Politics Trumps Ethical Oversight Ethics Moment January 2007
The report released (December 8, 2006) by Investigative Subcommittee of the U.S. House Committee on Standards of Official Conduct that was tasked with “finding out who knew what, when they knew it, and what did they do about it” in the Mark Foley page scandal provides ample evidence that politics often trumps ethical oversight. The report documents that Mr. Foley’s misconduct was known to a number of his colleagues and aides, including Speaker Dennis Hastert. Yet no one stepped forward to put an end to the abuse of power and trust. Why was there so much willful ignorance? Some were surely trying to protect Mr. Foley’s secret homosexuality; others wanted to avoid partisan embarrassment. Still others must have thought it just wasn’t that important. The ticking time bomb, as one aide described the situation, exploded nonetheless and contributed to the Democratic rout on November 6th. Most disconcertingly, the Subcommittee found that no one had broken any rules and therefore no disciplinary action was recommended.
This “low road” approach to ethics is just that. What is to be done to ensure that politics does not trump ethical oversight? The Congress must demonstrate to the American public that ethics means more than following the rules. One proposal is to create an independent ethics body, an Office of Public Integrity, that would enforce new rules on travel, lobbying, gifts, and more. Alas whatever merit there might be in this proposal, it would do little to change the “low road” culture. In fact, it may even exacerbate it—different rules but still more rules.
If there is one lesson that jumps off of the page from the Foley scandal it is that the failure to exercise ethical oversight has significant cost in terms of public trust and politics. Lawmakers must demonstrate through their day-to-day behavior that they are committed to a higher ethical standard than just following the rules. Isn’t it time for members of Congress and their staffs to take seriously their charge to uphold the integrity of the one institution that is the centerpiece of our great democracy?
Sources: http://www.house.gov/ethics/Page_Report_Cover.htm; New York Times, December 9 & 13, 2006