Where is the Ethics Board?

According to the American Heritage Dictionary, ethics means

"A set of principles of right conduct. The rules or standards governing the conduct of a person or the members of a profession."

Generally that is taken to imply the more broad description that ethics means: "A theory or a system of moral values."

So, it goes without saying that racism, hate speech or slanderous comments would normally qualify as being unethical.

If I were a white politician and made the following claim about my black opponent:

"Seventy percent of all inmates in our prisons are black, so you can assume my opponent will commit a crime in office."

The Ethics Boards would have my head - not to mention my political career would be over.

If the roles were reversed and I was a black candidate and said about my white opponent:

"Ninety five percent of all government embezzlement and fraud is committed by white males, so you can assume my opponent will defraud you."

I would likewise be punished by Ethics Boards, the Press and the public.

And yet in the small community of Mariposa California, State Assembly Representative Candidate Bill Conrad, is running the following ad campaign against his opponent, Tom Berryhill.

Tom Berryhill doesn't have the HEART for State Assembly

Facts:
The average lifespan of a heart transplant patient is 7 years.
(Berryhill's heart transplant was 6 years ago)

Heart transplant patients take anti-rejection medications for life.
(These medications weaken the immune system making the recipient more susceptible to illness and death)

Severe stress SIGNIFICANTLY shortens the life expectency of heart transplant recipients.

Can you imagine the costs to taxpayers for a Special Election when poor health renders him unable to fulfill his duties of office?

Yes, you read that all correctly. Bill Conrad's campaign strategy is:

"Vote for me because my opponent had a heart transplant and he's going to die in office - and that'll cost you money."

And even though both candidates are Republican, this message apparently has not been publicly criticized by the Republican Party itself.

Amazing... absolutely amazing.

Where are the Ethics Boards now?

But a better question may be, what will the voters do with this blatantly unethical candidate?

Someone who associates with, and supports the activities of, another professional who acts unethically is also usually deemed to be unethical.

So in that light, we can safely say that in California's Mariposa area anyone who votes for Bill Conrad is, by association, unethical. Let's hope the local party officials make a very clear public statement of disgust about this issue and withhold any current or future support for Bill Conrad. Otherwise, they're willfully jumping into the ethics cesspool as well.

If he gets more than two votes, it's a sad statement on American politics...