Presidential Libidos
The flogging of John Edwards in the public square, aka the New York Times, raises the question of what relevance marital fidelity has to the qualifications of an American president.
Trust and truth-telling come to mind, of course, but it gets more complicated in looking back. JFK famously cheated on his wife, while Richard Nixon, as far as we know, was a faithful husband while betraying the country.
Jimmy Carter told Playboy he “lusted in my heart” but presumably overcame his desires to become a disastrously naive president.
Uxorious Ronald Reagan, Bush I (although there were rumors) and Bush II bracketed Bill Clinton, who couldn’t keep it zipped but left office with a budget surplus and no wars.
Now the Obamas, as they have in so many areas, have upped the ante on connubial bliss, often holding hands and displaying a closeness most recently reflected in their sneaking out of the White House for a dinner date last Saturday night.
But how much do we need to know about presidential marriages?
4 Responses to “Presidential Libidos”
Perhaps if Edwards hadn't kept flat out denying it (even after pics of him & his mistress were published), he might have been afforded some understanding.
But it will certainly to happen to:
1. Someone running for office.
2. Someone who holds up his “rock solid” marriage as part of why he should be trusted.
3. Someone who's cheated upon mate has a terminal illness.
3 strikes = FAIL.
Personally, I could care less who someone is boinking, but once you get caught
(and it is amazing to me how so few public figures get that they WILL be found out eventually & disgraced publicly), expect to be vilified. Especially if you continue to deny it.
It seems that Newt caught less flak than Edwards, but whatevah…
None of anybody's business, just as long as they stay out of their constituents' sex life, but the minute they do, it's fair game. You can't stand there, claim that you stand for family values, tell people how they can or cannot get their jollies and get caught with your pants down at the local bordello and expect people to look the other way.
You do realize that Newt is rumored to have served his first wife divorce papers in the hospital while she recovering from uterine cancer… And is now on wife number 3.
Absolutely. Was part of my point – it has happened so many times in the past, yet still politicians like Edwards still continue think that they can somehow get away with it
Quite the role model, that Newtie! =)