We expect a politician, lingering long in office, to become seasoned with arrogance and increasingly removed from normal standards of decency. Meet Exhibit A: Maryland politician William Donald Schaefer -- mayor, governor, now state comptroller ... and, at age 84, running for re-election.

At a recent Maryland Public Works Board meeting, Schaefer had a run-in with a 24-year-old woman, employed by the governor. She delivered a mug of tea to Schaefer, who ogled the woman as she walked away. Then, from across the room, he motioned for her to return to him. When she returned, Schaefer said, "Walk again."

According to observers, the woman left the room flustered.

When reporters confronted Schaefer, he exploded, "That's so [expletive deleted] dumb I can't believe it." He claimed that the woman should have been "happy that I observed her going out the door. ... A little girl walks out, and I make a joke out of it. ... The one who is offended is me."

Louise Hayman, a longtime aide to Schaefer, said the problem was this 24-year old woman with the nerve to be offended. "I think she overreacted, frankly."

Hayman furthered enlightened, "It sounds like he's demeaning you, but what he's really saying is he respects you." Adding, "I know that sounds odd."

What should Marylanders do with such a "public servant"? Defeat him in the next election? Force him to resign? Punch him in the nose?

This is Common Sense. I'm Paul Jacob.

Paul Jacob is Senior Fellow of U.S. Term Limits, a national grassroots organization committed to restoring citizen control of government by limiting the terms of politicians at the local, state and national level.