The American Spectator

Reader Mail

p> NOBODY DOES IT BETTER br> John Corry writes, in " The Best of All Seasons , that "[Carl] McCall, the New York State comptroller, ...used official stationery to recommend some family members and friends for jobs. Many politicians use their stationery to do similar things, of course, and so, for that matter, do many people in the media." /p>

I can't speak for the laws regarding this sort of thing in New York, but, as a former Federal employee, I can tell you that, had I ever done any such thing while on the Federal payroll, I would have been sacked on the spot. Using public office for private gain is (rightly) considered an abuse of the trust under which public officials are supposed to operate.

I also find it interesting that this behavior is defended using Clintonian "everybody does it" ("many politicians") and "apples and oranges" ("people in the media") defenses. I need hardly point out that any Republican or conservative caught with his hand in the cookie jar in this way would immediately be hounded into resignation.

p>Very respectfully, br> -- David G.D. Hecht /p> p> WHY NOT THE WORST? br> Re: R. Emmett Tyrrell, Jr.'s

topics:
Religion, Environment, Constitution, Law, Military, Iraq, Iran, Africa, Conservatism, Nuclear Weapons