SHOULD MORALITY BE A FACTOR IN QUALIFYING A POLITICAL
CANDIDATE?
CANDIDATE?
Indeed we have become more tolerant and indifferent towards
the morality of the elected officials; it appears that is not the issue with
Weiner, Spitzer, and a host of others. As a nation we have to define what we
want in our elected officials, sadly, fidelity in marriage will not be the one.
The real question is do we want morality as a factor in qualifying the
political candidate? We are not looking for exemplary all round candidates any
more? Are we looking for someone who can get the job done. Mike
Ghouse
Texas Faith: Do the political comebacks of scandal-marred
politicians mean we’re forgiving or indifferent?
politicians mean we’re forgiving or indifferent?
Dallas Morning News | Published on July 16, 2013,
2013
By Wayne Slater
2013
By Wayne Slater
Whatever happened to shame? It wasn’t that long ago that a politician
tainted by a sex scandal or caught cheating on a spouse was finished in public
life. But a couple of political comebacks this year illustrate how things have
changed. Two years after he resigned from Congress for sending a sexually
suggestive picture of himself to a follower on Twitter, Anthony Weiner is in
contention for mayor of New York City. Eliot Spitzer abandoned the state’s
governor’s race in 2008 in disgrace following reports he frequented high-end
prostitutes. He could be the city’s next controller.
tainted by a sex scandal or caught cheating on a spouse was finished in public
life. But a couple of political comebacks this year illustrate how things have
changed. Two years after he resigned from Congress for sending a sexually
suggestive picture of himself to a follower on Twitter, Anthony Weiner is in
contention for mayor of New York City. Eliot Spitzer abandoned the state’s
governor’s race in 2008 in disgrace following reports he frequented high-end
prostitutes. He could be the city’s next controller.
And they’re not alone. Mark Sanford was elected to Congress in South
Carolina after admitting an affair in 2009. David Vitter overcame scandal when
his name showed up on the customer list of the “D.C. Madam” in 1999, winning
reelection to the Senate and is at the top of the GOP list to be the next
governor of Louisiana. And Bill Clinton, despite the White House intern scandal,
is more popular than ever.
Carolina after admitting an affair in 2009. David Vitter overcame scandal when
his name showed up on the customer list of the “D.C. Madam” in 1999, winning
reelection to the Senate and is at the top of the GOP list to be the next
governor of Louisiana. And Bill Clinton, despite the White House intern scandal,
is more popular than ever.
What’s happened? What does it say about the culture that behavior once
considered inappropriate or indecent, doesn’t pack the same punch it once did.
Are we more understanding, more willing to forgive? Or have we just become
indifferent? In politics and religion, no narrative is more powerful than the
backslider redeemed. But there’s another tradition in politics: we hold the
leaders we elect to office to certain standards and believe that failure to meet
those standards has consequences.
considered inappropriate or indecent, doesn’t pack the same punch it once did.
Are we more understanding, more willing to forgive? Or have we just become
indifferent? In politics and religion, no narrative is more powerful than the
backslider redeemed. But there’s another tradition in politics: we hold the
leaders we elect to office to certain standards and believe that failure to meet
those standards has consequences.
Here’s this week’s question: What do recent political comebacks by
scandal-tarred politicians say about our culture? Have we become more tolerant
and forgiving or grown more callous and indifferent?
scandal-tarred politicians say about our culture? Have we become more tolerant
and forgiving or grown more callous and indifferent?
MIKE GHOUSE, President, Foundation for Pluralism, speaker and writer on
pluralism and interfaith cooperation
pluralism and interfaith cooperation
A
quarter century ago, the Presidential candidate Gary Hart lost the Democratic
Party’s nomination to Michael Dukakis for his extramarital affair, who in turn
lost to George Bush in the General Elections. The nation debated about rejecting
a good candidate over sexual morality, the sentence I recall from that era was,
“Are we electing a saint?” It particularly became relevant when George Bush
broke the promise, “Read my lips, no new taxes.”
quarter century ago, the Presidential candidate Gary Hart lost the Democratic
Party’s nomination to Michael Dukakis for his extramarital affair, who in turn
lost to George Bush in the General Elections. The nation debated about rejecting
a good candidate over sexual morality, the sentence I recall from that era was,
“Are we electing a saint?” It particularly became relevant when George Bush
broke the promise, “Read my lips, no new taxes.”
