Letters to the Editor
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Song Cue: "People are still having sex" (LaTour)
Why should it matter? Whose business is it? Why should Spitzer's forays have mattered? Did they affect his work?
What should matter, whether it was sexual or not, was John McCain's highly inappropriate relationship with a lobbyist. It clearly affected his work as a Senator and his interactions with the FCC.
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Oh c'mon
This is really ridiculous. Are we such a bunch of old women? The French encourage their leaders to screw around.
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I'm not a New Yorker, but
Who cares?
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What an idiotic post....
1. The affair was some time ago.
2. He admitted it, before the press found out; not that it was ever a secret to begin with.
3. His wife has known about it since the beginning. AND she's as guilty as he is.
4. THEY ARE STILL TOGETHER... He didn't go out and marry a 20-something year old, like some other people we could name.
It's a NON-STORY. Mr. Koppelman, it's you who should be neutered, since it's you who seem to find this story interesting.
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Power is the ultimate aphrodisiac
So why do we continue to be shocked, shocked over politicians' extramarital dalliances?
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WHO CARES.
Say it ain't so?! This is NO ONE's business! Why is this being reported on, especially by Salon? I understand the Daily News jumping all over it, part trashy rag that is, but I was under the impression that Salon was slightly above this kind of garbage. Say it ain't so?! Who cares? Two people had a rough patch in their marriage. Who cares? That has nothing to do with politics and governing. War Room has easily become the worst column that Salon runs.
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MySpace
Do their lovers have MySpace pages we can check out?
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humor /= your strong suit
please. just stop. :-P
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Assumptions
I've always assumed that people with egos large enough to believe they could lead a city, state or country were more likely than the average person to engage in all sorts of risky (or even illegal) behavior. This assumption has been borne out dozens of times during my lifetime.
However, it just occurred to me that I can't readily identify any instances when the "scandalous" kind of behavior that's absorbed national media and the public recently has involved a WOMAN. It's been (exclusively?) men, as far as I know. No doubt men haven't truly cornered the market here, and the relative lack of women in high office certainly reduces their opportunity -- but do we now have another reason to wish we had more women in elective office? Just asking...
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Off to a great start
I think Paterson made a brilliant move in defusing the story immediately. Look at the sleaze potential: a nearly unknown African American governor rides to higher office on the tide of a sex scandal. But HE has a sex scandal in his past, too! Bwaahaaahaaahaa! Oh, yeah. His political opponents would seize on a tale marital infidelity like pure GOLD if they could release it at the right moment. But Paterson deftly turned it into a non-issue. Smart man. Very smart. I think he's off to a terrific start.
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Affairs are not Victimless
Ashley Dupre and all of these thoughtless, narcissistic players don't understand how devastating affairs are to those who suffer the most: the families. My family was ripped apart after infidelity, and I feel keenly for those who were hurt in the process of satisfying the egos of these morally bankrupt politicos and players.
Thing is, I don't want this type of person representing me in office. If you've had an affair, leave office now. You disgust me, even if you've "worked it out." Even if you've said you're sorry -- you can never make up for the pain you cause even now. Go away, Ashley. Go away, Spitzer. Resign Patterson. Now.
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We have to stop thinking of politicians as saints
I'll grant that blatant cases of hypocrisy like the actions of the late governor deserve some special treatment, but did Paterson ever claim to be perfect? Has he railed against marital infidelity? If not, then is this really relevant to ... anything? I don't care if my elected representatives have carnal thoughts about others, used drugs 20 years ago (last month might be an issue), had a drunk driving conviction in the same time frame, had affairs, or occasionally say stupid things. Politics has turned into a game of "truth or dare", where the media challenge our leaders to expose their deepest secrets and then, if they don't get something juicy enough, start searching. Well, I don't want "Perfect" politicians. I expect my leaders to be as human as the rest of us.
We need smart politicians nowadays, not perfect ones. Let's stop chasing away good candidates who know that their lives will not withstand the media scrutiny we will subject them to.
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lmscol......
Yes, let's limit all leadership, teaching and authority positions solely to adult men and women who have never in any way or form caused any sort of harm, emotional or otherwise, to their loved ones, colleagues and strangers.
If I need heart surgery, I'd rather go with messianic acrpet cleaner rather than a world class cardiac surgeon who screws around on his wife.
Murdering hobos for kicks and raping children, etc. - this should get you kicked out of office.
Having an extramarital affair - should not get you kicked out of office. Unless you were elected to the office of Living Embodiment of the Sacred Marriage and Fidelity for NY (Dem). In which case, you should be fired.
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How is that . . .
. . . the people's business?
One thing is violating the law like Spitzer did, an another is to have an affair or two. You know like in the gay rights issue, what you do behind the closed doors of your bedrrom is only your business.
Are you really such a prude Alex? or are you just trying to neutralize another Hillary superdelegate?
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Marital affairs by politicians shouldn't matter politically.
barleymash is right with "I think Paterson made a brilliant move in defusing the story immediately."
It's so sad that this is necessary. Marital affairs by politicians shouldn't matter politically.
The McCain-lobbyist possible affair mattered because of McCain's alleged political interventions on the lobbyist's behalf. Spitzer's affairs mattered insofar as they were with a prostitute (and thus criminal) and investigators suspected there might have been improper use of state funds. Larry Craig's affairs mattered due to his blatant hypocrisy in legislating against homosexuals while he himself engaged in homosexual acts.
Hopefully (naive hopes, likely) people will start shutting the hell up about politicians' infidelities. We really should not know about what consensual acts are going on in other people's bedrooms.
Good presidents, good politicians and good people can still have affairs. With so few good people able to make it in politics, we needn't weed out any other potential candidates for reasons that are not dealbreakers, in my book.