Democrats embrace celebrity. But Democratic politicians also treat Felicity Huffman, Woody Allen, and O.J. Simpson as pariahs today, the stench of real or alleged crimes too great to bear.

Their ostracism makes the political and celebrity embrace of Hotel Rwanda hotelier Paul Rusesabagina all the more bizarre. Celebrities and members of Congress rallied around Rusesabagina after a Rwandan court last September convicted him of terrorism and sentenced the 67-year-old to 25 years in prison.