Democrats' Turn "in the Barrel"

Jonah Goldberg, "Obama and the Democratic Brand," USA Today, January 6, 2009, reminds us that Democrats will no longer be free to criticize the Republican "culture of corruption" without drawing attention to their own. While Republicans controlled the presidency and Congress, and faced the liberal main stream media with only FOX providing a hint of balance, the Democrats had a field day and their transgressions were largely ignored. Now it's the Democrats "turn in the barrel." With control of everything, they're the only show in town. Jonah Goldberg noted Republican scadals, and wrote of them:

Sounds bad, and it was. But it's worth remembering that Democrats had plenty of scandals of their own. In 2004, New Jersey Gov. James McGreevey resigned after the married father was alleged to have hired an unqualified boy toy to run his Homeland Security Department. In 2006, Rep. William Jefferson of Louisiana was caught with nearly $100,000 in his freezer. That same year, Rep. Patrick Kennedy of Rhode Island rammed his Ford Mustang into a Capitol Hill security checkpoint and, faster than his dad could say "Chappaquiddick," checked himself into rehab for a pill addiction. Last spring, New York Gov. Elliot Spitzer, a self-righteous anti-corruption zealot, resigned after it was revealed he had been using a call-girl service. Then the Democrat who replaced Foley was brought down for allegedly firing his mistress. Democratic presidential candidate John Edwards was caught cheating on his cancer-stricken wife. Charles Rangel, the Democratic dinosaur in charge of the House Ways and Means Committee, is embroiled in a series of allegations of self-dealing orruption. And now, New Mexico Gov. Bill Richardson has bowed out as President-elect Barack Obama's choice to be Commerce secretary thanks to an unfolding investigation into possible pay-for-play deal of less than Blagospheric proportions.

Will the liberal main stream media give up on reporting political scandals now that they will be reporting on Democrats? Will they fill their 24-hour, seven days a week news channels with People's Magazine reporting of celebrity worship and scandals? They will probably try, and most Americans will be satisfied. However, one day they will tire of full-time Paris Hilton updates and try political reporting again to appeal to their tiny niche audience that actually is interested in non-celebrity news.

Then the liberal main stream media will discover Democat scandals that make Republicans look like saints. Just digging through Illinois politics during Obama's early political career will be a treasure trove of intrigue and scandal.

As the British would cry when the hounds scented the fox, "Tally Ho!"

Tally Ho! The Democrats!