A recent Washington Examiner commentary by an author identified as Platner challenges the notion that either major US political party possesses moral authority. The piece asserts that public trust has eroded so deeply that both Republicans and Democrats are perceived as lacking any credible claim to ethical leadership.
The article contends that Americans broadly view both parties as “cheats, creeps, and cranks,” arguing that repeated scandals and partisan gridlock have destroyed whatever moral high ground either side might have once held. This perspective reflects a growing disillusionment with institutional politics beyond Washington.
The commentary does not single out one party for blame but instead points to systemic failure across the political spectrum. It suggests that the electorate’s contempt is bipartisan and warranted, implying that neither side has earned the right to lecture the other on ethics or values.
While the piece offers no polling data to support its claim of widespread public disdain, it echoes a sentiment often expressed in surveys showing low approval ratings for both Congress and national party leadership. The argument aligns with a broader narrative of institutional decay that resonates with voters across ideological lines.
The op-ed stops short of prescribing solutions, focusing instead on diagnosing what it sees as a fundamental crisis of credibility. Its central thesis—that moral authority requires integrity, which both parties currently lack—serves as a caution rather than a call to action.