Guest AuthorTrey Radel, we barely knew you long enough to spell your name correctly (I fact-checked the spelling at least three times while writing this column).
I don’t know what surprises me more: that a member of Congress was caught buying cocaine in DuPont Circle (he was actually arrested at his apartment), that his dealer rolled over on him, or that people would come to Radel’s defense because he was “set up?”
Now, most people know that I lean more toward the libertarian wing of the Republican Party, and I am mostly a go-along-to-get-along kind of person when it comes to civil liberties, but COME ON!
Trey Radel, 37, has been an elected member of the U.S. House for less than a year and he is already so arrogant and fueled by his self-importance that he’s buying cocaine in public?
Maybe you were the wrong guy to send to D.C. in the first place. His excuse that some seem to be buying is that he is addicted to alcohol and that his illness is between him and his family. No it isn’t.
Mr. Radel, you have embarrassed yourself, your district, your state and the U.S. House of Representatives. I hope you get the help you need after you resign.
Radel pleaded guilty to a misdemeanor and a judge in D.C. sentenced him to a year of probation. Radel, a former conservative radio talk-show host, has announced that he is taking a leave from his job and is going to donate his salary to charity while he is away from his office.
Nonetheless, there is ample evidence of poor judgment, arrogance and hypocrisy in this case.
Radel was arrested Oct. 29 and wasn’t charged until Nov. 18. This gave him plenty of time to check into a facility or get out in front of this issue, neither of which he cared to do until the arrest was made public Nov. 18.
He had to think this issue was going to go away since it was a misdemeanor. If he had entered rehab, there is a good chance the misdemeanor would have gone away or could have been handled publicly at the same time, but his arrogance got in his way.
The day of his arrest, he continued to tweet like nothing happened — mostly about Obamacare and his upcoming interview with Geraldo.
In September, he voted in favor of Republican legislation that would give power to the states to require drug tests for people getting Food Stamps.
If he was arrested with this amount of cocaine in Florida, he would be facing a felony conviction and lose his right to vote and hold office; if he was a state worker, he would be fired by Gov. Rick Scott.
It’s clear that Radel’s problems are much greater than just alcoholism.
There seems to be more hypocrisy where the GOP is concerned. Where are they?
Here in Florida, it seems the GOP is getting tougher on drug possession, even going so far to try to keep a vote for medical marijuana off the ballot. But when it comes to one of their own using a drug for his personal use?
Remember, this is the same GOP that ran Mark Foley out of D.C. on a rail when he acknowledged that he’s homosexual. He didn’t even break the law.
But House Speaker John Boehner released a statement that this cocaine issue is between law enforcement, Radel and his constituents.
So, again GOP leaders have decided to sit on their hands.
