Mystifying reaction on decency in politics

Pertaining to Paul Friedman’s candidacy for U.S. Congress, Cook County Republican Party Chair Aaron Del Mar called Friedman’s previous sex crime conviction “entirely disqualifying” and said he should drop out of the race because of it. Del Mar was then quoted as saying, “Voters have every right to expect basic decency and transparency from anyone asking to serve in Congress. Someone with this kind of conviction has no business running for federal office, and it is an insult to the voters of the 9th District to pretend otherwise.”

I call Mr. Del Mar’s attention to the current occupant of the Oval Office, who has admitted and, separately, been found liable in court for improper sexual advances, and whom Mr. Del Mar supported for president and made every effort to elect. His argument and integrity of viewpoint toward Mr. Friedman thus entirely eludes me.

Kent D. Nicholson

Batavia