Who Scores More: GOP or Dems?
The rapid-fire sequence of Republican sex scandals this year may inspire the depressing thought: what's wrong with our guys? But a quick tally of reported incidents finds the two parties running neck-and-neck. Their polygamous Jesse Jackson is matched by our bigamous Vito Fossella. Their treacherous and exploitive Gavin Newsom would have a lot to discuss with our John Ensign. Their Mel Reynolds might easily have shared a prison cell with our Jim West.
It's very striking that each party manages to believe that its own scandals are uniquely unfairly publicized. Rush Limbaugh today lamented that the press refused to acknowledge John Edwards' affair until after the failure of his campaign because he is a Democrat. Left-wing bloggers coined the self-pitying acronym IOKIYAR ("it's okay if you are a Republican") to describe the press's supposed connivance at Republican moral lapses.
Yet scandals strike both parties without a pattern. The list of misbehavers includes both Christian conservatives and San Francisco liberals, gays and straights, the sober and the drunk, the seemingly happily married and the notoriously miserable. We often say that hypocrisy is the worst of political sins, but that overlooks the number of politicians who exploit vulnerable interns and employees. Their conduct would not be improved if they were more brazen about it.
All the politicians in our incomplete sample are men. Maybe one thing parties could do to protect themselves: nominate more women? On the other hand, French presidential candidate Segolene Royal found herself in political trouble after her long-time partner left her. The betrayal confirmed a perception of her as cold and unfeeling. Maybe she should have had an affair.
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Republicans
Gov. Mark Sanford, South Carolina Extra-marital affair
Sen. John Ensign, Nevada Extramarital affair with staffer
Rep. Vito Fossella, New York’s 13th District Extramarital affair with Air Force’s House liaison, fathered a child
State Rep. Bob Allen, Florida Soliciting gay sex in restroom
Sen. David Vitter, Louisiana Client of prostitution service
Sen. Larry Craig, Idaho Solicitation of male undercover cop in airport restroom
Rep. Mark Foley, Florida`s 16th District Sexually explicit texts to male pages
Mayor Jim West, Spokane, Washington Sought sexual favours from underage boys
Rep. Don Sherwood, Pennsylvania`s 10th District Extramarital Affair
Rep. Steven LaTourette, Ohio`s 14th District Extramarital affair with staffer
Rep. Bob Livingston, Louisiana’s 1st District Extramarital affair
Rep. Newt Gingrich, Georgia's 6th District, Speaker of the House Extramarital affair
Sen. Bob Packwood, Oregon Resigned after 29 women came forward with allegations of sexual harassment and abuse
Rep. Ken Calvert, California`s 44th District Arrested for soliciting a prostitute
Rep. Buz Lukens, Ohio`s 8th District Offered a 16 year old girl money for sex; fondled a woman in a Capitol building elevator
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Democrats
Mayor Sam Adams, Portland Sexual relationship with 18-year old male intern
Mayor Kwame Kilpatrick, Detroit Extramarital affair with Chief of Staff
Gov. Eliot Spitzer, New York Client of prostitution ring
Att. Gen. Marc Dann, Ohio Extramarital affair
Sen. John Edwards, North Carolina Extramarital affair; funneled campaign funds; fathered illegitimate child
Rep. Tim Mahoney, Florida`s 16th District Extramarital affair, paid extortion money
Att. Gen. Paul Morrison, Kansas Extramarital affair with office administrator
Mayor Gavin Newsom, San Francisco Extramarital affair with wife of campaign manager
Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa, Los Angeles Extramarital affair with news anchor
Gov. Jim McGreevy, New Jersey Extramarital affair with man he appointed as homeland security advisor
Gov. Bob Wise, West Virginia Extramarital affair with state employee
Gov. Paul Patton, Kentucky Extramarital affair
Rep. Gary Condit, California’s 18th District Extramarital affair with intern
Jesse Jackson, Democratic activist Extramarital affair; fathered illegitimate child
Rep. Mel Reynolds, Illinois’ 2nd District Indicted for sexual assault, relationship with a 16-year old campaign volunteer
Rep. Brock Adams, Washington`s 7th District Eight women came forward with allegations of sexual harassment and rape
Sen. Chuck Robb, Virginia Allegations of affair
Rep. Barney Frank, Massachusetts' 4th District Paid male employee for sex