The following is an article on CNN today by Jessica Yellin and I think it raises some very interesting questions.
Why are some politicians forgiven in sex scandals?
- Story Highlights
- Sen. John Edwards has admitted to an extra-marital affair
- Observers say Edwards could redeem himself if he follows the accepted script
- Other politicians have survived affairs and kept their jobs
CNN National Political Correspondent
WASHINGTON (CNN) -- Damning new allegations about former Sen. John Edwards' extramarital affair are coming out -- this time, the claims could spell the end of Edwards' political career.
Former President Bill Clinton faced impeachment during the Monica Lewinsky scandal.
While the U.S. has a tradition of forgiveness, politicians seem able to gain forgiveness from the public and come back after just about anything. As long as the offender apologizes, gets punished and seems to suffer along the way, they are forgiven.
Edwards admitted to having an affair with former 2008 presidential campaign worker Rielle Hunter. He did a mea culpa.
"In 2006, two years ago, I made a very serious mistake. A mistake that I am responsible for and no one else," he said during an interview with ABC News' "Nightline."
"I told Elizabeth about the mistake, asked her for her forgiveness, asked God for his forgiveness," he said.
But now he's getting the front page New York Times treatment.
The paper cites a book proposal from former Edwards staffer Andrew Young, who alleges the North Carolina Democrat may not have told the full truth when asked if he fathered the mistress' new infant.
"I know that it's not possible that this child could be mine because of the timing of events, so I know it's not possible," Edwards told Nightline.
The article alleges he's likely the father.
"Mr. Young, who has since renounced that statement, has told publishers in a book proposal that Mr. Edwards knew all along that he was the child's father," according to the New York Times article on August 19. "He said Mr. Edwards pleaded with him to accept responsibility falsely, saying that would reduce the story to one of an aide's infidelity."
Another ugly charge: Edwards promised his mistress a wedding after Mrs. Edwards, who has cancer, passes.
Culture watchers have said Edwards could redeem himself if he follows the accepted script.
"I think the wife's forgiveness is very important," said Leonard Steinhorn, a professor of political communications at American University. "He has to apologize. He has to repent. That is this Calvinist framework that our society works under when crises hit."
It worked for Sen. David Vitter, R-Louisiana, who's seeking re-election after a prostitute scandal. And Sen. John Ensign, R-Nevada, who's still in office after an affair with a staffer's wife.
Another model: Former GOP House Speaker Newt Gingrich who had an affair while he impeached President Clinton for the same.
Clinton himself moved on after enduring public punishment and is, many political observers note, highly popular in the United States and around the world.
So then why do others fail to win forgiveness? Those include South Carolina Gov. Mark Sanford, a Republican, who has apologized endlessly. Or former New York Gov. Eliot Spitzer, a Democrat, who left office.
"There is an unseemly factor to what they did that sort of disgusts people that makes people think there is something fundamentally wrong with them," Steinhorn said. "And I think that is why they may never recover fully unlike Bill Clinton."
CNN reached out to representatives for John Edwards, Elizabeth Edwards and Andrew Young, the aide involved in the story. None of them provided statements for this story.
I think I was most disappointed in John Edwards' affair. I really thought he was a nice guy who loved his wife, his family and would never do anything to hurt them. I can understand Elizabeth forgiving him under the circumstances--they have small children and sh'es dying from cancer--she had to think of their future. I think a lot of the stories going around now are a lot of sesationalism to sell news--of course, they could be true too. I really don't think he would be elected to office again--not anytime soon anyway--maybe in time people would forget. I do think that just because someone is a politician in office doesn't mean that they're immune to extra-marital affairs. Unfortunately there seems to be a lot of that going around. I've been surprised by some friends who have had affairs.
People have affairs. It happens in private and public lives all the time, and so the affairs in and of themselves don't shock me. I think a politicians private life where possible should be private. What tends to chap my ass when these politicians are caught, are not that they had the affair, but the despicable lengths they'll go through to try and hide the fact they did. It's when money starts changing hands, or campaign or government funding is used for these trysts, or to pay people off to try and cover it up that I get angry.
I think a politician's private life should be private too. I think they've carried this idea of the people's right to know too far. I too, am getting tired of hearing about all the sex scandals--I wouldn't want my private life put out there for everyone to read. I wonder how some of these reporters would like to have their private lives written about so publicly. They should think about that sometime.
Pat
First of all I have to say... Dang he looks old! Heh. The mayor of Los Angeles was carrying on an affair with the local TV news reporter. Going and meeting up with her at her place. Here she is interviewing the man on TV and they have been having having this long affair. Finally he gets busted on it. He leaves his wife and kids.. I can't remember if the reporter got fired. Maybe just transferred. But they are now married and he is still mayor. There was a time when we the people would not have stood for such a blatant disrespect of morals and family values. Shame on those who do those things. At least his now ex wife was happy to see him go. She received public sympathy but not enough for the city to call for him to step down. As for Hilary... I dunno... I sort of lost respect for her for staying with someone who would publicly shame her in that fashion and to find out he has had multiple affairs? With Hilary, I was angry that she would stay with and support a liar to further her own career. She will never have my vote on anything. The thing that got me most angry about Clinton, was that he went on TV wagging his finger at the camera saying, " I did not have sexual relations with that woman!" Basically saying that girl was a liar. Maybe she wasn't all innocent (I think she was dumb more than anything) but he LIED on TV and under oath and what jail time did he serve?
Universal Health Care
- skitud
on Sep. 22, 2009 at 6:49 AM