Decency?

Some on the left are up in arms because a university professor in Wisconsin who had published some opinions about recent events there has been hit with a Freedom of Information Act request from the GOP regarding his state-issued email account. This is being regarded as an attempt to intimidate the professor into silence. Perhaps it is, but the state GOP there is not saying why they want the information and I think that FOIA requests generally don't require a reason.

Regardless, I wonder how many people who are upset today laughed at the uncomfortable scrutiny that Joe the Plumber received just for questioning then-candidate Obama. Were they outraged at the invasion of privacy? The illegal release of state records? I don't think so. In fact, I think a number of the websites at that Memeorandum.com link piled their own abuse on as well.

I would love to see a societal reboot when it comes to decency and civility in politics, but it is not going to happen unilaterally. Who am I kidding? It's not going to happen at all. 

This is a case for following the law and releasing whatever is legally obligated to be released. If someone doesn't like what the law says then change the law. In the meantime, spare me the selective outrage.