Defining Deviancy Up

Commentary Magazine ^ | June 25th, 2009 | John Podhoretz

[Jbny]

This is not the Athenian age for U.S. governors. Just in the past five years we’ve seen Jim McGreevey of New Jersey resign because he put his Israeli boyfriend on the state payroll as a homeland security adviser; Eliot Spitzer of New York resign because he had hired a prostitute, had her travel across state lines to entertain him, and attempted to contravene banking regulations; and Rod Blagojevich of Illinois bounced from office on charges that he had sought to sell a Senate seat. What all these cases have in common is that there were real acts of criminality and abuse of office against which there was and is no real defense.

[Sudetenland]

Podhoritz defining morality down. Podhoritz defining family values down.

This is not simply a private matter if government money was used to transport Sanford on his little assignations with "Maria."

You cannot profess to represent the party of "family values" and escape criticism for rank immorality and gross stupidity...not to mention dishonesty.

As goes a man's private life, so goes his public life. Character...which we Conservative have historically placed at a high premium in our leaders...is how one behaves when nobody is watching. Mark Sanford fails the test of character.

[GladesGuru]

True, but what did the Founders know, compared with the ‘Wisdom” of the Obabassiah?

After all, they were just old, dead, white, slave owners!

;-)

[ansel12]

As a voter I would consider someone keeping sordid personal information from me as coming between me and my vote, I need and want that information.

[karnage]

Mens is dogs.

[Reeses]

Democrat voters have a completely different value system than Republican voters. Even though Democrat politician adulterers skate, this doesn’t apply to Republican politicians. Worse, Sanford’s mistress could have been a spy or a source of international political blackmail. There are no excuses. Sanford should exit politics.