Today’s top news is, Gov. Sanford is in the hot seat for an extramarital affair, last week it was Sen. Ensign from Nevada, and news reporters act as if this is something new, it’s not. This has been going on in Washington and politics for generations, and in state politics it’s nothing new either. I have compiled a list of some past political men who have got caught, and or found out about later. While reading this list you will not find any women, I wondered why, is it because men don’t tell? I can’t believe that there have never been any women that have been involved with an extramarital affair while serving in government at some level.
Some recent affairs include John Edwards, Gov. Eliot Spitzer, Sen. Ensign, and now Gov. Sanford, but we soon forget some high profile political leaders that have made the sex scandal news over the years and generations. In research I have found some very interesting results, one example is Sen. Strom Thurman, after his death this segregationist with a racist history against blacks was found to have fathered a daughter out of wedlock with a 16 year old African American. President Thomas Jefferson fathered a child with his 17 year old slave. President Warren Harding is said to have had extramarital affairs resulting in children but was kept quiet by GOP leaders, President Grover Cleveland fathered an illegitimate child before being elected President. There are many stories about President Kennedy, President Eisenhower and his driver, President Clinton, and many other Presidents, even President Carter “lusted”.
Neither Presidents nor party leaders have escaped unscathed. Governors, congressmen, mayors, White House staff and candidates have been outted. If not tragic some would be funny, Rep. Wilbur Mills (old man) drove his car into the Tidal Basin with stripper Fannie Fox, Rep. Barney Frank’s partner (male) was running an escort service out of the Congressman’s house, Sen. Gary Hart got caught doing a little monkey business on a boat of the same name while running for President, Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas was accused by Anita Hill of putting a pubic hair on her Coke can, Sen. Larry Craig was arrested for tapping his foot in an airport bathroom looking for love, (male love), Senator candidate Jack Ryan reportedly took his wife to strip clubs and urged her to have sex with him in public places, again if not tragic some could see some of these outrageous acts as funny.
Many more politicians have been involved in much more serious acts, Rep. Gerry Studds engaging in a sexual relationship with a 16 year old male, Gov. Neil Goldschmidt, Rep. Mel Reynolds, Mayor Jim West, Rep. Buz Lukens, Rep. Fred Richmond, Rep. Dan Crane, have all been accused of having sexual relations with someone underage. Senator Arthur Brown was shot and killed by his mistress in 1897, Senator Ted Kennedy was involved in a death when Mary Jo Kopechne drowned in a car Sen. Kennedy was driving, Rep. Gary Condit’s political career was ended during the investigation of the death of Chandra Levy, New Jersey assemblyman Silvio Failla was shot and killed by a prostitutes pimp trying to rob him.
The following have all ended their political career by sexual scandals, Rep. Tom Evans, Gov. Bob Wise, Rep. Don Sherwood, Rep. Bob Bauman, Sen. Bob Packwood, Rep. Mark Foley, Gov. James E. McGreevey, Rep. Bob Livingston, Rep. Wayne Hayes, White House staff member Walter Jenkins (LBJ, WH), and Gov. candidate Jon Grunseth. Some Government officials have been accused of sexual scandal in their career and survived but they are far and few between; some names that come instantly to mind are President Bill Clinton, Mayor Rudy Guillani, and Speaker of the House Newt Gingrich, whether they have 100% survived or not is debatable, but at least they are still respected in their respective circles.
When these sexual scandals hit the airwaves reporters act as if this is something new in society. There is as much extramarital activity on main street as there is in any capital or government office. With about 50% of marriages ending in divorce, extramarital affairs affect everyday lives at every level of the social ladder. It seems that when we vote someone into office we put them on a pedestal, we believe they are above mortal man, when they prove to be average we are devastated, how could they do this terrible deed? Extramarital affairs are not the only vice politicians have, money issues, lying, cheating, not paying taxes, and any vice seen on main street, is also available in government circles. There are government officials that remain out of public scandals, just as there are average Americans who live non-eventful lives of this nature, but there will always be a certain percentage of people that get caught up in scandal, we have a obsession with political scandal, there is no such thing as a perfect human, so until we realize this, we will be obsessed with tearing down the ones we vote in, and requiring voted in government officials to live without emotion or lust as we mere peons live with everyday.
Your views and comments are always welcome
Comments
The problem occurs when they step up on the pedestal to condemn others for moral standards they are not following. Hypocrisy is the issue here not who they are sleeping with.
What is more of an insulting status for a women w.r.t. vanished identity / facelessness / obscurity ... being called the "mistress" or wearing a Hijab to guard your Tzniut (Hint - try wikipedia or ask a good Rabi)? Mother of Jesus wore a Hijab and did not mingle across gender lines. There are plenty of mock debates, but you are just not allowed to ask the real questions.
Pray to be given the ability to find the "ten commandments" in chapter 6 verse 151-153.
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