Hey Trey, don't bogart those lines

By Richard K. Barry

Time was when a politician got busted for something like a drug charge or perhaps admitting to recent illegal drug use, they would be forced to resign in shame. But that is so last month. Now it appears one can, perhaps, ride out such a shit storm. 

As Roll Call noted yesterday concerning the case of Rep. Trey Radel, arrested for cocaine use:

Rep. Trey Radel continues to cling to his seat in Congress in what could ultimately become a testament to the changing mores on Capitol Hill.

The Florida Republican, who checked himself into rehab last month, has faced his fair share of calls to resign — notably from home-state Gov. Rick Scott, a Republican, and state GOP Chairman Lenny Curry.

But leadership in D.C. appears not too concerned. 

Speaker John A. Boehner, R-Ohio, and Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., appear content to let the voters decide whether Radel’s punishment will extend beyond probation and a $250 fine. Neither is calling for his resignation or for any significant punishment, such as removal from committee assignments, nor have they issued general statements of condemnation.

Perhaps if Radel survives he won't be such a hard-ass when it comes to other poor schmucks who get caught with spoons, or dollar bills, or straws (or whatever, people tell me, they use) up their noses. I'm not holding my breath.