Last defense out the window

One of the many defenses offered by Mark Graul, Rep. Mark Green's campaign manager, about why he did or didn't (depending on what day it was) take tickets from Jack Abramoff's office was that everyone in DC does it.

Perhaps he should pick up a copy of the Isthmus and read the Watchdog Section this week. There is a little story about Senator Russ Feingold not even accepting a single bag of organic fair trade tea sent to him by the Wisconsin Network for Peace and Justice. The bag is on display in his Madison office as property of the people of Wisconsin.

Feingold has adopted the Wisconsin state code of ethics for his Madison and DC offices. Rep. Green, as a former member of the Wisconsin State Legislature, should be pretty familiar with the state ethics code and he could have adopted them as well. That's what leaders do.