Politicians and extra-marital sex

I must say that as a woman I was quite impressed when the most recent infidelities made public involving politicians had the offenders facing the cameras alone, without their humiliated wives standing by their sides.

Recently, former Democratic presidential hopeful John Edwards, Republican Sen. John Ensign and Republican Gov. Mark Sanford were forced to face the music of their adulterous behavior all by themselves. There they stood all alone with various excuses for the same types of behaviors, which they alone were responsible for, only the details varied.

In this day of 24-hour, non-stop cable news coverage, famous people in this country and particularly politicians cannot escape public scrutiny regarding their personal behavior, regardless of whether it does or does not affect how they do their jobs. Some have liaisons right there in the office, while others travel clear to South America, leaving no clues about where they are or what they are up to.

Over the years powerful men like Presidents Roosevelt and Kennedy privately had trysts and affairs, but they were mostly kept secret until years later. Former President Clinton was a well-known womanizer before he was elected, but during his presidency was impeached for his bad behavior. One of his biggest critics, Republican House Speaker Newt Gingrich, later admitted that at the same time he was also having an affair. And it was not his first or only one either.

And there is a long list of politicians from both sides of the aisle that can be pointed to for various indiscretions: Gary Hart, Rudy Giuliani, David Vitter, Jim McGreevey, Eliot Spitzer, David Patterson, Larry Craig, and I‘m sure that I am leaving someone out.

When politicians cheat, it not only disappoints their families, but also the public. It brings into question whether or not they can be trusted, whether or not they have the proper character, integrity and judgment to do the job they were or hoped to be elected to do.

Some of the men in question decide to or are forced to resign, while others choose to stay in office, even with calls from the public and their party leaders for them to resign. In this country the public seems to hold politicians, whether they are presidents, governors, senators or congressmen to higher standards simply because they were given greater powers by the voters. If they cannot keep their marriage vows, how can they keep their oaths of office?

The types of individuals who pursue political careers are often labeled as narcissistic, risk-takers to begin with, whose political ambitions and inflated egos make them feel special and even invincible. The political lifestyle today calls for a lot of time away from family and meeting lots of new and interesting people, which may cause some to stray, particularly when they get so much attention from those around them.

It does seem odd that we almost never hear of female politicians who have to admit to adulterous or illegal sexual behavior. True, there are far fewer women politicians: seven governors, seventeen senators and seventy-four House members. And we have had only one woman presidential contender and two female vice-presidential nominees. So, as far as numbers go, there are far fewer women to stray.

Or is it that women are just smarter about hiding their bad behavior and therefore simply don’t get caught? Or could it be that women are simply just too tired after taking care of their children and husbands and don’t have the energy for extra-marital affairs? Or is it that women hold themselves to a higher standard of behavior and feel that they are scrutinized more closely than male politicians are already?

It seems also that the party of “family values,” the Republicans, has just as many offenders in its midst as does the less judgmental party known as the Democrats, although it is the Republicans who have used their moral message of superiority to help them get more votes in past elections.

And so when Republicans like Governor Sanford, who was said to have been one of the brightest, potential presidential candidates for 2012, has been so publicly critical of others who found themselves in this now-too-common position falls, he hits bottom with a much bigger thud.

Many of these politicians can be rightfully called hypocritical at best. They are often those who are the most vocal proponents of the “Defense of Marriage Act” (DOMA), not wanting the sanctity of traditional marriage to be tarnished. Maybe a good way to preserve traditional marriage would be to add a clause to the DOMA that would forbid adultery, and the soliciting of prostitutes, as well as divorce.

ABOUT THE WRITER
Carol Jensen is a long-time Barstow resident, graduating from Kennedy High School and Barstow College, where she was an English instructor for many years. Much of her time now is spent writing political and social commentary. She may be contacted at cajensen49@msn.com.