If there were an award for the most embarrassing member of Congress, whom would you nominate? There are likely several options. And maybe if there were such an award, some of those potential candidates would quit trying so hard to win it.

What should be the criteria for choosing a “Most Embarrassing Member of Congress”? Here are mine.

First, the person must make a fool of himself or herself with some frequency. We all make mistakes, but we don’t all make fools of ourselves on a regular basis. Some members of Congress do.

Second, the person never seems to realize he’s embarrassing himself and those around him.

Third, he defends his acts, even boasts of them in the media and in fundraising letters, no matter how foolish they are, often asserting that he is right and that others are the real fools for not recognizing it.

Finally, the member never apologizes for embarrassing his colleagues.

But someone should not be considered the most embarrassing member just because he or she advocates certain policy positions. For example, I disagree with just about every policy pushed by Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), but he is a consistent, articulate defender of his views.

So, who could be some potential candidates for the most embarrassing member?

One obvious candidate would have been Rep. George Santos........

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