< PREVIOUS ] [ 1987 Index ] [ Ed Quillen HOME ] [ SEARCH ] [ NEXT >
as I might, I've had trouble ignoring Gary Hart's possible peccadilloes. How he spent last weekend gets acres of newsprint and hours of broadcast time. This certainly proves that the wealthy and powerful residents of important cities enjoy juicy gossip just as much as the rest of us do.
Given that, though, why do people think that our former senator's alleged affairs are so important?
The Philanderers aren't good leaders
theory.
Although our schoolbooks seldom mention this, Benjamin Franklin sired children by several women. He never bothered to marry Deborah Read, who's often listed as his wife. His writings include advice on selecting a mistress. Yet Benjamin Franklin's contributions to the founding of our nation were such that we put his portrait on the $100 bill.
Just four months ago, America celebrated Martin Luther King Day. The Rev. Dr. King's ability to lead and inspire can hardly be questioned; he served as a national conscience. Nor can it be questioned that he spent many nights with women he was not married to; read any recent biography.
· The How will he be able to campaign?
theory. Allegations about sexual misconduct, true or not,
will make it impossible for anyone to campaign
successfully.
Only once has that been an issue in a presidential
campaign. In 1884, the Republicans discovered that Grover
Cleveland, the Democratic candidate, had fathered an
illegitimate son. Throughout the campaign, Cleveland was
heckled with shouts of Ma, ma, where's my pa?
To which Democrats responded, Gone to the White
House, ha, ha, ha.
Grover Cleveland won the
election.
If that was the case during the fullest flowering of Victorian morality, how important could it be now, when our current president, first elected with the enthusiastic support of the Moral Majority, is a divorced man who once complained that he was tired of waking up and not knowing whom he was in bed with? Whose current wife was pregnant at their wedding?
· The If he's the president, and he's seeing
women on the side, it will affect his decisions
theory.
Warren Harding is generally considered one of the most inept presidents America ever labored under, and corruption flourished under his administration. But no historian has claimed that Harding's lust for Nan Britton, the mistress who was sneaked into the White House along with his bootleg whiskey, was in any way related to his ineptitude.
Similarly, no one has demonstrated that Franklin Roosevelt's liaisons with Lucy Mercer and Missy LeHand had any bearing on his performance as president. Perhaps John Kennedy's dalliances did affect his presidency -- but no one is yet sure. If it's an issue at all, it's certainly not an important one.
· The It tells us something about his
integrity
theory. A man who violates the vows of
marriage is unlikely to uphold his oath of office.
What does this really tell us about his suitability for
the presidency? No president who tolerates the CIA, NSA,
etc., is really serious about keeping his oath of office,
since those agencies are funded by secret appropriations, a
process not sanctioned by our constitution. And all
presidents place a hand on a Bible while piously swearing
to preserve, protect and defend the Constitution of the
United States.
Marriages don't necessarily collapse just because one partner fails to keep promises, and our nation somehow struggles on even though our leaders don't keep theirs. Further, how could any president be effective without some ability at deceit and chicanery? Successful executives invariably exercise those vital skills.
· The His response reveals something about his
character
theory.
After lengthy meditation, I've decided this one is correct. It explains why we ought to care about Hart's weekend activities.
Some time ago, Hart was asked about the rumors that he's a womanizer. He challenged reporters to follow him around, saying they'd just get bored.
The Miami Herald took up that challenge, and its reporters apparently didn't get bored.
Now Hart is complaining that he's being victimized by a process he invited. He's lashing at the news media, but he asked for that kind of coverage.
He's whining. Which reveals plenty about his character.
< PREVIOUS ] [ 1987 Index ] [ Ed Quillen HOME ] [ SEARCH ] [ NEXT >