One of the biggest mistakes we've made as a society is to fool ourselves into believing that politicians are good people. Now, are some politicians virtuous, hardworking and honest representatives of their constituents? Absolutely. Are some politicians motivated by a good-faith belief in public service? Absolutely. Are some politicians examples of strong moral character? Absolutely.

But the idea that all politicians are virtuous, hardworking, honest, motivated by a good-faith belief in public service and examples of strong moral character? That's just plain silly.

This reminds me of one scene in the British comedy "Blackadder" in which the title character (played by Rowan Atkinson) is helping his servant, Baldrick, apply to be a member of Parliament. When asked whether he has a criminal record, Baldrick replies "Absolutely not." Blackadder's response summaries the reality of the class of politicians, both in the somewhat-fictional comedic retelling of Britain in the late 18th century and today:

"Oh, come on, Baldrick, you're going to be an MP for God's sake! I'll just put fraud and sexual deviancy."

That is the unfortunate baseline for many politicians these days, and we're kidding ourselves if we pretend otherwise.

Take Graham Platner — the guy with a Nazi tattoo who went to a private boarding school before enlisting in the U.S. Marines, entering into abusive relationships with women, becoming a communist and then running for U.S. Senate — as an example.

During one media debate last week, I had the displeasure of having to scramble a few thousand brain cells while "discussing" with another guest whether or not Graham Platner is a worthy candidate. The case for their defense? Not only is Graham Platner a husband and a veteran — as if it is simply impossible for an individual husband and veteran to also be a Nazi-loving communist creep — but that Republicans are bad too!

What about Donald Trump? What about Pete Hegseth? What about Ken Paxton? Well, what about them?

First off, last time I checked, neither Donald Trump, nor Pete Hegseth, nor Ken Paxton were sporting a SS Totenkopf tattoo for years.

But even if we accept the insane premise that Trump, Hegseth and/or Paxton are just as bad as someone like Graham Platner...why is that relevant? I'm not the one pretending politicians are gleaming beacons of moral character. Meanwhile, I was also under the impression that Democrats are better than us. I was under the impression that Democrats have a higher standard of behavior than us. I was under the impression that Democrats care about moral character immeasurably more than us.

And this is where their whataboutism implodes like a dying star. On the one hand, they will argue that Republicans are unworthy of support because of their moral failings. On the other hand, they will argue that Democrats are worthy of support despite their moral failings because of the moral failings of Republicans.

So, moral failings matter, but they also don't matter. This, ladies and gentlemen, is how Democrats can spend decades calling people like you and me a "Nazi" or a "fascist" or "just like Hitler" and then immediately fall over themselves to vote for the guy with a Nazi tattoo.

To find out more about Ian Haworth and read features by other Creators Syndicate writers and cartoonists, visit the Creators Syndicate website at www.creators.com.

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