Hypocrisy

   By definition, a hypocrite is a person who says one thing but does another. Put another way, dictionaries define the word hypocrisy as claiming to have moral standards or beliefs to which one's own behavior does not conform.
   Hypocrisy is derived from the ancient Greek word for actor, and the pretense of having a virtuous character that the person does not have.
   This comes to mind after hearing a defender of the president say that media personalities recently accused of inappropriate sexual behavior "were not elected," as if such behavior indulged in by elected officials were somehow acceptable because they were elected.
   Can you say "circular logic" and "hypocrisy"?
   
   The Declaration of Independence states clearly that "all men are created equal," and that they are all endowed with certain rights. But with rights come responsibilities. And while elected officials have more responsibilities, they do not have additional rights, and are not exempt from standards of moral and legal behavior. In fact, as elected officials, they set an example for the rest of the citizenry to follow.
   It follows, then, that if elected officials can indulge in sexual harassment, assault and other forms of morally unacceptable behavior, then so can the rest of the population.
   Reality check: Government officials are not above the law, and that especially applies to the president, who as chief executive of the nation's laws, has the responsibility not only to carry out and enforce the law, but to set an example for all to follow.
   This does not seem to be happening. It's time for the president, and all other government officials, to set an example of moral and legal behavior even as they enforce laws defining unacceptable behavior.
   Example: If Rep. John Conyers and Sen. Al Franken, both Democrats, should resign over allegations of inappropriate behavior, then so also should Republicans who have been likewise accused.
   Another defense of some Republican high officials is that they have denied the accusations, while some Democrats have admitted to the charges.
  There is no double standard, and the phrase, "Do as I say, not as I do" does not apply.