David Brooks continues to amaze as to the degree to which he will sacrifice any principal to support the Republican of his choice, in this case, supporting Mitt Romney's right to hide his tax returns.
Today in his dialogue with Gail Collins, a man who purports to be a "journalist," essentially comes out against the central purpose of journalism -- exposing matters of public interest to "sunshine." Brooks, however, believes that:
"sunshinism" is "a destructive ideology. Forcing people to financially undress in public is just one of those incursions that repels decent people from running for office."
Yes, David, "financially undressing" is so repellent. But literally undressing Bill Clinton, to the extent of disclosing distinctive characteristics of his penis, was not only fine, but one's patriotic duty in the '90s.
Or did I miss the Brooks' columns expressing outrage at the Starr Report or Impeachment?
This is beyond hypocrisy. It's simply betrayal of his chosen profession, for which the "newspaper of record" has given him a platform twice a week (plus on-line "chats" with Gail Collins).
Of course, full disclosure of tax returns couldn't possibly be in the public interest. Instead, Brooks crams the motivation into his bogus narratives:
David: My own view is that the desire for full disclosure stems from a few things. First, pure prurience. Second, members of what used to be called the New Class perpetually labor under the delusion that other people dislike the rich as much as they do and if they can only disclose that someone is rich that will end their political chances. Third, there is a misbegotten ideology haunting the land, the ideology of sunshinism. This is the belief that everything should be made public....
Riiiiight. It's simply irrelevant that Romney paid at a 15% rate and may in fact, have paid nothing some years.
So, to sum up:
Release of tax returns: prurient;
Release of penis data: essential.
Has there ever been a greater poseur, who nonetheless is deemed the "reasonable" conservative by Charlie Rose's totebaggers and others.
h/t No More Mister Nice Blog and Angry Doug and Balloon Juice