I think you are right to say that his first wife’s family supports him politically, and for that reason they have refused to discuss whether or not Fred Thompson was unfaithful in his first marriage. But we should not take their silence as a confirmation of infidelity.
If I am convicted of robbing a the First National Bank, I could go to jail for a long time, so I have a strong reason to say that I did not rob the bank. But if the police ask me if I robbed the bank and I say “no”, my interest in saying “no” should not be used as evidence to indicate that I actually did rob the bank.
As to the matter of Fred Thompson’s activities while he was not married, to me there is a difference between marital infidelilty and sexual promiscuity outside of marriage. The factual question of marital infidelity is still up in the air, as far as I can tell, and we are all just speculating on that point.
If you wish to change the discussion to sexual promiscuity outside of marriage, though, I think we are on pretty safe ground there. I don’t think anybody will go to the mat saying Fred Thompson led a monk’s life between his two marriages.
“I think you are right to say that his first wifes family supports him politically, and for that reason they have refused to discuss whether or not Fred Thompson was unfaithful in his first marriage. But we should not take their silence as a confirmation of infidelity.”
The problem is, the brother wasn’t “silent.” He pretty much confirmed that it was infidelity, and nor mental or physical cruelty.
“As to the matter of Fred Thompsons activities while he was not married, to me there is a difference between marital infidelilty and sexual promiscuity outside of marriage.”
There certainly is a difference, because you are not cheating on a spouse. My observation was that I was surprised at how many seemingly religious people see nothing wrong with promiscuity if you are single. It bothers me. Just as his wife’s shack up relationship — and we know about one. Maybe others will surface — bothers me. I’ve never believed in a double standard. His behavior, to me, is as bad a hers.
But, as I said before, maybe it’s just me. I think it will be an issue.