Our
View: Rep. Cunningham betrays public
trust
Apparently the grand old elephant ate too many peanuts at the congressional circus.
Rep. Randy “Duke” Cunningham, R-Rancho Santa Fe, pleaded guilty to
bribery this week in San Diego. He spoke in a broken voice, tears streaming from
his eyes as, to his credit, he told the
truth.
Don’t we wish more politicians, or presidents, for that matter, would admit
to wrongdoings so quickly and openly?
In a prepared statement, Cunningham said, “The first step…is to admit
fault and apologize. The next step is to face the consequences of my actions
like a man. Today, I have taken the first step and, with God’s grace, I
will soon take the second.”
There is no denying Cunningham’s crimes were appalling in nature. He received
enough “political peanuts,” so to speak, to make even the Planters
warehouse jealous.
The representative received $2.4 million in bribes from military contractors
and evaded more than $1 million in taxes—not exactly chump change by any
standard. The rest of his bribes were an impressive list of materialistic goods
including a Rolls-Royce, antiques, rare furnishings and the use of an expensive
yacht. His daughter’s graduation party was even covered, all expenses paid,
by someone wishing to buy Cunningham off.
Cunningham has betrayed the voters of the 50th district, which constitutes much
of affluent northern San Diego County. He has deceived the very people who kept
him in office since 1990. But on a larger scale, he has betrayed California,
his fellow party members and anyone who believes democracy can work.
He breached the public’s trust by selling his office for personal gain.
This action is inexcusable and atrocious, especially when considering the large
quantities Cunningham received. Not thousands, but millions of dollars went unethically
into the former Vietnam War fighter pilot’s pockets.
He feels genuine remorse now that he is caught red-handed, but we can only wonder
what provoked such greed for a man otherwise well known for patriotic speeches
and promoting defense spending.
Perhaps the old adage is true. “All power corrupts and absolute power corrupts
absolutely.” This brings up another valuable question. Has Cunningham always
been corrupt or has the world of Washington corrupted him?
We may never know
for sure.
This scam coming to light is yet another Republican Party political problem.
The Los Angeles Times quoted conservative activist Paul Weyrich of the Free Congress
Foundation as saying, “Frankly, Republicans are held to a higher standard,
mainly because they are the ones who always preach morality. I think voters are
going to punish them over this.”
Weyrich is right. Bribery in the millions of dollars is definitely a poor sense
of morality.
The LA Times also quoted Rep. Nancy Pelosi, D-San Francisco, saying, “This
offense is just the latest example of the culture of corruption that pervades
the Republican-controlled Congress, which ignores the needs of the American people
to serve wealthy special interests and their cronies.”
While Pelosi’s statement is debatable for all Republicans, there is certainly
no debate that her harsh criticism applies well to Cunningham’s mistake.
His scandal could not have come at a worse time for the Grand Ol’ Party.
Consider Bush’s low approval ratings, the endless conflict in Iraq, an
incompetent Bush-appointed FEMA pinhead Michael Brown, the apparently evil enigma
that is Vice President Dick Cheney, Bushisms—the list goes on.
What’s next, Republican Party? What’s next, Washington?
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