Or, perhaps it's because they think they're above the peons

A little sympathy for Rep. Etheridge, please

J. Robert Smith

So, what are we to gather from Congressman Bobby Etheridge's mea culpa about having a "bad day" when he cuffed a college kid for asking if he supported the Obama agenda?

How about a little sympathy - that's right, sympathy.

Not widely reported was that the North Carolina Democrat had just emerged from a Nancy Pelosi-hosted fundraiser. Having to rub elbows with Madam Pelosi and lefties from the Star Wars bar scene might be enough to have pushed the Congressman past the brink.

Or, perhaps, Mr. Etheridge is like a lot of so-called moderate Democrats who are, in fact, closeted liberals. Being outed by a clean-cut college kid asking an innocuous question - "Do you support the Obama agenda?" - must have been too much for Mr. Etheridge's delicate psyche.

Or is the Congressman just an old fashioned sellout who doesn't like to be reminded that he's chosen to crawl into bed - figuratively, we suspect - with the likes of Nancy Pelosi and Barney Frank?

And like a lot of in-name-only moderate Democrats, maybe the goodly Mr. Etheridge is fretting about his re-election prospects if enough voters draw the connection between the abysmal Barack Obama and himself? Maybe the Congressman is wondering what he'll do for a job after November? How about becoming a smarmy lobbyist? Plenty of retired or defeated lawmakers trade in their Oxfords for Guccis.

Note to enterprising clean-cut college kids with video phones: Democrats, especially self-described moderates, are a prickly bunch these days. Approach with extreme caution - but keep those camera phones clicking and whirring. Voters deserve to see just how Mr. Etheridge and moderates are unhinged by prolonged exposure to all the toxic stuff in the Party of Obama.