Ethics vs Rule of Law

የርሶ ብዕር አስተያየት ተሳትፎ ሕብረተሰባችንን ይጠቅማል ያሉትን አይንፈጉን ገንቢነቱ ቦታ ይኖረዋልና!ማሳሰቢያ፡ ይህ ገጽ የተዘጋጀው የተለያዩ የኅብረተሰባችንን ሀሳብ ለመለዋወጫ እንጂ ለሚሰጡት ማንኛውም አስታየቶች በማንኛውም መንገድ ተጠያቂ አይደለም። ጉግል ድርጅትም ኃላፊነት አይወስድም። ኃላፊነቱ በሙሉ የአስታየት ሰጪው ብቻ ነው።


We want to share the following e-mail that we received from a friend. Even though, the entire piece reflects only the view of the author, there is a good part may be learning to our community. We are open to hear your opinion. Thanks.


Joe Sestak, ethics vs rule of law?

Recently, our political parties reached a crossroads that leaves much to be desired in interpreting the rule of law vs ethical behavior. A Democratic congressman from Pennsylvania challenged an old line established Democratic member of the senate.

Congressman Joe Sestak won the primary, ending the career of an 80 year old, five term senator for the senate seat -- the seat held by Arlen Specter. Specter had switched to the Democratic Party thinking it would ensure his reelection to a sixth term.

President Obama was elated, as it gave his party a filibuster-proof majority for his agenda. Obama promised to support Specter in his reelection bid.

When it was discovere that Congressman Sestak was considering running for the senate seat, it was as if a bomb had exploded in the White House. What was supposed to be an unopposed primary now had the potential for a younger man to upset the apple cart.

To make matters worse, political unrest was rampant in the land. There was a lack of trust in government demonstrated by the formation of “tea parties” across America.

The overriding issue was the ramming of the health care reform bill through the senate. Senator Specter was instrumental in the process for Obama.

Now this young pompous congressman had the audacity to challenge the man who had given the Democrats their much needed victory and kept Obama’s administration from facing a defeat by the Republicans.

In light of the promise to support Specter’s bid for reelection, it was determined that Obama would need to do something, since the challenge was coming from within the party. His going to Pennsylvania to campaign personally for Specter was not the answer.

In the recent Massachusetts election, Republican Scott Brown was elected to the Senate. That seat had been held by the Democrats for decades under the late Senator Ted Kennedy. Obama had personally gone to support the Democratic candidate, Martha Coakley, and had come away empty handed.

In Pennsylvania, it was not a Democrat running against a Republican, as in Massachusetts, but instead a younger energetic Democratic politician running against a member of the political establishment from the same party with over 30 years of seniority.

To get Sestak out of the race, it would take nothing less than a monumental offer of political influence.

The Issue Of Ethics Vs The Rule Of Law

Sestak had a great reputation in his own right. There was credibility on his side that was hard to overcome by someone who had switched loyalties late in life. Sestak was a very viable opponent, as proven by his victory.

Since it was considere useless to go to Pennsylvania to campaign for Specter, the next best thing was considered. They needed to get Sestak to not run for the senate and to stay in the House.

It was decided that Sestak might consider a special appointment within the White House that would give him access to the President. It would also ensure that his seat in the House would remain.

However, the congressional code of ethical conduct would not allow an incentive to be offered to a potential candidate to get him to reconsider a political run. Nor would it allow the White House staff to offer a position directly or indirectly that could ultimately sway the outcome of an election in any state.

After careful consideration and counsel by legal experts within the White House, it was decided that Rahm Emmanuel could use an emissary to approach Sestak. The emissary could feel out the potential for a position that would entice Sestak to not run.

Emmanuel contacted former President Bill Clinton to make the offer to Joe Sestak. Since Clinton had awarded Sestak the rank of Admiral in the Navy under his administration, it was thought he would have a special connection with him.

Clinton made the call. The offer was presented to Joe Sestak of a position on a special internal committee with access to the President. Sestak refused the offer.


That should be the end of the story – Right? Wrong! That old culprit, ethics vs the rule of law, reared its ugly head and called the White House to task over the procedure.

According to law, neither a direct or indirect offer by the White House staff can be made that could effect any election. Obviously the position offered even though through an emissary is allegedly a direct violation of this law.

Ethically, was it wrong for the White House to make such an offer? The answer given is that it was politics as usual. Should politics as usual bypass the rule of the law and throw it up for public debate on the merits of the law?

The White House law counsel weighed in on the subject and gave the same answer. It was politics and has always been done in this way.

Several politicians from both sides of the aisle have called for a special investigation either by special counsel or by the FBI to see if violations of the law existed.

What God Says About Ethics Vs The Rule Of Law

James 5:12 says, “Above all, my brothers, do not swear – not by heaven or by earth or by anything else. Let your “Yes” be yes and your “No", no, or you will be condemned.”

Many would ask what this has to do with ethics or abiding by the law. I would submit that it has everything to do with it. Why else would we seek to give evasive answers to the simplest questions regarding ethics vs the rule of law?

Politicians are experts at using double talk. They can speak without saying anything. Their actions are not up for debate if they do not declare themselves. They skirt issues to the nth degree, avoiding contact with the truth.

Lawyers have spent their entire careers studying the use of words. They use words to convey thoughts, laws, and ethical behavior. Politicians on the other hand, have studied legalese. Legalese is the art of addressing a wrong with words and then wording it so the wrongdoer has a chance at absolution.

In the deep recesses of their thinking, they configure words to give themselves wiggle room. Does God give wiggle room in letting our "yes be yes" and our "no be no". NO!


What we have today in politics and in life in general are those who want to walk the line so closely they can feel good about themselves. They want to walk so closely they can not be scrutinized when they champion the use of half truths.

Romans 13:1 says, “Everyone must submit himself to the governing authorities, for there is no authority except that which God has established. The authorities that exist have been established by God.”

Do you see anywhere in that verse that it is OK to circumvent the law by the excuse of “everyone does it". I am being facetious. We can do nothing other than serve God through the governing authorities that have been placed over us.

I know that we have certain laws on the books that grant rights, such as abortion, that are contrary to God’s Word and some even would say that you have a right to circumvent that law. I would agree wholeheartedly.

You can oppose laws that are in opposition to God’s Word! For example you can choose not to have an abortion. When the law grants you the privilege to do something that is in opposition to God’s Word, then just do not do it. Just choose to follow God.


We are no longer considered a nation under God, nor are we considered a nation that places our trust in God. Obama has even characterized us as not being a Christian nation. The critical truth is that he is addressing the reflection of what we have become -- one nation not under God.

We are in such deep peril. Unless we return to God we are going to be held accountable for our actions and our inaction. Please pray for our nation, our leaders, and ourselves in the pursuit of God's hand not leaving us and His keeping us from evil.

God bless…
Bob Hataway/eChaplain