Profile in Partisanship: Wasserman Schultz Passes on Weiner

Either Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz isn't too bright and in over her head, or she's blinded by partisanship. Since the two categories are not mutually exclusive, let's say she's both.

In yet another example of political cream rising to the top, the four-term congresswoman from the 20th District of Florida was picked by President Barack Obama to lead the Democratic National Committee this year.

But DWS's leadership was nowhere to be found in l'affair Weiner this week. Blithely pigeonholing Rep. Anthony Weiner's admitted online sex antics as "a personal matter," she left it to minority leader Nancy Pelosi to call for a House investigation.

Indeed, Wasserman Schultz appears to be running on auto-pilot. On CBS's "Early Morning" show Friday, she stated, "I think this is a personal matter, and that's how it should be left." She repeated that exact phrase, with various unhelpful embellishments, six more times in the course of the program.

Talking points drive this society's political patter, but mind-numbing, grossly partisan regurgitation just sounds stupid. And then there are the contradictions.

Take DWS's recent call for Americans to drive American cars. This from a woman who has two foreign vehicles licensed in her name. Can she really be that clueless or dissembling? Or, in her arrogance, does she think that no one will call her on it?

Back during the Mark Foley intern affair, DWS was all righteous indignation.

"This goes beyond Representative Foley; it goes to the values of the congressional leadership. These are not family values, these are not American values," the congresswoman harrumphed.

She even demanded the resignation of then-Speaker Denny Hastert for not addressing the Foley matter quickly enough.

At that time, DWS immediately demanded a vigorous investigation.

Today, Democratic apologists argue that the Weiner and Foley affairs are fundamentally different. But the defining difference is that Foley (who resigned) was a Republican and Weiner (who says he won't) is a Democrat.

For those needing a tighter analogy, recall that New York Republican Rep. Christopher Lee had the good grace to resign after admitting to Weiner-like shenanigans.

Whatever happens with Weiner, DWS has made her craven double standards crystal clear.

Her body of work is rank partisanship. As chairwoman of the DNC, she's devolved into the perfect party drone. As one wag put it: Debbie Does Dullest.

Yet barring some radical redistricting by lawmakers in Florida and New York, both DWS and Weiner are safe for re-election in 2012 (unless he still intends to run for mayor of New York City, which cannot be ruled out).

Sunshine State News' request for comment from DWS's office went unanswered.

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Contact Kenric Ward at kward@sunshinestatenews.com or at (772) 801-5341.