Gov. Sanford

Is Fidelity an important ingredient in effective governance? Why do these issues with politicians personal lives become so important to us? Is it really just the media that makes it into a story?

Governor Sanford is not the first and he certainly won't be the last. Many high profile politicians have strayed and lived to tell about it even though a few have lost their careers over it. Either way when ever it happens it seems that we can't get enough of the story. We want to know all the where, why and whens we can get our paws on. Or do we?

Me for one, couldn't care less. I was tired of the Sanford story after I heard he went to Argentina. I was less interested when I heard his wife already knew about it. So she asked him to stop seeing her? He didn't, that's a personal matter between them. The real concern here if any should be the lack of judgment he showed not being in contact with anyone. The media however is treating this story like the fidelity issue is the most important concern in our country right now. Why?

Clinton didn't inhale, then he did not have sexual relations with that women. How many other women did Clinton NOT have sex with? JFK was known to have a taste for blonds. Lyndon Johnson had a fling or two a no one at that time even hardly batted an eye. And those are just the first few that popped into my head.

We learned a few important things with the Clinton scandal.

1. Sex sells. How many news days were created because Monica had a "Stain" on her dress.
2. It does not ruin a political career. Bill is just as hot now as ever, and standing by her man hasn't hurt Hilary either.
3. Children do learn from what they see on T.V. After the Clinton ordeal the incidence of teens and adolescents experimenting with oral sex and foreplay skyrocketed, because it's not sex. When surveyed they would even tell you so.

The way I see it, the media likes to make a much larger deal out these things than they need to. Especially when it involves conservatives. Imagine a hypothetical situation. Barney Frank is having a relationship with a another man who is running a prostitution ring out of Barneys Washington residence, would the media make a huge story out of it? Oh wait that already happened, oops.

I don't know, I'm not saying people don't have a right to know when this stuff happens. I'm simply suggesting that it should be reported plainly and simply and let the voters decide. If a person is doing a good job in public office I don't really care who he or she is having sex with. If they aren't doing a good job we should vote them out again despite who he or she is having sex with. If fidelity is an important issue to you, then don't vote for him.

Cheers,

Mike