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Sanford & Sin

June 29, 2009 — It’s time to call a halt to the ritualistic assassinations of the careers of politicians whose morals don’t measure up to what our Judeo-Christian heritage requires of us.

Neither political party, nor the public, is likely to gain from the continued media orgies every time a prominent politician mismanages his zipper. Gov. Mark Sanford’s (R-SC) fall from grace, as well as those of US Sens. John Ensign (R-NV), David Vitter (R-LA) and Larry Craig (R-ID), make clear that the GOP has a problem living up to its family values philosophy. But before Democrats get too happy over the Republicans’ predicament, they have to come to terms with similar transgressions by former vice-presidential nominee John Edwards (D-NC), then-Gov. Elliot Spitzer (D-NY), then-Gov. Jim McGreevey (D-NJ), and -- the Big Enchilada -- then-President Bill Clinton.

Republicans do seem to have further to fall, because they have been more associated with the political wing of the religious revival of the past decades, and their base is strongest in small towns and rural areas, where more conservative mores prevail. Thus, on the state and federal level, many GOP lawmakers have pressed for more restrictions on abortion; favored “covenant marriages” which are suppose to be secure from divorce; and opposed most efforts to grant legal protections to homosexuals. When a prominent Republican transgresses, the “hypocrite” label appears in large scarlet letters on his forehead.

Democrats haven’t fared much better, however. Edwards’ often smarmy-sounding class-warfare rhetoric didn’t really compute with his affair with a campaign film-maker. During his tenure as a prosecutor, Spitzer had been especially hard on prostitution. And Clinton left a black mark on his White House tenure that history will record in embarrassing detail.

It is doubtful, however, that the political emasculation, if you will, of these officials has served the public interest. The harsh public and media judgment has certainly done little to deter other lawmakers from seeking sexual gratification outside of marriage. The fall-out from Clinton’s misdeeds did nothing to discourage the transgressions of fellow Democrats Edwards and Spitzer. After the revelation that his phone number appeared on the DC Madam’s client call list, Vitter’s political problems have included a porn-star toying with a primary challenge for the sole purpose of keeping the four-year old scandal fresh in the public’s mind. This did little, however, to throw cold water on the love affairs of Ensign and Sanford.

Indeed, there is a good argument that by severely hindering the careers of able leaders, the scandals prevented them from giving their best to their state or nation. It has been alleged that Clinton was inhibited from taking early action against Iraq because of his preoccupation with the Monica Lewinsky affair and the subsequent impeachment. Ensign and Sanford are both talented enough to have been considered potential presidential candidates in 2012. Edwards might today be a significant asset to President Obama in gaining public support for his economic and healthcare proposals.  Spitzer may have been a hypocrite for prosecuting prostitutes then availing himself of their services, but he was also a motivated foe of misbehavior on Wall Street, which might have been useful when the nation’s financial giants were discovered to have little money on hand other than that needed to fund over-the-top salaries and golden parachutes for top management.

The professional judgment of these men should be based on their performance in office -- the wisdom of the policies they advocate and their skill in implementing them. Let their wives and families deal with their personal transgressions.

Sadly, this will not happen anytime soon. It’s too much fun for the rest of us to revel in vicarious prurience while we watch the high and mighty hit the skids.