Governors Gone Wild! (and other important folks)

by Mery Diaz

It is definitely an exiting time for politics in the US. We have the potential to make history with a Woman or African-American president, our economy is in the dumps, there is a never ending war which has depleted our economic resources and morale. Oh! and of course, let’s not forget some good ol' political sex scandals.

Let us take a brief survey of what we have seen in the past year: 1. New York Governor Eliot Spitzer’s recent rendezvous with the world's oldest profession, 2. NY's Governor Paterson's extramarital affairs (yes plural), 3. Idaho Senator Larry Craig's public men's bathroom solicitations, and 4. Jersey’s Jim McGreevy’s undercover gay extramarital affairs. To reminisce, recall some top scandals of yester years: Bill and Monica, Mark Foley's solicitation of under-aged males, and the classic Kennedy and Marilyn canoodling.

One thing apparent when reviewing these trespasses is that many of our country’s leaders, no matter what political party or orientation, are thinking plenty - but with the wrong heads. All of the scandals are marked by hypocrisy, but we should note that some are more morally and legally damaging than others. It has often been stated that "the people" should not care about what our political leaders do behind closed doors. This is a hardly though-out position. There are essential differences between an indiscretion among two consenting adults or three if one prefers, and an act that breaks laws and is exploitative of vulnerable groups. For the most part the harshest punishment for adultery is that it is legal grounds for divorce (and alimony perks for the loser). However, when we move into the realm of prostitution the effects are much more damaging. Prostitution has long preyed on the most vulnerable members of our society: women, children, people of color and the poor. I mean one can't get any more exploitative than that!

            So in spite of  the entertaining 15 minutes of music fame enjoyed by the co-protagonist of  Spitzer's prostitution trysts or Craig's did-he-or-did-he-not bathroom stints, these acts are in fact very hurtful to individuals and society at large, and therefore should be subject to judgment and legal repercussions. I believe I'd sleep better at night if my political representative, the person elected to protect and advocate for my needs wasn't actually, you know, breaking the law. I'd prefer someone who can handle a phone call at 3 am.