When the news broke about alleged misconduct by Democratic Louisiana Congressman Rep. William J. Jefferson, I figured it was only a matter of time before that was woven into a "Democrats do it, too!" story-line.

When Republicans in Washington became embroiled in ethics scandals — the Jack Abramoff affair among them — Democrats made sure the nation knew it was all part of a Republican culture of corruption.

So how do Democrats explain the case of Rep. William J. Jefferson, D-La.? The allegations against Jefferson paint a picture of corruption. Do Democrats insist wrongdoing is exclusive to one political party?

Short answer? No.

Here's this Democrat's opinion: If he's found guilty, throw him in jail. Prosecute him to the furthest extent of the law.

But let's not follow this logical fallacy in order to excuse the egregious behavior of the Bush administration and its attendant political machine.

For the sake of argument? I'll give you Jefferson. Hell, I'll give you Dan Rostenkowski and Jim Traficant, even though you have to go back a few years. Heck, why not -- let's even stipulate John Ford for the sake of argument. They have that guy on tape threatening a Federal officer.

But let's go down the list of Republicans involved in political scandal, and this just in the last eight years (note: not all allegations have resulted in convictions, but neither have the allegations against Jefferson)...

• Jack Abramoff -- K Street Project, Indian casinos
• Adam Kidan -- K Street Project, Sun Cruz Casino deal, possible accessory to murder-1
• Tony Rudy -- K Street Project, Indian casinos
• Michael Scanlon -- K Street Project, Indian casinos
• Neil Volz -- K Street Project, Indian casinos
• David Safavian -- K Street Project, bid rigging
• Bob Ney -- K Street Project, Coingate
• Tom Delay -- K Street Project, money laundering, misuse of public agencies
• Ed Buckham -- K Street Project
• Ralph Reed -- K Street Project, Indian casinos
• Duke Cunningham -- bribery, corruption in Defense contracts
• Mitchell Wade -- bribery, corruption in Defense contracts
• Brent Wilkes -- bribery, corruption in Defense contracts
• Kyle Foggo -- bribery, corruption in Defense contracts, prostitution
• Katherine Harris -- bribery, corruption in Defense contracts, election fraud
• Rep. Jerry Lewis (R-CA) -- bribery, corruption in Defense contracts
• Jim Tobin -- Phonegate
• Chuck McGee -- Phonegate
• Allen Raymond -- Phonegate
• James Treffinger -- Phonegate
• Jayne Millerick -- Phonegate
• Bill Frist -- insider trading
• James R. Bath -- BCCI, Arbusto/Harken Energy, alleged fixer for GW Bush military records
• Gov. George Ryan -- convicted felon; 22 counts in total related to corruption
• Karl Rove -- implicated in Plame CIA scandal, conflicts of interest related to Intel
• Dick Cheney -- implicated in Plame CIA scandal
• I. Lewis "Scooter" Libby -- indicted in Plame CIA scandal
• Stephen Hadley -- implicated in Plame CIA scandal
• Karen Hughes -- implicated in Plame CIA scandal
• Ari Fleischer -- implicated in Plame CIA scandal
• Adam Levine -- implicated in Plame CIA scandal
• Israel Hernandez -- implicated in Plame CIA scandal
• Kellogg, Brown, & Root (company) -- under FBI investigation
• Halliburton (company) -- under FBI investigation; under government audit scrutiny
• Larry Franklin -- AIPAC scandal
• Donald Keyser -- espionage
• Darleen Druyun -- conspiracy in government contracting
• Michael Sears -- conflict of interest related to conspiracy in government contracting
• Boeing (company) -- illegal government contracts
• Nick Smith -- bribery
• Armstrong Williams -- payola/propaganda
• Maggie Gallagher -- payola/propaganda
• Michael McManus -- payola/propaganda
• Garrett Lott -- illegal campaign contributions
• John Ashcroft -- recipient of illegal campaign contributions
• George W. Bush -- "unitary executive" mandate to perform nationwide surveillance (legality in question); abridgement of Geneva Conventions; manufacturing evidence to commit to war in Iraq
• Alberto Gonzalez -- chief architect and enforcer of unitary executive theory
• Colin Powell -- manufacturing evidence to commit to war in Iraq
• Don Rumsfeld -- abridgement of Geneva Conventions; manufacturing evidence to commit to war in Iraq
  
  
  UPDATED!

• Ernie Fletcher -- conspiracy, official misconduct and political discrimination
• John Rowland -- improper gifts, misappropriation of state funds, bad poetry
  
  
  UPDATED AGAIN!

• Dennis Hastert -- corruption, bribery, Abramoff's Indian casinos

So, please. Spare me the handwringing. This isn't an all-things-being-equal case. This isn't a matter of two wrongs making a right.

Hell, if two wrongs made a right, then the Republicans would be right 20 22 times over (and counting).