Politics lead to scandal. There is no denying it.
Americans might like to think they have become a bit more fair-minded since the days when they elected their best friends to student council and homecoming court, but the simple fact is that politics will always be about popularity, and scandal is the best way to assure that popularity drops. If word gets out the homecoming queen-to-be slept with Nerdzilla, she is going to suddenly find herself in very hot water. The same goes for anyone with a less-than-flawless record in politics.
In the news, we have seen a governor and mayor fall from grace in New York and Detroit. Years back, we saw a president get impeached because of a White House intern and even presidential hopeful John McCain had a story run on an alleged affair with a lobbyist (which has since seemed to drop off the political radar).
But I am starting to ask the same question I ask when "Entertainment Tonight" comes on: Who the hell cares?
OK, take a look at this objectively. The civilized world (except maybe America) is growing more and more accepting of non-traditional relationships. Many countries have laws putting gay marriage officially on the books and the idea of casual sex is no longer a shocking taboo. People still have their morals, but we have an expanded vocabulary when it comes to relationships.
But the only people who are not allowed to have anything but standard nuclear families filled with sunshine and contentment are our leaders. Politicians are not allowed to make mistakes or fall out of line. Allegations of a consensual threesome can spell doom for a congressional hopeful.
The big issue most people cite for their interest is that politicians lie about their sexual scandals. That is the main reason people want them chucked from office. I simply do not buy it. I think people see infidelity, homosexuality and polygamy as some sort of weakness. They run these in their heads as some sort of sign from God that these people cannot lead. About the only one who has ever escaped this purgatory of the condemned is former president Bill Clinton, whose wife is still a viable presidential candidate despite the nagging distrust of Bill lingering in people's semi-conscious thoughts.
This is not specifically a plea to listen to Detroit Mayor Kwame Kilpatrick's pleas for forgiveness or a request that you turn a blind eye on politicians' private lives. People make mistakes. Expecting perfection of anyone, even our highest authority figures and leaders, is just a recipe for letdown. Not everyone can be George Washington.
I have been in the business of making mistakes my entire life and some of them still bother me - but if I decided to run for governor one day, I should not have them dragged out for the world to stomp their feet on.
Richard Poskozim is a sophomore in journalism. He can be reached at poskozim.1@osu.edu.
2008 Woodie Awards
Viewing Comments 1 - 3 of 3
MP_Moran
MP
posted 3/26/08 @ 1:21 PM EST
For the record: Detroit Mayor Kwame Kilpatrick has been charged with perjury and obstruction of justice, not extra-marital sex. And he has not asked for forgiveness, he is claiming innocence and says he is just a victim of lynch-mob-media lies. (Continued…)
Brian M.
posted 3/26/08 @ 4:26 PM EST
Your article forgot to mention that only Democrats get singled out for this behavior.
Republicans can commit genocide in the middle east with no repercussions and Democrats end up getting sent down the river because they aren't getting enough at home. (Continued…)
PatrickF
PatrickF
posted 3/27/08 @ 2:07 PM EST
Brian M.
Only democrats get singled out for this kind of behavior?! What about Mark Foley, Roy Cohn, Arnold Schwarzenegger, Neil Bush, Rudy Guliani, Larry Craig. (Continued…)
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