Anthony Weiner Can Stay

June 14, 2011 by Yitzchok Adlerstein

Continued from Page 1

We ought to heed that biblical lesson. As long as politicians do their job, they should be permitted to retain their position. They should be removed if they become so preoccupied with removing themselves from their predicament, that they can no longer perform effectively. Similarly, if their sins include preying on the public by abusing their power, they need to go. (Lying to the public is not included. If we dismissed people who lied to us during their campaigns, legislatures would all sit in cobwebbed isolation.) Demonstrating gross stupidity might make the cut as well. Really dumb politicians are not going to give us what we need from them.

Most importantly, we need to make more of a positive fuss about genuine, deep, caring moral spokespeople. They belong on the pedestal of public adoration, not the people camped out on it now. When all the stories about clergy abuse have been written, they will not describe anything more than a minority. Within the majority, we can find many people worthy of a deeper form of public trust and public respect.

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6/14/2011 4:00:00 AM

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The Velvet Kippah

Anthony Weiner

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About Yitzchok Adlerstein

Yitzchok Adlerstein is an Orthodox rabbi who directs interfaith affairs for the Simon Wiesenthal Center, and chairs Jewish Law at Loyola Law School in Los Angeles. He is hopelessly addicted to the serious study of Torah texts.

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