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March 13, 2009
The Facts
A novel idea is being used by the current White House administration – ethics. Missing for several decades, if ever it truly existed, President Obama has hired Norm Eisen to be the man when someone has a question on right or wrong. Not legally speaking, of course, but morally speaking. That’s what ethics is all about.
Eisen’s job keeps him very busy. According to the Washington Post, he is called to the White House as many as 15 to 20 times a day. They say Eisen usually brings “bad news” to those seeking his advice. So much so, they have named him “Mr. No” and “The Fun Sponge”.
The Washington Post reports that experts and historians said Eisen “helped craft an executive order that imposed the most far-reaching government ethics reform in decades”. Can’t imagine why that was necessary.
My View
“Ethic” is described by Webster’s as “the discipline dealing with what is good and bad and with moral duty and obligation”. This discipline has been sorely missing in politics and business for several decades. However, the definition of ‘good and bad’ and ‘moral duty and obligation’ varies depending upon many things, among them political ideology. Don’t forget – the end justifies the means.
Obviously, the first thing that comes to mind is the last administration. My guess is that Bush’s first directive was “if we have one, fire him; if not, don’t hire one”. Of course, I could go back to Bill Clinton, but his ethical guy would have left the first day over Clinton’s personal morality.
All snide (but true) remarks aside, this could be a huge plus on President Obama’s list of pro’s & con’s. That is, if he and his staff play by the accepted rules of ethics. But the last President we had with any ethics was Jimmy Carter and look what happened to him. Obama may find out what Carter found out; that ‘we the public’ are not interested in ethics. We’re only interested in what you can do for me.
You should read the entire article. Interesting stuff.
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