Posted by
Andrews on Tuesday, September 02, 2008 9:34:08 PM
People really need to get a better understanding of what hypocrisy means. Hypocrisy is saying that people should do one thing while doing the opposite oneself. Actually, I should probably say, while believing one should be allowed to do the opposite. Simply doing the opposite is not always hypocritical. For example, saying people should not drink while one struggles with a drinking problem is not so much hypocrisy as being morally fallible. So, to be precise, hypocrisy is arguing for a standard of behavior from which you exempt yourself.
However, we often hear charges of hypocrisy where there really is none. For instance, whenever a Republican cheats on his wife,w e hear how "the party of family values" is hypocritical. However, that doe snot truly apply, as just because one is fallible does not make one a hypocrite. Were the cheating spouse to argue that he should be allowed to cheat, then he would be hypocritical, but simply failing is not in itself hypocritical. (That is also why so many on the left are immune from such charges. Having argued for few moral standards, they can't really be accused of violating them. Open amorality is also a perfect defense against hypocrisy.)
But now I have heard some of the most inappropriate charges of hypocrisy yet. The new argument is that Governor Palin fought against aid for teenage mothers while her daughter is going to be a teenage mother.
That doesn't even make sense. That is like saying "You say you oppose rape, but you have had intercourse!" Yes, the governor opposes aid to teen mothers and, yes, her daughter is going to be a teen mother, beyond that, I can see no connection. Had she said she opposed aid for teen mothers then asked for government aid for her daughter, that would be hypocrisy, but anything else simply is not.
But it makes good "gotcha" news. "You were heartless toward poor teen girls who somehow got pregnant, and now you have one in your family!' It is the favorite liberal argument. Akin to the joy they have in finding gay relatives of those who oppose special rights for gays, or the utter delight they had during the whole Larry Craig fiasco. Sorry, but it doesn't prove anything. Larry Craig engaging in homosexual activities still doesn't mean he is a hypocrite. One could even be openly gay yet oppose special rights for gays, the two are not contradictory beliefs, and it certainly is not hypocritical, any more than Thomas Sowell's opposition to affirmative action makes him a hypocrite. Nor is the mother of a pregnant teen opposing government aid for teen mothers hypocrisy. It is simply a belief, no more, no less.
Why can no one seem to grasp that?