Don’t they get it?

Outward appearances play such a role in politics that you’d expect the professionals in the field to show themselves in the best light at all times. If not every moment, at least when they’re on center stage.

The U.S. House of Representatives moved conspicuously onto center stage for an ethical melodrama after former Majority Floor Leader Tom DeLay was indicted on federal conspiracy charges and super-lobbyist Jack Abramoff pleaded guilty to conspiracy, fraud and tax evasion. With more developments to come in both cases, there has been considerable talk about reform efforts to reduce the influence money and favors have over the lawmaking process – but little more than talk. The closest facsimile of action has been the election by House Republicans last week of Ohio Congressman John Boehner to replace DeLay.

No sooner had the outcome been announced, however, than it was remembered that in 1995, when Congress was considering elimination of tobacco subsidies, Boehner was going about on the House floor distributing tobacco lobbyists’ campaign checks to select colleagues. Boehner, who’s enjoyed his own share of lobbyists’ hospitality, has called himself a reformer.

That was the case again this week after it was revealed that he rents a $1,600-a-month Capitol Hill basement apartment from longtime friend and lobbyist John D. Milne. And that some of Milne’s clients have a direct interest in legislation Boehner has sponsored or managed through the legislative process.

It’s important, of course, that Boehner’s actions are legal and free of conflicts of interest, which he insists that they are. It’s equally important, though, that the public have confidence in government, an attitude that’s hard to sustain when questionable appearances keep raising suspicions.

Earth to NASA

Political operatives are boldly going where they’ve never gone before. The National Aeronautics and Space Administration is the latest battleground in the war between science and politics.

First, the agency’s public information office was accused of censoring its scientists’ findings on global warming. Then it imposed itself on the origins-of-the-universe debate.

George Deutsch, a young intern from the Bush-Cheney campaign, landed a job at NASA after the election and kept right on campaigning. Instead of helping scientists communicate their findings, he decided to politicize them. Some scientists say their reports on global warming were watered down. Scientist James Hansen said the administration didn’t want him giving speeches on the topic.

Deutsch also ordered that all mentions of “Big Bang” carry the word “theory” on the NASA Web site. That’s not so bad, but his rationale was: “It is not NASA’s place, nor should it be, to make a declaration such as this about the existence of the universe that discounts intelligent design by a creator – the other half of the argument.”

We’re guessing Deutsch was motivated by more than just science, but that’s just a theory. Deutsch was dumped on Tuesday for lying on his resume. We hope NASA administrators can see that there was a bigger problem.