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The story goes: A teenager runs into the office of Rep. Christopher Lee, “I know I’m young,” he says “but I want to be elected to public office like you. I want to be a congressman, governor or maybe even the president of the United States. And I want it right away. How do I do that?”
“Whoa,” Lee advises, “keep your shirt on!” (Please address your complaints to Donny Leonard).
You see, here’s what bothers me: Lee will wind up profiting from his scandalous misadventures. Take a look at Eliot Spitzer. He screwed up (and down) while at the helm as governor of New York. Yet, after his resignation he landed on his feet (from whatever position he was in) to share the spotlight on his own nationally carried television program.
Sure, he lost his prestigious job, but now as one of those blathering talking-heads, he gets to espouse his drivel to a wider audience. And isn’t that all he wanted in the first place? Satisfy an ego that’s so large even his clothes couldn’t contain it?
It’s easy to separate those politicians who are in the game for self-promotion versus those who are truly altruistic and want to serve for the betterment of society. You simply lump them all together because there seems to be none of the latter.
That’s a cynical observation, of course, but I use it to make a point. A point based on the opinion that public trust has been battered enough by the indiscretions of a few to have left a bitter taste of all. It’s sad. But what we once held in esteem — such as hope — has ingloriously morphed into a sense of futility. And unfortunately, just down the road from that is apathy.
What gets my goat even more is the lack of (honest) contrition that some of these clowns exhibit. Take Bill Clinton. His smug look and disrespect for the intelligence of the American people couldn’t have been more evident than the time he dramatically gave America the finger in his televised and lying denial of having sex with Monica Lewinsky. To me, his smirk sense of self-satisfaction speaks volumes about his values, priorities and integrity. (Not to mention he can’t play the saxophone worth a lick.)
Now don’t get me wrong, I’m far from the road to sainthood — attesters need not weigh in, thank you — I’m just not enamored with those who are selling you one thing and giving you something else. Different looks in football are good — but not so in public life.
I’m not asking for much. I’m just asking that a politician — who has been entrusted with elected office — be the person he represented himself to be. Be the person that the people who put him there thinks he is.
It’s not like I’m asking him for the shirt off his back.
That’s the way it looks from the Valley.
Contact Tom Valley at Tvalley@rochester.rr.com.
Tom Valley
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Tom Valley is a Medina resident. His column appears every Thursday. Contact him at tvalley@rochester.rr.com.
FROM THE VALLEY: Wardrobe and brain malfunctions
- Tom Valley
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FROM THE VALLEY: Wardrobe and brain malfunctions
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FROM THE VALLEY: Maggie’s first trip to the river
The old saying is that there are two sides to every story. Most likely, you’ve heard that before. In today’s column, I’ll demonstrate just how accurate that adage really is.
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