Joe Biden of Delaware turned in a shameful performance at last week's Senate hearing with Scott Ritter -- the United Nations official who recently resigned because the Clinton administration was blocking his weapons inspections in Iraq (see Matthew Rees's "Smearing Scott Ritter," page 9). Biden began his questioning of Ritter by falsely claiming that Ritter was single-handedly trying to determine when the United States should use military force against Iraq. Having recklessly distorted Ritter's position, Biden then berated Ritter -- even calling him "Scottie boy" -- for holding views he'd never expressed. "I respectfully suggest, Major," that "they [the secretary of state and secretary of defense] have responsibilities slightly above your pay grade. . . . Whether or not to take the nation to war . . . that's a real tough decision. That's why they get paid the big bucks. That's why they get the limos and you don't."
Just in case Ritter didn't understand the first time, Biden repeated the point later: "They get paid more than you, their job's a hell of a lot more complicated than yours. . . . It's above your pay grade." Biden came across not only as insufferably condescending and bullying, but as a man with an unseemly fixation on pay grades. Maybe all those hair plugs are getting a little expensive for the senatorial pay grade.