Sex in politics? My gosh just who is still surprised by this?
Last week the DC Madam’s list went live in the Internet. Larry Flynt of Hustler fame got a hold of it and leaked it out – not until after he leaked to one of the politicians on the list that his name was on it and Larry was all out of white out!
Senator David Vitter (R-LA) got the call from Larry Flynt last week and immediately seemed to have run to confession and had a quick therapy session with his wife – but it’s okay because he #1 turned to God and #2 came clean with his wife. It’s very trendy these days whether living in Hollywood or inside the beltway to find God or go to rehab or ala former Representative Mark Foley - both.
So the first elected casualty seems to be out and trying to heal. After Senator Vitter got the call and after speaking with his wife reached out to a trusted reporter at the Associated Press. All the right moves for a politician in crisis. But is this really a crisis? I mean with all we have been through in recent history from President Kennedy and Marilyn Monroe, President Carter’s “lust” and President Clinton’s – well we all unfortunately read that transcript in the New York Times – I mean are we shocked? Is this new? Will this really matter at the voting booth?
I think it’s in the eye of the voter coupled with the level of hypocrisy of the politician. This is where it gets rough for Senator Vitter – he may have a hard time regaining the approval ratings President Clinton did. After all, the Clinton’s admitted they had rough times in their marriage – they did so on 60Minutes in front of the world (that’s when CBS had a larger viewing audience). But then there are politicians that speak out loud about a higher standard, they criticize others’ immoral behavior – yet behind closed doors they are no better. That is what is called the height of “moral hypocrisy.”
That’s what stung Senator Vitter last week more than the truth coming out itself. Looking back we read and hear remarks made by the Senator condemning President Clinton. We see that his wife said that if she was in such a position as Hillary - instead of standing by and forgiving her man, she (Mrs. Vitter) instead would take the "Lorena Bobbitt approach." Ouch! Now that seems like moral hypocrisy to me. I think the public is more apt to forgive and forget if you come out with the truth yourself (then of course turn to God or go to rehab). It shows the public perhaps a sense of “moral responsibility” vs. "moral hyposcrisy." But Senator Vitter not only came out with this information under duress but out of Louisiana. Louisianans have been under a lot of duress lately. Between Representative Jefferson's FBI investigation for the $90,000 cash in his freezer and the area still reaming from and waiting for the fulfillment of Congressional commitments post-Katrina – perhaps this will be harder to swallowfor the voters of Louisiana.
The way I see it, the Senator has turned to God, apologized to his wife, sent an apology letter to supporters but I think he's going to have to do more than just show up back in DC this week to save his seat (literally).
But I want to hear what you think – are you surprised by the relationship between sex and politics?
Do you think about it when you pull the lever in the voting booth?
Does a person’s normal everyday behavior make a sexual revelation worse if in larger contrast to who they claim to be?
I’m looking forward to hearing what you think. After all it’s a very political season and the movies coming out this summer may not be the only things “R” rated!
Thanks for joining the conversation!
Laura
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Comments: 32
Flynt has been PAYING people to find out stuff on Republicans! "Got ahold of it and leaked out" Not quite Laura.
What he did was wrong and he is full of hypocrisy. He will have to face his wife and voters in the fall.
Laura, do you and your Democrat friends like having Larry Flynt do your dirty work? He has stated quite publically that he was mad over the whole Clinton impeachement and was going after Republicans. I wonder if this is OK with the National Organization of Women and the feminist crowd? They were awfully quiet during the Clinton trial.
My thought is normally, "are these the best choices that we can come up with?"
Gary, why are you attacking Laura? She is just putting some issues up for discussion. No need to take it personally.
If a goon like Flynt would have exposed John Edwards, or Hillary Clinton, or someone like that, it would have been "shoot the messenger".
Just watch, this fall, when Hillary and Obama go neck and neck and the gloves come off, the dirt that will fly and how if any "Republican Friendly" source brings up some dirt, watch how it will be handled in the press.
There are different media standards for Democrats than Republicans.
Of course, it is no longer personal when you use your political office to moralize, all the while knowing that you are being a hypocrite in the process. Oh, and in most places (like DC) prostitution is illegal. This has been what has gotten the Republicans/Conservatives in deeper hot water than the Democrats/Liberals, especially lately. Proselytizing with a holier-than-thou attitude is not only hypocritical, but done by politicians is a violation of the public trust. People understand that politicians are human (like most of us), but the public can't stomach being treated like fools.
As for Larry Flynt, he would sell out a Democrat if it would sell more magazines (and has done so). Everyone knows this, which is why he can blatantly get away with his atrocious behavior. We don't expect much from him - but we do expect our politicians to have integrity and act in the public's interest.
So it really shouldn't be unexpected that they would like sex. Of course, there are those pesky marriage vows that are supposed to help them maintain their integrity, but hey, there's a reason 1/2 of all marriages end in divorce (and many of them aren't even politicians, which means there are non-politicians who are also interested in sex).
There's a shocker, they're just like the rest of us.
Thanks so much for commenting on the article – great to have you as a part of it.
