Summary
[Mark Sanford] and [John Ensign] (or Spitzer and Edwards, it doesn't matter) will say they weren't thinking clearly. They want us to accept that minor hiccup and help them move on. Obviously, Hollywood and the world of entertainment promotes this lifestyle and too many people, from the nation's capital to the West Coast, are more than happy to embrace it. What often isn't conveyed through the media lens in this "if it feels good" world we Uve in, are the severe and devastating consequences of these choices. While we all struggle mightily to make good moral choices, those that we elect to positions of leadership are oftentimes (fairly or unfairly) held to a much higher standard and bar.
The media exacerbates the problem, blurring the lines between right and wrong. Just hours following Gov. Sanford's admission, a Washington Post reporter blogged, "Compared to Sanford, Ensign's crime was so pedestrian: He had an extramarital affair." Such casualness cheapens the moment and indirectly enables those in elected office to slip quickly under the tens of public scrutiny if their apology is deemed contrite enough by reporters.These revelations speak singularly to elected officials'own personal judgment. Make no mistake: They are as irreverent of property, human or otherwise, as they are disrespectful of the time-honored oath to do right by one's spouse, for better or worse. That's why marriage is so important to the average American. It is the embodiment of selflessness. And it represents a partnership these elected officials seal: when they ask someone to vote for them. How could Sanford forget that, despite his mistress' hypnotic tan lines?The salacious details surrounding the admitted affairs of South Carolina Gov. Mark Sanford and Nevada Sen. John Ensign may have fallen from the front pages of Washington and global newspapers, but they symbolize a decadent culture that cries out for chastisement or repudiation. In the pathological culture of the Capital City, members of Congress celebrate situational ethics and self-deification that shield them from customary moral and legal scrutiny.See the full content of this document
Extract
Moral Standard of Leadership
The salacious details surrounding the admitted affairs of South Carolina Gov. Mark Sanford and Nevada Sen. John Ensign may have fallen from the front pages of Washington and global newspapers, but they symbolize a decadent culture that cries out for chastisement or repudiation. Marital fidelit...
See the full content of this document
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