There were random discussions on John 8:7, “Let him who is without sin
cast the first stone,” and Matthew 7:1, “Do not judge, or you too will be
judged.” I have always wondered the impact of these conversations in assessing
the moral caliber of the elected officials. Indeed, the shift was significant.
cast the first stone,” and Matthew 7:1, “Do not judge, or you too will be
judged.” I have always wondered the impact of these conversations in assessing
the moral caliber of the elected officials. Indeed, the shift was significant.
It seemed all the good candidates were blemished, and in desperation we
were willing to overlook the morality for the right candidate. Bill Clinton
established a new benchmark in that direction. In the recent primaries we
blatantly ignored Newt Gingrich, a double cheater on his two helpless wives. It
was a human failure and nothing to do with being a Republican or a Democrat;
neither could cast the first stone.
were willing to overlook the morality for the right candidate. Bill Clinton
established a new benchmark in that direction. In the recent primaries we
blatantly ignored Newt Gingrich, a double cheater on his two helpless wives. It
was a human failure and nothing to do with being a Republican or a Democrat;
neither could cast the first stone.
The society has changed to a great extent as well; we treasured and
looked up to long term marriages with awe, and that is not the case anymore.
Many among us have affairs, and we have chosen not to judge others, as it became
insensitive to someone or the other close to us. President Jimmy Carter with the
cleanest record on morality failed us on the economic front, and George Bush
with good morals ultimately lied to the nation about wars, and in the last
election, the GOP gave a ticket to the one who hid his money overseas and was
secretive about his tax returns.
looked up to long term marriages with awe, and that is not the case anymore.
Many among us have affairs, and we have chosen not to judge others, as it became
insensitive to someone or the other close to us. President Jimmy Carter with the
cleanest record on morality failed us on the economic front, and George Bush
with good morals ultimately lied to the nation about wars, and in the last
election, the GOP gave a ticket to the one who hid his money overseas and was
secretive about his tax returns.
Indeed we have become more tolerant and indifferent towards the morality
of the elected officials; it appears that is not the issue with Weiner, Spitzer,
and a host of others. We are not looking for exemplary candidates any more, but
someone who can get the job done. As a nation we have to define what we want in
our elected officials, sadly, fidelity in marriage will not be the one. The real
question is whose morality? Do we want morality as a factor in qualifying the
candidate?
To read all the contributions, please go to
Dallas Morning News at: http://religionblog.dallasnews.com/2013/07/texas-faith-do-political-comebacks-by-scandal-marred-politicians-mean-were-forgiving-or-indifferent.html/
. . . . .
Mike Ghouse is a speaker, thinker and a writer
on pluralism, politics, peace,Islam, Israel, India, interfaith, and cohesion at
work place. He is committed to building a Cohesive America and offers
pluralistic solutions on issues of the day at www.TheGhousediary.com. He believes in Standing
up for others and has done that throughout his life as an activist. Mike has a
presence on national and local TV, Radio and Print Media. He is a frequent guest
on Sean Hannity show and Bill O’Reilly show on Fox TV, and a commentator on
national radio networks, he contributes weekly to the Texas Faith Column at
Dallas Morning News; fortnightly at Huffington post; and several other
periodicals across the world. His personal site www.MikeGhouse.net indexes all his work through many links.
Mike Ghouse is a speaker, thinker and a writer
on pluralism, politics, peace,Islam, Israel, India, interfaith, and cohesion at
work place. He is committed to building a Cohesive America and offers
pluralistic solutions on issues of the day at www.TheGhousediary.com. He believes in Standing
up for others and has done that throughout his life as an activist. Mike has a
presence on national and local TV, Radio and Print Media. He is a frequent guest
on Sean Hannity show and Bill O’Reilly show on Fox TV, and a commentator on
national radio networks, he contributes weekly to the Texas Faith Column at
Dallas Morning News; fortnightly at Huffington post; and several other
periodicals across the world. His personal site www.MikeGhouse.net indexes all his work through many links.