Why is it that people act surprised when a politician does something very heinous? (Congress, accuse)

[Abnerthonil]

When a politician does something heinous people act as if they are so shocked about it, but really whether it's the PotUS, a senator, or just a bum off the street are they not all equally capable of committing horrible, heinous crimes? I understand when it comes to elected officials or "upstanding members of the community" one would automatically think they should be above such things but in the end they are no more superior to you or me.

So really, as bad as they may be, if the President for example was caught molesting children should it really be anymore shocking than anything else? Look at Nixon and the watergate scandel, it's not as if Presidents or any other members of congress are somehow biologically superior to your average joe. If anything considering how inherently evil and corrupt most people in authoritative positions are and thus easier to cover such crimes up would be if anything wouldn't they be more likely to be ones to commit heinous and vile acts?

[fisheye]

Here is one great example: Wolf calls for convicted State Rep. Acosta to resign; she vows to stay. "Facing trial in November, Tartaglione is accused of embezzling hundreds of thousands of dollars from the Juniata Community Mental Health Clinic, a publicly funded facility she founded with her husband in 2002 to serve low-income patients." Then it goes on to state: "According to court filings unsealed the day of Acosta's plea, she was charged with accepting checks from the clinic worth thousands of dollars between 2008 and 2012 for work she did not perform. She knowingly aided Tartaglione in her alleged theft by cashing the checks and kicking the money back to her former boss, according to the filings."

But, since she is charged and has not been convicted; she is still running for reelection. Perhaps she is waiting for a pardon from Obama as he leaves office?