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And Churchill drank a fifth of scotch every night, one of the world's great leaders. Look at those we hold up and praise for being so great. They were far from saints. Are we making TOO MUCH of it? Is it REALLY THAT important?
Churchill was an idiot, although "conservatives" love to put him on a pedestal. It doesn't come as a surprise that leaders find enough followers.
But trust me, I couldn't care less about infidelity etc (personal matter, as long as it stays personal), but those who try to present self as being righteous, and trumpet "family values", "morals" and what not... ought to.
If memory serves me right, Newt Gingrich left the legislature when it broke that he liked boys and young men. Today, he's running for President.
Marilyn Monroe was a regular visitor to the White House under Kennedy, ranked as one of our greatest Presidents.
I believe it was Roosevelt that had prostitutes on a regular basis.
How does fidelity determine someone's ability to lead a nation?
Marriage infidelity is an issue that is between the married couple, but when you run a Presidential canmpaign based on "family values", the hypocrisy and contradictions of one's actions certainly does become an issue.
Unfortunately, the media tends to dig-up and trumpet every possible indiscretion of politicians (regardless of how ancient). Thus, many qualified, competent people, who put their mistakes behind them many years ago, are reluctant to run for public office. Since the media has never demonstrated any degree of unbiased objectivity or morality, their agenda is typically self-serving and despicable.
On the other hand, 'leaders' or potential leaders, who are currently engaged in dishonesty and immorality should be exposed and precluded from public representation. This is not a matter of 'past mistakes,' of which we are all guilty; but, the ongoing character, integrity and values of the individuals we choose to represent us and our country.
Have we really reached the point where things like character, integrity and values no longer matter? If so, what does it say about us and our values? I certainly hope we have not reached that point, but, there seems to be a significant amount of evidence to the contrary.
Since the Republican party, at least the conservative right, always prided itself on family values and morality, it used to be a biggie. Even being married mutiple times would be a negative. However, evidently the standards have really loosened up and the Repubican Party could care less now.
First off, OP should really edit out the falsehoods about little boys. Unnecessary and in extremely bad taste.
With that out of the way, this one quote from Gingrich's ex-wife is all you need to know about his "values."
Quote:
He'd just returned from Erie, Pennsylvania, where he'd given a speech full of high sentiments about compassion and family values.
The next night, they sat talking out on their back patio in Georgia. She said, "How do you give that speech and do what you're doing?"
"It doesn't matter what I do," he answered. "People need to hear what I have to say. There's no one else who can say what I can say. It doesn't matter what I live."
"Don't do as I do, do as I tell you"? I never did like that message. It implies a double standard, and contradicts equality. To me, that's far worse than any infidelity ever was.
The media and partisan hacks on either side love a sex scandal. It lets them drop matters like the budget debate, unemployment, etc. All those numbers, ow, that makes their heads hurt.
How does fidelity determine someone's ability to lead a nation?
It doesn't.
If you're asking 'when' it became an issue? I'd have to say probably around the time that Gary Hart was exposed by some tabloid -- that's the earliest I can remember a political campaign being derailed due to sexual escapades. Then there was Clinton, who again was actually exposed by a tabloid during the primary season. He was able to fend off his allegations, but then the Republicans decided to wage an 8-year jihad against him, which marked a turning point in politics. Sexual politics became inextricably intertwined with all politics.
Fortunately, I think people are beginning to mature a little. I don't think an extramarital affair is going to sink someone's campaign -- if it's handled right. Unfortunately for Herman Cain, he has chosen to insult people's intelligence by operating as though he can simply lie to our faces and act like nothing has happened. He's giving all budding political scientists a textbook example of how not to handle claims of sexual misconduct. At least his campaign's good for something.
I have to agree with the original poster. With his utter incompetence to be President glaring like headlights in the night, it is adultery that brings him down? Complete ignorance of foreign affairs, complete ignorance of economics 999, misogyny. This jackass was probably the worst prepared of any of the candidates to be president and he was leading the pack! What is wrong with conservatives?
It is more important to have someone who is smart enough to speak to grade school children without using a teleprompter, someone who loves his country and doesn't bad mouth it around the world, someone who wants to be president and works hard at it, someone who believes in the constitution, someone who understands that capitalism is better than socialism.
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