One of our own...

While people and organizations around the Philadelphia decry its problems with governmental ethics, individuals continue to think that the pols who are friends of theirs are above reproach. Latest example: the unions are throwing a "Rick Mariano Appreciation Night" fundraiser bash to show their support in light of his current federal investigation (see previous story here).

Pat Gillespie, business manager for the city's Building Trades Council, said yesterday that "when something gets printed about you, that people are looking into you and your activities, the reader never gets the total context. And people get judged unfairly sometimes."

Well sure. And sometimes our judgements of our friends are clouded by our affection for them. Unfortunately for city ethics, everybody has friends, so sometimes somebody else has to check up on things...