There have been a lot of accusations thrown around this board—not just lately but for several years—about "bots" and "idolators" (usually referring to anyone who says anything even passingly positive about the president). Invariably these barbs are aimed at posters perceived to be too kind to Democrats who are not out there beating their chests with enough ideological invective. But I see a lot of turn-the-other-way behavior on the part of these same people with respect to their own idols, always defending until it's too late.

This episode is not the first in which a supposed progressive icon has talked the talk but failed miserably in personal or even criminal matters. No amount of warning seems put people off their enthusiasm and support. I might mention, just for starters, the Internet darlings John Edwards and Anthony Weiner: no character warnings could dissuade people from their support. Another one waits in the wings even as we speak, sometimes posting right here.

Character counts, people: you cannot look the other way. Just because someone espouses ideology of which you approve, it doesn't mean they deserve anything less than our utmost scrutiny. We should never make excuses or, as you say, close our eyes to their defects.

I was just reading a review of a new biography of the famed literary theorist Paul De Man, whom I'd nearly forgotten. There was a lot of shock back in the 80s when it was discovered he was a former Nazi supporter, a convicted felon (for financial dealings), and a pretty smarmy guy all around. He was suave, brilliant, and cherished by his minions. It's always a big downer to find out your idol is nothing but cracked glass.