Flings in Office
On a political note, I'm actually glad there's this trend for politicians who commit adultery of one form or another while in office to not leave office just based on the moral outrage of some special interests. Granted, it's really funny when it turns out the adulterous officeholder was one of those people who promote "family values" or called for the resignation of other politicians in their current place (the common one being Bill Clinton), but I still don't think this impacts the office they hold.
It might impact their ability to get re-elected, but that's a side issue. The big thing here is pithy moral outrage being a reason to leave office. My unformed brain during the Clinton impeachment marvelled at the idea of a guy being forced to resign because he had a private indiscretion, and while I cackle with glee (not literally, as I'm incapable of feeling glee) any time a hypocrite goes down in a hilariously ironic way, the serious, nonvindictive side of me always thinks it's quite a shame that this is how we judge our leaders.
Now, if the marital indiscretions involve using state money or misallocating funds in some way, yeah, that's corruption. Fry the bastard. If it was mostly harmless to the state besides an image problem, I don't see the fuss. That's the problem: it's about image and appearance more than merit and achievement.
Also, I have to wonder aloud here: is there such a thing as an unmarried elected official in a suitably popular (as in, known to most of the relevant people who vote) position nowadays? Do we have any bachelor or bachelorette senators, for instance?
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