Mocking a Candidate's Sincerity after a Tragedy...

even when using pictures of the candidate's own face is uncouth. For all we know Mitt Romney's Temple Garments were riding up on him and causing his uncomfortable grin, though it would also be impolite to express that speculation out loud.

Divisiveness is Rude

It's generally impolite and uncivil to demand attention for oneself, and particularly to do so at the expense of including other people in the limelight. Which is why well-mannered people find celebratory holidays troublesome. If, for example, a holiday is designated to honor the legacy of organized labor's struggles on behalf of American workers, who will honor the feelings of management? Who will recognize their contributions to the body politic and society, contributions which are in no way recognized monetarily?

Eric Cantor will! This True Gentleman insists that on the one day of the year set aside to honor the working man, no one is allowed to forget the superior contributions of business owners.

Today, we celebrate those who have taken a risk, worked hard, built a business and earned their own success.

Cantor's right. After all, there's no risk like borrowing a bank's money for a leveraged buyout, transferring the debt to the acquired company's balance sheet, and paying oneself millions in fees to help that company manage its suddenly backbreaking debt. It's risk worth celebrating to the hilt. 

The risks of other occupations pale in comparison, which is why the market, in its infinite wisdom, has decided that private equity traders are worth more than coal miners. Because of the risk they face in earning their daily bread by the sweat of their brows.

Cantor and some of his brave compatriots have taken this stand for inclusion in the face of fierce mockery from the likes of Roy Edroso and Doghouse Reilly, the latter of whom truly distinguishes himself as a ruffian. Read their posts only for examples of how not to behave.

Cantor joins a proud lineage of heroes who have ensured that holidays are used to unite, and never to divide, the public.