| Hubris on the Hill |
October
2002 |
New Jersey Drops the Torch
Senator Torricelli of New Jersey has finally realized that being crooked, and being caught at it, really impairs one's re-election chances. And so, he has dropped out of the race for the New Jersey Senate seat he holds just a month before voting takes place. The state Democratic Party is hurrying to replace him, but the party is to blame for re-nominating him and deserves to lose the seat.
Bob "The Torch" Torricelli accepted gifts from a constituent in exchange for his influence over legislation. Or in other words, he accepted bribes. The businessman involved has been in jail since May (the fact that his name is Chang may justify charges of racism in a state already famous for racial profiling), while The Torch goes free.
Republican charges that the Dems want a new candidate because the old one is losing are right on target. The party bigwigs backed Torricelli's re-election bid back when the party primary could have selected someone else. Now, with their boy trailing in the polls and more details of the sorry affair coming out, they want someone new (apparently former Senator Lautenberg).
As much as we would hate to see the GOP's reactionary Forrester win, we have no use for a politician who gets an ethics rap and thinks he can overcome it. It is simple hubris on the part of the candidate. Changing horses at the finish line only proves that the Democratic leaders share that sin.
Posted 3 October 02