I really agree with the point you make that yes, in an ideal world politics is about policies and not personalities. I'm sure some of the most brilliant men and women before our times such as Alfred Einstein or Susan B. Anthony may or may not have had the best personalities but what incredible contributions did they make!
I certainly believe that hypocrisy in extra-marital affairs goes hand in hand. And the "H" word will be brought up no matter how you live your life - whether under a rock or on a stage or on the floor of the Capital. But with a heightened profile – a national profile does come greater scrutiny. And it is the unwritten rule whether a celebrity, CEO or politician – if you do something shady or something seen as less that perfect – you're in for it from the media, from your staff and of course from your constituents.
Thanks so much for participating in the article,
Laura
Don't expect Larry to sit on information if a Democrats name is out next. Larry's loved being in the media this last week and a half and there's one thing anyone has learned from watching Larry – he craves the media.
First of all thanks for the shout out in your last post! Much appreciated.
Secondly, I like your comment that you base your lever pull on whether these are the best choices – I'd add on to that – when even some of those choices sometimes seem to be who is the lesser of two evils – or who can do less harm. But really, it comes down to choices and no matter what we've all made some kind of poor choice in the past and undoubtedly will in the future. For my vote - it is about the policies and their power to effect change – that means the brightest tool in the shed but not always someone I'd want to be married to myself. Someone that watches my back. Either way politicians need to be reminded every now and then whether potential personal choices they are about to make could impact those that have made them politicians in the first place – the voters. These folks in public offices are paid for by us, the voter and if they don't fulfill their policy commitment we can vote them out – if we're offended by their personal choices – we can vote them out on that too.
Just thank goodness we get to vote!
Thanks so much for joining in the conversation!
I think if I were in Vitter's place I would resign and hire you! I have nothing to say except thank you for your well thought out comments – you make a lot of sense.
Thanks so much for joining in!
Laura Schwartz
Thanks for your comments!
You hit it on the head – if not illegal – make your own moral judgment and let it be known at the voting booth next time if you so wish. But it is interesting in electing people to office =we look to politicians to give us a reason to believe they will be agents of change and they look to us and try to figure out every button they can push to get themselves elected. I'm not saying that isn't sort of slimy – but that is the game. It's just a lot easier to sell and convince voters when you do believe in it yourself. But there comes an element where you present yourself to get the votes you need – that you can do no wrong. That you would be the ideal best friend who is always there for you and would make the best spouse and parent all of course indicating that you will make the best decisions when it comes to the country. We have to do as much research of our own when it comes to electing or officials – personality aside. What's their track record on policies – getting things done – following through on what they say they will do!
Thanks David!
Too bad for Senator Vitter that he happens to hold office at a time when the average Joe is getting sick and tired for politicians that party on the people's nickel. I'll bet in one way or another the money it cost the good senator to whoop it up found it's way onto his "expense account".
The truth is nobody is shocked by anything politicians do these days. We're already thinking that they are doing things like this and much worse even without evidence being leaked to the press.
Washington D.C. is the ultimate power center;
The Capitol building itself is the ultimate phallic symbol;
Partisans are the ultimate hustlers.
Accept these natural laws and ditch the Victorian-era shock-and-awe reaction when a Representative gets his hand caught in a cookie jar, or a certain Presidential Act results in the rise in sales of blue dresses in area retail outlets.
Apparently balancing the budget doesn't provide the adrenaline rush that it once used to inside the beltway.
And, Gary, for the record, I have to say that there are not many people in the world that I would categorize as despicable, but Larry Flynt would definitely fit. I do not consider him any sort of hero here--he just happens to be the medium by which this came to light. My issue, and apparently the issue of many others here, is the hypocrisy.
An ethical man does not break the law visiting prostitutes no matter in what condition he finds his marriage. If he's unhappy, get a divorce.
The idea that our leaders are like Rock Stars and have "higher needs" is BS to my mind. What is wrong with expecting an ethical, decent man in the White House? It's true, with our "elections" becoming financial popularity contests, that politicians now more resemble movies stars and sports figures rather than statesmen and stateswomen. Ah well, you get what you pay for.
I was one Democrat who felt Bill Clinton had embarrassed his office and our country and should have resigned. I can't abide a liar, which is why I don't like Bush either.
"The only thing worse than a politician sleeping with a prostitute, is one that claims he's not".
David Vitter and anyone that supports him still, are hypocrites. If he had not preached moral superiority, we would not be having this conversation. But he did and we are. I agree with most of what of you all are saying.
Thanks for your vote of confidence, but seeing as I am a philosophy professor and not a lawyer, I am not sure I could really help Senator (my apologies to Senator Vitter for calling him Congressman and Representative Vitter in my last post) Vitter sort out his legal problems. I could, however, show him how to interpret his situation from a variety of different perspectives. Hey, I have to put my degree to use in some constructive manner! LOL!!! P.S. I wish you would appear on RedEye more often!!!
But when a candidate uses personal values, morality, and sexuality as political issues, then these sorts of things can have serious political consequences. Both for the individual and for the political party that endorses them.