COMMENTARY: A political poem that underscores depth of hypocrisy in U.S. politics

By Berl Falbaum

“Hypocrisy,” a poem recited to the music and rhythm of “Macavity” from the musical, “Cats,” with apologies to composer Andrew Lloyd Webber.

Hypocrisy, hypocrisy,
Thank God created hypocrisy;
Politicians indulge in it day and night,
Whether on the left or on the right;
On talk shows they display their talent,
Leaving talk show hosts to lament;
Republicans raised the debt under Trump,
Under Biden it is just plain dumb.

Hypocrisy, hypocrisy,
Thank God created hypocrisy;
Holding documents at Mar-a-Lago was just not fair,
Under Biden there was no there, there;
The documents Trump had was as bad as it gets,
But Biden says he has no regrets;
Hillary kept quiet about these travails,
Remembering she had trouble with her e-mails;

Hypocrisy, hypocrisy,
Thank God created hypocrisy;
McCarthy blamed Trump for the insurrection,
After a visit to Mar-a-Lago, went in a different direction;
He wanted to be the Speaker,
And was handed the gavel on a squeaker;
He not only turned into a louse,
But in the process gave away the House;
Graham said he would not give Trump a pass,
But then couldn’t stop kissing his a--;
George Santos’ numerous “embellishments,”
Made Trump’s lies look like accomplishments;
The Dems blasted Trump for sexual perversion,
For Clinton, they called it just a diversion;

Hypocrisy, hypocrisy,
Thank God created hypocrisy;
For Dems, Hillary’s loss was just horrible,
The cause, of course, was very “deplorable;”
SCOTUS decided Roe, setting a precedent,
Fifty years later they called it an accident;
Stare decisis they threw out,
With all the conservatives heaving their clout;
We can keep this up endlessly,
Because there is no shortage of hypocrisy;
We can bemoan the double standard hopelessly,
But the only constant in politics is hypocrisy;

It all started with the first couple,
When Eve urged Adam to bite the red apple;
They tried to blame the slithering snake,
A defense that God simply would not take;
 God recognized their duplicity,
And that was the beginning of hypocrisy;
God said I don’t like what I see,
And hoped his humans would agree;
Quickly, though, the concept swelled,
So, God, shrugging shoulders, said, “OK, what the hell;”
(Altogether)
Hypocrisy, hypocrisy,
Thank God created hypocrisy.
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Berl Falbaum is a veteran political columnist and author of 12 books.