August 4, 2010
John McWhorter at The New Republic has a different take on why members of the Congressional Black Caucus are so overly represented among those charged with ethical lapses by the House Ethics Committee.
He contends that as leaders of their community, communities that have outstanding needs only the government can meet, they necessarily are at the center of community-boosting efforts in a highly personal way that sometimes goes past the ethics rules. I think the fact that these members come from carefully drawn districts that are as safe as safe can be, encouraging a sense of entitlement which makes one less attuned to the need for the highest standards of ethical conduct, is just as much a factor, but McWhorter’s point is well taken.
