On Becoming The Thing You Hate

Tom DeLay is a power-hungry crook with no respect for the rule of law. His success as Majority Leader was almost exclusively because he was willing to ignore every principle of ethics in the pursuit of his aims. If he hadn't been willing to bribe, intimidate, manipulate, and cheat, he never would have been able to get so many of his bills through the House. His disgrace should serve as a lesson that eventually the truth will out.

Regrettably, there is a tendency on the right and the left to worship success. This tendency is put on display by Terence Samuel at the American Prospect. His position seems to be that Democrats should learn from DeLay's success. We should be as tough and ruthless as he is, and as long as we don't break the law, we'll enjoy similar results. What I must point out, however, is that without his willingness to pervert the democratic process, he wouldn't have had that success. His corruption is part and parcel - is the essential prerequisite - of his accomplishments. Take away the corruption and he's just another obnoxious pol.

Should Democrats be more organized? More determined? More willing to do what it takes to win? Absolutely. But let's not use one of the most repugnant men in American politics as a model, please. The country can't stand two anti-democratic political parties.

P.S. It's cool when policy experts agree with everything you have to say on an issue.