As Americans get ready to celebrate our independence from British rule on July 4th, I think back to those exciting fireworks displays, grilling out with family and friends and eating some good Ohio sweet corn. I also remember a saying my grandfather taught me, “Knee high by the fourth of July and the corn will be good.” Unfortunately, this July 4 season Americans are knee high in something other than corn; yet another political sex scandal.
Seeing the latest political leader’s tearful public acknowledgement of infidelity, I was reminded of another fall from grace that sent shock waves - or was it smoke rings - around the world but not for the reasons you may think.
I was living and working in Sydney, Australia during the Clinton years and I invited some friends over for a good old July 4 American-style barbeque. It was a mixed crowd of Americans, Australians, British and French. Throwing some burgers and hot dogs on the barbie, a cigar got lit and the conversation quickly moved to the Monica Lewinsky scandal as we all tried to one-up each other with lewd jokes. I’m one of those guys that cannot remember a joke to save his life, but I do remember one thing that was said that day, “Mate, we’re just thankful the Brits sent us the prisoners and you got the Puritans!”
Say what? Are you saying you prefer convicts to Christians? Of course not, he said as he went on to explain that it was nothing against organized religion or Puritans in general. He, like most outside of the USA, was simply shocked that we spent years of time and heaps of taxpayer's money to prove the guy screwed around. Australians simply don’t go into the bedrooms of their politicians and their politicians mostly steer clear of the Holier-than-thou finger-pointing that pervades American politics.
The fall from saint to sinner in American politics is fast and unforgiving, especially if it involves a sex scandal. But does it have to be? Doctors, lawyers, business executives...heck, even a lot of my friends...make some pretty stupid decisions when it comes to their personal lives. But politicians pay for it by losing their careers and reputations as their "moments of weakness" are splashed all over the nightly news.
And is it just me or does it seem that those with the most voracious appetite to condemn other’s behavior are the ones most likely to get caught, literally, with their pants down? Well, it’s not just me. A recent study by Northwestern University says that there may be a correlation. The study found that those who have a “higher moral self-worth” in certain areas of their lives tend to balance out their self-righteousness with immoral acts in other areas of their lives. Basically, it is like ordering the double fudge cookie dough ice cream with chocolate syrup because you left the gas-guzzler at home and walked to the ice cream parlor! (More here: http://www.physorg.com/news165236571.html)
Does an extramarital affair or some other sexual indiscretion mean that an otherwise effective politician no longer has the ability to lead or govern? Can they no longer make good and ethical policy decisions on behalf of their constituents? Some could argue that if they fool around with their spouse, then they will cheat in other areas - like slip in a few trips to Argentina on the taxpayer's dime. That may be true and that behavior is unacceptable as well as against the law. But I don't think that is always the case.
I can’t answer these questions for you. For me, I have seen first hand that there can be a separation between someone's personal life and their public life. And that you can have a moral society without being preachy and holier-than-thou. I also remember sitting in Church on Sundays as a kid and hearing a whole lot about how we all are sinners and we need to forgive, never mind all those all those sermons on gossiping and hypocrisy.
So, when the next otherwise good, ethical politician has a personal indiscretion that he is dealing with and wants to keep his job, I’ll respond with another Australian saying, “No worries, mate!”