Dahlia Lithwick is unhappy that Democrats are holding themselves to higher standards than Republicans are. For Democrats to push John Conyers and Al Franken out of office while Republicans embrace Donald Trump and Roy Moore is “unilateral disarmament,” she writes.
But the analogy does not really apply. I’m glad Conyers has resigned in disgrace and hope Franken will too. But Democrats aren’t really sacrificing anything in these cases. They will get a new Democratic senator to replace Franken and a new Democratic representative to replace Conyers. (He may even be named Conyers.) Democrats can cut these guys loose at no cost.