It is a normal tactic in politics to blame an addiction for your actions. Booze, drugs, sex, all are convenient excuses and all three flow freely in most political environments. But it rarely is an addiction to those three singly or separately. Rather it is an addiction to being above the rules, an entitlement mentality that says I have power. I can do what I want. 

It comes from being surrounded all day by people you give a living to. If not for you those interns hoping to be staffers, staffers, aides, and hangers on would be selling copiers or asking if you wanted fries with your Happy Meal.

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And in this ideological climate, if you toe the right line, countless numbers of cretins will sing your praises and even conflate you with a deity or two.

So it likely wasn’t just booze for Reed, it was Lord Acton’s disease, he who said “power corrupts and absolute power corrupts absolutely.” When you factor that in with the kind of people politics attracts, people who want socially elite cushy jobs that reflect power, the recipe is ripe for hitting on a lobbyist, or an aide, or a reporter, and thinking that you’ll be successful or that you’ll get away with it. In these days of #metoo you’d think they would wise up. But, New York seems to be funny that way.

FNC: “Rep. Tom Reed, a GOP congressman from upstate New York, said Sunday that he won’t be running for reelection — or for governor next year — following allegations he molested a female lobbyist four years ago. Reed also apologized to Nicolette Davis, who told the Washington Post last week that the congressman targeted her with unwanted sexual advances at a Minneapolis bar in 2017. The lawmaker — who had claimed on Friday that Davis’ account was inaccurate — said Sunday that the incident occurred when he was struggling with an alcohol addiction, for which he later received treatment. He recently indicated that he was considering challenging Gov. Andrew Cuomo in 2022, saying the scandal-scarred three-term Democrat ‘needs to be taken down.’ Instead, Reed said he will be retiring from public service when his term ends in January 2023.”

Reed: “Simply put, my behavior caused her pain, showed her disrespect and was unprofessional. I was wrong, I am sorry, and I take full responsibility. In addition to apologizing to those I have impacted, including Ms. Davis, I will be seeking to help those wrestling with addiction in any way I can. As I go forward, I will strive to be a better human being, continue to fight for what I believe in, and to make people’s lives better in any way I can. I hope this formal apology is just the start.”