Baucus’ Beeswax

Posted on 07. Dec, 2009 by Kaili Boyd in Uncategorized

In a world where married Senators trying to solicit sex in airport bathrooms and meeting up with girlfriends in foreign locals seems to be the norm, I understand Max Baucus’ feeling inclination towards airing his dirty laundry.  But unlike some others, the Montana Democrat didn’t do anything wrong. So he nominated his girlfriend for a position in the Obama Administration.  BFD. Where’s the harm and the foul?

We as a country need to stop acting like people don’t nominate their friends and friends of friends for appointed positions, political or otherwise.  Seriously, if someone asks you to recommend someone to fill a vacancy, be it the president of the United States or the President of the he-man women haters club, what would you do?  Would you seriously consider nominating someone you didn’t know, essentially putting your reputation on the line for a stranger?  All of us, if asked, would lean towards a qualified person from our own inner circle.  That’s just how people are.  You recommend the people you know. Just because I don’t know Melodee Hanes doesn’t mean she’s not qualified to be a federal prosecutor for the state of Montana and as a seasoned attorney, I’m pretty sure she is.  And if she’s qualified and she’s a friend, do we really need to know that she’s a friend with benefits?  While I appreciate the transparency, I didn’t need to know.  Especially not as brief on the front page of the Sunday New York Times, when I’m sure there was a local shooting or drug raid that didn’t even make it into the paper.