File this under, “what the ——– was he thinking?” And supply your own filler word.

Senate Finance Committee Chairman Max Baucus, D-Montana, who is shepherding a massive rewrite of the nation’s health care system through the Senate, took time off last week from his labors to forward the name of his girlfriend, Melodee Hanes, to the White House for possible appointment as Montana’s U.S. attorney.

Baucus explained that she was simply the most-qualified person for the $153,200-a-year job. Looking at her resume, however, that could only be true if it were a very thin pool of applicants. Her qualifications seem modest at best.

The real issue is that Baucus apparently didn’t see why anyone would have a problem with this appointment. “I, for one, did not want her relationship with me to disqualify her from applying for the position,” he said.

We’re sorry, but, unfortunately, some relationships do just that. Office-holders appointing wives, children and girlfriends to government jobs looks very bad and should be avoided — particularly in the middle of a controversial struggle over health care, particularly by a guy who has been in the Senate for 31 years and should know better.

Baucus has now withdrawn Hanes’ nomination. But the distraction it caused was damaging and totally avoidable

But cry not for Ms. Hanes. We’re sure the senator will find a spot somewhere in government for her.