OCONNOR: What a shame-ectomy

OPINION:

Recently, in a press conference with President Obama and in an address before the U.S. Congress, President Felipe Calderon of Mexico castigated the state of Arizona for its new immigration law. Most Americans were puzzled. This is, after all, the leader of a country that treats illegal immigrants like a head cold treats a tissue. How could anyone with an ounce of shame possibly say what he said? The answer is that Mr. Calderon no longer possesses an ounce of shame. He recently had a complete shame-ectomy.

It was this total absence of shame that enabled him to stand before a nation that, among a host of other benefits, provides free health care and free legal representation to illegal immigrants and get all huffy about Arizona police asking about the immigration status of a suspect already in custody.

Of course, Mr. Calderon is only the latest in a long line of politicians, actresses and Wall Street executives who have had a shame-ectomy. The procedure has made more than a few careers. In fact, in the cases of Paris Hilton, the housewives of Orange County, New York and New Jersey, as well as anyone who has ever appeared on MTV’s “The Real World,” it could be said that their only “career” has been a complete lack of shame.

But it’s politicians who have benefited most from a shame-ectomy. Massachusetts’ Democratic Rep. Barney Frank had one of the first years ago when it was revealed that his live-in lover was running a male prostitution ring out of Barney’s house. And, boy, did the procedure come in handy in the aftermath of the global financial crisis. Freddie Mac and Fannie Mae arguably were ground zero for the mortgage-driven meltdown. Guess who, in his role as chairman of the House Committee on Financial Services, led the resistance to their reform? None other than Mr. Frank. Do you think he feels any remorse? Not the teensiest-weensiest pang.

The obvious success of Barney’s shame-ectomy soon persuaded others to go under the knife. Bill Clinton had an emergency shame-ectomy just before he went on “60 minutes” with Hillary to answer the Gennifer Flowers charges. (He has never regretted his decision to have the operation. And why would he? A complete lack of shame not only enabled him to sleep like a baby during the entire Monica Lewinsky affair, it also has been instrumental in his ability to make gazillions since he left office.)

Don’t think Al Gore didn’t take notice. An Oscar and about a hundred million dollars later, Mr. Carbon BigFootPrint is blessing the day he had every last vestige of his shame removed.

The shame-ectomy is, however, a two-edged sword. If it’s not handled carefully, a complete lack of shame can also end a political career. It’s OK for a politician to be shameless, but the public frowns on those who are too blatant about it. Case in point: Connecticut’s Democratic Senate candidate Richard Blumenthal. Mr. Blumenthal was caught claiming, falsely, that he was a combat veteran of Vietnam. A skilled politician would have understood that the situation called for the standard non-apology apology. Totally shameless, of course, but very effective. Not Mr. Blumenthal. He refused to apologize. In fact, he claimed that he had simply (and repeatedly) chosen the wrong words. Career over.

When you think of the politicians who have come to prominence over the past decade, there’s one paragon of shamelessness that stands out, one man in particular everyone is certain has had every last iota of shame surgically removed. Yes, a shame-ectomy would explain a lot about John Edwards’ career. His success as a tort attorney. His “Two Americas” campaign theme. His cheating on his wife while she was undergoing cancer treatment. And on. And on. But, surprisingly, Mr. Edwards has, in fact, not had a shame-ectomy. He happens to be that rare bird, that one in a million, who actually was born totally, completely, utterly without shame. He’s a “natural.” Lucky guy.

Tom O’Connor is a writer in Bloomfield, Mich.