Both parties fall to corruption

I cannot give Nelson Graves a pass on his assertion that “Virginia voters are tired and fed up with power-hungry, scandal-driven national Republicans” (“Change in the Valley,” Aug. 28).
I am sorry, Mr. Graves, but the major Democratic campaign theme that Republicans have allowed a “culture of corruption” in the House and Senate is no more than a convenient ruse to draw attention away from their own problems.
Let’s take a little look, shall we? The Clintons alone are a guidebook on ethical misdeeds, from illegal campaign contributions and sexual harassment to perjury before a grand jury, a crime that puts most of us in jail.
Sen. Edward Kennedy’s actions at Chappaquiddick are not forgotten, nor are Sandy Berger’s theft of classified documents from the National Archives or the Democratic National Committee’s accepting illegal foreign contributions with a resulting fine of nearly $750,000.
For corruption we have William Jefferson, John Conyers and Robert Torricelli. Sexual misconduct honors go to John Edwards, Barney Frank, James McGreevey, the Rev. Jesse Jackson, Eliot Spitzer, Gary Condit and Mark Foley, to name only a few.
For sure we are all subject to the same weaknesses. Don’t try to make it sound as though Democrats are not major contributors to a “culture of corruption.”
Charles Salembier
Waynesboro
Editor’s note: Mark Foley, of Florida, is a former Republican representative in the House.