“We have standards (you don’t), and we have a long history of punishing and purging our leaders who prove unworthy of trust.”

Really? Hmmm.

Eliot Spitzer? Caught using prostitutes. Resigned.

David Vitter? Caught using the DC Madam’s “escort” service. Still in his Senate seat. Said he “sinned” and was sorry. Running for re-election. Received loud standing ovation at closed Republican Senate luncheon.

Larry “wide stance” Craig? Served out remaining 18 months of Senate term following arrest for lewd conduct in MSP international airport bathroom and subsequent guilty plea and conviction for disorderly conduct. Said of Clinton on Meet the Press, 1999: “”The American people already know that Bill Clinton is a bad boy – a naughty boy. I’m going to speak out for the citizens of my state, who in the majority think that Bill Clinton is probably even a nasty, bad, naughty boy.”

So much for the long history.

Mark Sanford? Well, let’s listen to the GOP talkingheads on the Sunday talk shows.

Gov. Haley Barbour on Face the Nation:

BOB SCHIEFFER: … Should [Sanford] also resign as the governor of South Carolina?

GOV. HALEY BARBOUR (Chairman, Republican Governors Association): Well, I don’t think so, but that’s up to the people of South Carolina. But no, I don’t think so.

BOB SCHIEFFER: This seems to go beyond … this relationship. He was basically missing in action for five days. … He was not there. People didn’t know where he was. …

GOV. HALEY BARBOUR: You know, Bob, I don’t know all the details. … I’ve made it my policy, I just don’t talk about people’s personal problems. I don’t–I don’t think it’s appropriate, I don’t think it’s polite, and I don’t think it–it achieves any purpose.

Flashback! Barbour on 1998-09-15, on Brit Hume: “And now we have this president who treated Monica Lewinsky in such a way that it makes prostitution look dignified and ennobling. I mean, he made her a sex toy, a sex object.”

Oops.

Lindsey Graham on Meet the Press: “My main focus right now is can this marriage be saved? Can these kids have a mom and dad to guide them through life? That is my main focus. I think if Mark can reconcile with Jenny, and that’s not going to be easy, that he can finish his last 18 months. He’s had a good reform agenda. And I do believe that if, if he can reconcile with his family and if he’s willing to try, that the people of South Carolina would be willing to give him a second chance.”

Mitt Romney, immediately following Graham: “You know, his, his holding onto that job is really between him and his family and the, and the people of South Carolina. It’s not for people outside the state to make pronouncements on. This is a matter which is really a heartbreaking matter, and that’s what I think you have to focus on.”

More from Graham on the same show: “And part of life is failing. So from Mark’s point of view, if he can get his family back together, people are pretty fair in this country. Bill Clinton had his problems. People looked at his job performance, they looked at his personal failings and they said, “You know what, we’re going to put one over here and the other over there.” That’s no justification for what Mark did, but I think the people of South Carolina appreciate what Mark tried to do as governor to change their state.”

Mitch McConnell on Fox News Sunday:

BAIER: What is your reaction, Senator, to the developments in South Carolina with Governor Mark Sanford?

MCCONNELL: Look, we’re working on health care and the people’s business, and that’s what — that’s what we’re doing in the Senate.

BAIER: Do you think he should resign?

MCCONNELL: We’re going to continue to deal with the people’s agenda here in Washington, and that’s what we’re going to concentrate on.

BAIER: But being out of the country — in his words, crying in Argentina for five days — without telling anyone where he was, there are lawmakers who are calling for his resignation.

MCCONNELL: We’re going to concentrate in the United Senate — in the States Senate on national issues like health care and climate change and Supreme Court appointments.

BAIER: But this is the second prominent Republican to announce an affair in as many weeks, with Nevada senator John Ensign coming out. What does this mean for your party?

MCCONNELL: Bret, I think the important thing for us to do for the American people is the business we were elected to do.

Yep… that shooooore is purgin’ and punishin’ language.

Standards? I guess you could call those standards. Out here in reality-land, we call those “*double* standards.”