolls, living pathetic lives, posting pathetic stuff....under numerous pathetic screen names.
I hope he fails, too.