I've been on the road for what feels like forever, but I checked in to find Montana editorials absolutely up in arms about the Baucus-Hanes story. So let me say a few things:
- I think it is messed up that a Senator's significant other, whether boyfriend, girlfriend, spouse, partner, whatever, could be appointed a U.S. Attorney without violating ethics rules.
- I think it is messed up that a Senator's former state director could be appointed...say...U.S. Marshall, as happened with Conrad Burns earlier this decade.
- I think workplace relationships are generally terrible ideas.
All that said, the problem here is as much about the rules of the game as they are about judgment in these situations. Would it be better to nominate your former state director to the senior-most law enforcement position in the state, the person who oversees corruption cases, because you're not seeing them romantically?
If anything, I'd be more worried about the potential of a future scorned lover in the US Attorney's position than I would be about the fiercest political nemesis...
But there's a place here where the Missoulian crosses the line, attacking Max's staff for going to bat for their boss. Anyone who has worked in politics knows that going to bat for your boss is what you do. Staff aren't extensions of their "principal," they're an army dedicated to protecting that person.
I don't know who in Max's operation knew what when. I'm guessing the Missoulian also lacks omniscience. I do know that has probably been a damn long week for a bunch of people who didn't make ethical lapses.
I heard a story years ago about a local Democratic elected official who got asked what he thought about Bill Clinton's affairs. He said he was pissed. When he got told that he was being prude, he responded that he didn't really care that Bill Clinton had sex. He cared that Bill Clinton's actions had to become the focus of so many young staffers and other people all over the country who couldn't get laid for the next two years because of the long hours they had to put in protecting the President's agenda.
Anyways, as someone who works in the bidness, it is worth keeping in mind that as usual, the staff here aren't culpable. They're just responsible for taking care of the mess. Being jerks to them personally is unnecessary.
Update -- Matthew Koehler suggests in comments that I disclose that I'm friends with members of Max Baucus's staff. That's true. I've both butted heads with them and gone to their birthday parties.
For the record, I'm friends with lots of people, as evidenced by my Facebook page. But, yes, my friends include multiple people on Max Baucus's staff...and I care about my friends and the difficult time they're in. |
