Massachusetts Governor Deval Patrick, the Happy Hypocrite
In its continuing effort to help illustrate the proper use of the words “hypocrite” and “hypocrisy” for those journalists, pundits, politicians, activists and members of the public who seem to have difficulty with the concepts, Ethics Alarms presents another installment of “Now THIS is Hypocrisy!” (or, as it is sometimes called, “Now That’s Hypocrisy!”) Today’s tale:
After personally declaring that this was Car-Free Week in Massachusetts,the Bay State’s governor, Deval Patrick, got caught commuting to work from his Milton home in an SUV. Supported by Governor Patrick, Massachusetts transportation officials are urging residents to embrace Car-Free week as an opportunity to “promote the environmental, financial, community and health benefits of using public transportation, carpooling, bicycling, walking and teleworking.”
“You got me,” a smiling Patrick told reporters. Ha ha. Not funny, Governor. The public already believes that its elected officials have no intention of living by the laws, rules and principles they piously impose on others, and such blatant, arrogant, unnecessary and stupid hypocrisy just serves to worsen an already festering wound on the public trust.
After chuckling his disgrace away, Patrick told reporters he hoped residents would not follow his lead.
Good advice, Governor! You lack integrity, common sense and respect for the intelligence of your state’s residents, and you are obviously a boob. Why should they follow your lead?
Ever.
Now that’s hypocrisy.
Ethics Alarms 
Dictionary definition of hypocrisy: “The practice of claiming to have moral standards or beliefs to which one’s own behavior does not conform…”
Our elected officials practice this constantly, and it is no wonder Americans have little faith in their true concern for this country. For years Al Gore’s home had a carbon footprint that was as big as the White House, all the while touting the dangers of global warming and the requirement that we take drastic action to reverse it. Did he practice what he preached? No. Our “green” president, over his term thus far, has added 200 new 8-ton limousines to his fleet: great to save gas and carbon emissions,and, not incidentally, the budget of the Executive Branch. (I won’t even mention the Solyndra conflict of interest, deceit and debacle.)
The fact that Massachusetts governor just smiled and said “oops!” is a prime example of this. Average Americans are asked, and more and more REQUIRED, to engage in new budget-building, environmental, and social activities “for the good of the country,” while their own leaders do exactly what they choose and change their behavior not at all.
Power breeds hypocrisy, and a whole lot more.
I’ve been googling, but I can’t find the new limousines. Can you get me a link to the source (not to commentary on it).
Here’s one: http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-31727_162-20067610-10391695.html
Elizabeth was rounding—the real number was 174, apparently.
(the magic google words were “obama limo fleet”)
Ah. The last line kind of goes against Elizabeth’s point though. I’d be happier if Obama said, “as of today, we will only purchase fuel efficient vehicles,” but I suspect that there aren’t vehicles that meet government/diplomat specs that are also hybrids/fuel efficient.
No. In particular, the armor-plating required on Executive limos puts a real dent on the efficiency. All the security upgrades greatly increase weight, which puts a lot more strain on the engine. So you need a powerful engine to begin with to carry all that junk in the Presidential trunk, plus you’re likely making even it guzzle more gas.
I can’t decide if it’s worse that he shrugged it off and didn’t even try to defend it with some “But I had to!” excuse…
Oh, its worse. “No big deal” is always worse. That was Clinton’s real reaction to Monica…and is to this day.