Keep an eye on people who enter politics

We have to keep an eye on people who enter politics. Just running for office makes one suspect, alas, and power at any level can be so corrupting! We all know all too well the politicians who weasel and prevaricate, who do one thing and say another, who say I was for the bill before I was against it, or debate the meaning of "is," or blame others when they are caught betraying the public trust or with their hands in the cookie jar. West could be a dishonorable and dishonest wiener, voting one way to look good to racially-oriented constituents, then apologizing to look good to the right-wing fans. It's possible. (Only, I'd say it's about as possible as that Sarah Palin was so clever and conniving that she purposefully made herself look the same in tens of thousands of private emails as she does in her public words!) If this were just about anyone but West, I might automatically be sneering, yeah, sure! and writing him off as another typical two-faced lying politician. From what we know of West, his vote seemed worrisomely inconsistent with his principles, his apology, on the other hand, while maybe a bit weak, seems utterly in character. If there is a pattern of "do one thing say another," he is not the man we think he is. I certainly don't expect it. I'm just saying, we have to keep up the "neighborhood watch," citizens' own "due diligence."

In watching politics since I was a kid in the late 1950s, I cannot recall any politician so plain-spoken and self-effacing as to say, I made a mistake, and yes, I take full blame for not being more informed about it! (Wouldn't you like such integrity to be "the new normal"?) As well, this incident illustrates the renewed interest, and ability, of the people to communicate with our elected officials. People spoke. West listened, and did not weasel. We have seen the "viral" popular power before, but have we ever seen it generate such an honorable response?

With congresscritters like West, we could have government as it should be. With people involved in making sure we're represented, we could have the republic as it should be. I am mightily encouraged by this news.

(Another "read it first on HillBuzz" story, too!)