In politics, everything you do can and will be used against you in the court of public opinion.
Politicians have to be held accountable for their conduct. But when the discovery of bad behavior
launches a feeding frenzy of self-interested opportunism, the plate of shame deserves to be
passed around.
A week ago, The Denver Post broke a story about Colorado’s House Minority Leader Mike
Lynch who was charged in 2022 for speeding, driving under the influence of alcohol, and being in possession of a firearm while intoxicated. Public opprobrium swiftly followed, understandably; more than 10,000 die each year in drunken collisions. Some of the righteous indignation, however, was merely opportunism masquerading. One man’s failure, after all, is another man’s opportunity.
Perhaps there would have been less outrage if Lynch had been forthright in 2022 rather than keeping secrets. His response this week seemed contrite but also a bit defensive. It’s an election
year and Democrats, frustrated no doubt with Republicans’ inexplicable sympathies for an
indicted former president wanted a pound of flesh from an accessible target.
At least, that’s how it seemed on social media. Left-leaning commentators milked the story daily– it was a slow news week — and followers reveled in partisan schadenfreude. It didn’t matter that Lynch had apologized and given up drinking. The opportunity for performative outrage was too good to pass up. From their tweets, you would have thought Lynch acted with forethought and malice rather than stupidity brought on by drink.
The far right, meanwhile, tasted blood in the water. Citing concern for the “integrity of the Republican caucus,” Rep. Scott Bottoms made a motion to take a no-confidence vote to oust Lynch from leadership. The vote narrowly failed.
Bottoms has falsely claimed the FBI fomented the January 6 insurrection, so his concerns about integrity are quite selective. This wasn’t about sparing the caucus from being sullied; it was an opportunity to replace Lynch with someone further right. Lynch resigned before another vote could be taken.
I don’t know him and have no opinion about his leadership ability. I do know a lot of people in recovery, however, and their worst moments do not define them. As The Denver Post editorial board noted in its evenhanded assessment, Lynch’s bad behavior that night does not make him a
bad person. Drunk driving is dangerous, and those caught doing it must be held accountable.
Lynch is on probation, doing community service, and is no longer in leadership. That’s accountability.
Those who used his demise to advance their own self-interest, on the other hand, will likely feel no downside.It’s interesting that in this political climate, some people get a pass for repeated immoral and unethical behavior for which they never apologize or make amends. Others are considered beyond redemption even after they have apologized, paid their dues, and changed their ways.
I think about Hunter Biden who once lived a life of reckless dissipation, peddled his father’s name for foreign cash, and didn’t pay taxes on the millions of shadily-begotten dollars. But he’s sober now and soon to face legal consequences. And yet, his past deeds hang like dirty laundry in the conservative press to soil the name of his father.
Certainly, if evidence comes to light that Biden senior knew of or profited from his son’s activity he will be held accountable. In the meanwhile, the righteous indignation over Biden junior seems like an attempt to direct attention away from another politician’s far more egregious and ongoing behavior.
Some sins are too useful to be absolved. But for others, grace comes cheap.
Krista L. Kafer is a weekly Denver Post columnist. Follow her on Twitter: @kristakafer
Sign up for Sound Off to get a weekly roundup of our columns, editorials and more.
To send a letter to the editor about this article, submit online or check out our guidelines for how to submit by email or mail.
