The Self-Righteous Ignorance of Contemners of GOP Candidates Lack of Decorum

I love these people who are so distressed and revolted about the lack of decorum among the GOP presidential candidates. For example, the high-minded Chris Wallace of Fox News said the last GOP debate was an "embarrassment."

Apparently, Mr. Wallace was appalled by their behavior. He was shocked by their language, and insults. According to Mr. Wallace, they did not address the issues at all.

Let me say two things about this. 

First, it was CNN that set the table for this. The rules of the debate were structured in such a way to encourage these verbal brawls. This is a perfect example of the free market at work. CNN is worried about making money not about addressing political issues, as is Fox News, MSNBC, CBS, ABC, NBC, the New York Times, Washington Post and all the rest.

So take that you libertarians. This is what the free market uber alles does.

Second, please read the following comments made by one of our most famous Founding Fathers about another delegate during the debate leading to the Declaration of Independence. John Adams said of Edward Rutledge:

"Excessively vain, excessively weak, and excessively variable and unsteady - jejune, inane, puerile."

But Adams did not stop there. He insulted Rutledge's appearance. Adams said Rutledge, "Shrugs his shoulders, distorts his body, nods and wriggles with his head, and looks about with his eyes, from side to side. and speaks through his nose."

Now keep in mind that this is in the 1700's when courtesy and manners were held in much higher esteem than today. I mean these must have been the 18th century equivalence of four letter words.

Much worse was said between Adams and Jefferson a few decades later. Surrogates called the two men such niceties as  "hideous hermaphroditical character, which has neither the force and firmness of a man, nor the gentleness and sensibility of a woman" and "a mean-spirited, low-lived fellow, the son of a half-breed Indian squaw, sired by a Virginia mulatto father."

So do not despair about the coarseness of the debate. It is normal for American politics.

Mike