SC Governor reappears...after going to Argentina?

[honeychile]

Originally Posted by KSig RC

He can, apparently, count on her to keep quiet and play "wife" for five months after he's admitted to an affair . . . sounds like she's "standing by her (govern)man" huh?

I'm sure she done cussed him out, right after she lied to protect him ("I don't know where he is"). I, too, would have enjoyed the gay lover angle - we don't get enough squirming among people anymore.

On a completely related note . . . is this another step toward the public simply not caring what public figures do on their own time? I'm pretty unconcerned by the "Politicians are douche bags" angle - I mean really, a cheating politician?!? Heavens to Thomas Jefferson's illegitimate kids! - but with Manny Ramirez getting a standing ovation, Jon and Kate having their highest-rated show ever, etc., do we at some point become apathetic (or even morbidly addicted) to scandal? Or are politicians held to a different standard?

That's what really scares me. Have we all become so jaded that we'll accept any conduct, so long as we get warm fuzzies about someone? Or have politicians become so synonymous with corruption that we haven't a snowball's chance of ever having a decent one represent us?

[KSig RC]

Originally Posted by honeychile

That's what really scares me. Have we all become so jaded that we'll accept any conduct, so long as we get warm fuzzies about someone? Or have politicians become so synonymous with corruption that we haven't a snowball's chance of ever having a decent one represent us?

I don't necessarily disagree with this, but there's another aspect that often goes overlooked: in the modern age, what constitutes "corruption"?

Put another way: How much are we willing to forgive to get the best person for the job (or, how much would moral turpitude of some level actually reflect on ability to govern)? (See: Geithner, Timothy)

[UGAalum94]

Originally Posted by KSig RC

I don't necessarily disagree with this, but there's another aspect that often goes overlooked: in the modern age, what constitutes "corruption"?

Put another way: How much are we willing to forgive to get the best person for the job (or, how much would moral turpitude of some level actually reflect on ability to govern)? (See: Geithner, Timothy)

I think you have to look at individual cases for answers, and you have choose the areas of behavior that you're really going to let affect your evaluation.

Personally, I'd also consider the person's reaction to whatever the failing was. While I'm kind of amazed that we'd get a Sec. of Tres. with previous tax problems, his reaction to the issue was well-handled in my opinion and didn't make him seem unethical. If you've ever screwed up your taxes, you can see how it could happen and it wouldn't really mean you were dishonest or even particularly careless. But it's still weird that you could go on to run the US Treasury. I kind of want more of an anal retentive accountant type there, with apologize to all accountants who might read this.

I think what bothers me with adultery is that it seems to almost always involve an expectation of getting away with breaking a pretty public vow. If you're willing to be deceitful in this one area, why would a reasonable person assume you'd be honest in other areas? And marriage is purely between the two people involved or it wouldn't have the cultural significance that it has.

[DrPhil]

Originally Posted by UGAalum94

If you're willing to be deceitful in this one area, why would a reasonable person assume you'd be honest in other areas?

If you're willing to be honest in this one area, why would a reasonable person assume you'd be honest in other areas?

Beyond moral conjecture, there's no valid and reliable proof of the connection. What other immoral but legal things "can't" policians do without having their political honesty questioned?

[UGAalum94]

Originally Posted by DrPhil

If you're willing to be honest in this one area, why would a reasonable person assume you'd be honest in other areas?

Beyond moral conjecture, there's no valid and reliable proof of the connection. What other immoral but legal things "can't" policians do without having their political honesty questioned?

How do you regard a person's basic character? I tend to think by a certain age, you're going to have patterns set, and while you might have occasional lapses, marital infidelity is a big enough decision that it's a significant tell.

ETA: [Apparent] marital fidelity alone wouldn't establish anyone's creditability for me; it's just that's its absence seems significant. And adultery is illegal in a lot of states, so it may not make sense to limit your request that way.

http://www.dailykos.com/story/2009/6...South-Carolina!

It's fun to quote the Daily Kos.

[DrPhil]

Originally Posted by UGAalum94

How do you regard a person's basic character? I tend to think by a certain age, you're going to have patterns set, and while you might have occasional lapses, marital infidelity is a big enough decision that it's a significant tell.

ETA: [Apparent] marital fidelity alone wouldn't establish anyone's creditability for me; it's just that's its absence seems significant. And adultery is illegal in a lot of states, so it may not makes sense to limit your request that way.

http://www.dailykos.com/story/2009/6...South-Carolina!

It's fun to quote the Daily Kos.

I'm a huge proponent of fidelty. I despise cheaters and I won't get on that soapbox.

But, when it comes to politicians, the infedility itself isn't the dealbreaker to me. The context is. Bill Clinton's Oval Office Orgasms and this governor's stupid mysterious trip for which government employees had to play dumb (I don't believe he flew without anyone knowing the where and why) say to me that the politicians have blatant disregard for a position and the responsibilities and amentities that come with it.

If Clinton had done his cigarisms in a hotel on his own time and if this governor had seen his mistress without this hoopla, I wouldn't politically care. I would only morally care and think they are cheating bastards. My moral care doesn't have to translate to much, especially since we aren't talking about illegal conduct.