As a highly visible public figure and a man prominent in Mormon circles, Romney's opportunity to engage in illicit sex would be severely limited. Even more than evangelicals or traditional Catholics, Mormon culture puts a high value on public appearance and personal behavior. Compare obesity, tobacco use, alcohol consumption, divorce, etc., of predominantly evangelical Southern states or heavily Catholic Northeastern states with mostly Mormon Utah, and Utah will be the winner.
There is a sub rosa, but widespread perception that black men, especially successful ones, will seek white women when the opportunity arises. The same under the radar prejudice applies to the perception of faithfulness in marriage of black men. The Obama operatives (and I suspect they were the instigators of the Cain allegations) know this, and they used the tactic James Carville described as dragging hundred dollar bills through trailer parks to find the accusers. There is more than a little irony that the party that has the African-American vote in its hip pocket will use tactics reminiscent of the Dixiecrats of yore.
Don’t kid yourself. Everyone has the opportunity to stray. Romney is no exception. But I firmly doubt that the media will scrutinize Romney’s life with the same intensity they have exercised with the other candidates. Maybe he has been a good Mormon, but the fact is we will never know.
I wonder when people will wake up and stop allowing the media and the two major parties to pick our leaders for us.