By Dave Anderson:
Pain and embarrassment often produces a short term defensive reaction but a long term change in behavior because pain and embarrassment are not pleasant. This applies to political parties as well as people. The behavioral incentives regarding sex scandals have changed as both parties have been whacked fairly hard in the media and the public image after the Foley and Massa fiascoes. TPM reports on how behaviors have changed to avoid embarrassment:
>we've clearly got a new standard on the Hill for how leadership ought to deal with rumors, reports, or hints of inappropriate conduct by Members: run as fast as you can to the ethics committee and relieve yourself of the burden of your knowledge. Only in that way can you inoculate yourself from accusations of cover up, complicity or conspiracy.
That appears to be what lead so rapidly to the resignation of Rep. Mark Souder (R-IN). As our Justin Elliott reports, Rep. Mike Pence, a fellow Republican and Indianan, and a member of the Republican leadership, was approached last Wednesday by a reporter about Souder's alleged affair. Pence went to Souder, who confessed the affair. But, according to Pence, Souder didn't mention that the affair was with a staffer until Sunday, at which point Pence told Souder to resign and reported it to the ethics committee the next day.
Now let's hope this change in behavioral standards also applies to $90,000 blocks of cash in the freezer and bribes offered by lobbyists. At that point, the House might have a function array of anti-douchebag incentives.
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