Every so often, we lose a politician who stood apart from the typical political careerists.
Someone who took bold stands against the fashions of the times.
Rep. Maurice Hinchey, D-N.Y., is not among that elite few. So let’s be glad to see his announcement that he will not seek re-election in 2012. For examples on why…
Here’s Hinchey telling a reporter to “shut up” when asked about the conflict of interest resulting from his ownership stake in a project receiving federal funding:
He later claimed he “didn’t tell the reporter to shut up.”
And here’s Hinchey rambling about his deficit reduction priorities — without actually seeming to know what it means to reduce the deficit:
So long.
