How will the media treat one of their own?

We have seen how the media and a list of celebrities have treated Rush Limbaugh over his addiction to pain medication. Now one of the liberals own, Patrick Kennedy, has admitted being addicted to pain medicine and has checked himself into rehab after a car crash. While there are still outstanding questions of whether Kennedy was drinking in addition to pain medication and how the police failed to administer a breathalyzer test on the scene, the admission of Kennedy is now fact.

Rush Limbaugh has been subjected to much derision as liberals who hate him have made him the butt of many jokes for his habit. Make no mistake, Limbaugh opened himself to this criticism when his addiction became public knowledge. We were disappointed that he had allowed this to happen, but he took full responsibility of his addiction. While it was pictured as his fan base overlooking his shortcoming, to be more accurate there was an admission that he failed and a subsequent forgiveness of this failure. There is a difference.

If the details released are the extent of the crash incident, Kennedy appears to be taking responsibility for his addiction. From all appearances he is doing the right thing. My prediction is that while there may be some mild criticism and joking (mostly because of his father's notoriety), it will be nothing compared to Limbaugh's media drubbing. Kennedy will be embraced with the compassion and forgiveness that Limbaugh was denied, except from his fan base.

In the end it is not about the failure of men. Men will fail us even as we fail ourselves and others. It may not be addictions or moral failures. It may not make headlines, but we all fall short. When this happens leaders should not deny, drag their feet, and cover up. They should do the responsible thing. People are amazingly forgiving. Unless, of course, they disagree with you politically. Then all too often all bets are off.