Bearing Gifts

The state legislature in North Carolina has been thrashing through some ethics laws lately and has approved a measure -- applicable to the executive branch only -- that would

bar lawmakers from accepting nearly all gifts from lobbyists and their principals, make it a felony to lie on their economic disclosure statements and require ethics training for General Assembly members when they take office.

But an amendment to the bill would actually lower the money threshold on gifts that lawmakers themselves could receive from neighbours and state employees. Said Deomcratic state representative Drew Mecklenburg of the lowered gift threshold:

Even baby Jesus accepted gifts and I don't believe it corrupted him.

Ergo, it is a duty, inspired by the "baby Jesus," to accept gifts as a public servant, because if it didn't corrupt Jesus, well, by god, it surely won't corrupt them.

I wonder if Mr. Mecklenburg is similarly inspired by Jesus' public service by having the flesh flayed from his body while nailed to a cross.

Update: Robb from the comments, nailed it with that now oft-varied and famous line: "I've met baby Jesus and you, Mr. Mecklenburg, are no baby Jesus."