The joke's on Arlen Specter

What the heck is wrong with Sen. Arlen Specter? Why would anyone tell ethnic jokes in this day and age? Anybody not living in a cave - and Capitol Hill is not exactly a cave, although it has its share of moonbats - knows that the age of ethnic jokes, particularly of the Polish variety, has come and gone and its passing is not lamented.

Yet telling Polish jokes is what Pennsylvania's senior Republican senator did at an event for the Pennsylvania Society in New York City last Friday, even though he reportedly knew that some in the audience were of Polish descent. As my colleague Jim O'Toole wrote in a story on this morning's front page ("Specter's Ethnic Jokes Lay an Egg"), he has been apologizing ever since. So he should. He should say sorry for the dual offenses of insensitivity and stupidity, a pair that often hang out together.

Which brings me to the subject of political correctness, the most threadbare expression and concept in the language. You can just bet that some goof somewhere will defend Sen. Specter by lamenting about what the world has come to when you can't tease people because PC thought has squeezed all the fun and humor out of life.

At that time, and I know I am attacking a straw man until it happens, I will point out that in most cases Political Correctness is, in fact, nothing more than Practical Courtesy.