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Ten Political Philanderers Who Got Away With It
London Times ^ | July 04th 2009

Posted on 07/04/2009 11:32:59 AM PDT by Steelfish

July 03, 2009

Ten political philanderers who got away with it

Will he go? Won't he go? As Govenor Sanford's political future hangs in the balance, 10 politicians who survived a public airing of their dirty laundry.

David Vitter

After the Louisiana senator’s name was uncovered amongst the phone records released a D.C. Madam, the senator publicly apologized - also announcing his confession to God - with his wife by his side. Sounds familiar.

But here’s where Vitter’s story diverges from the traditional model (think Spitzer..). The story dissolved, and Vitter got on with his life.

Surivial tactic: A Democratic governor would have chosen his successor. Republicans discovered a hidden store of empathy.

Barney Frank

A Democratic U.S. congressman for nearly 30 years and the first openly gay member of the House, Barney Frank almost undid his career in 1989 after his lover, Steve Gobie told all. Including his occupation as a male prostitute. Working from Frank’s home.

Survival tactic: Frank requested an investigation by the House ethics committee, which proved, after 10 long months, that he hadn’t known what was going on under his roof. He went on to win several reelections by wide margins.

Francois Mitterrand

When Francois Mitterrand died, the world learned the secret kept by a small circle throughout his presidency of France: for decades he had lived a double life. Anne Pingeot was less mistress than alternative wife with whom he had a daughter.

Survival tactic: The discretion of a tight inner circle

John F Kennedy

Move over Clinton. The youngest president to occupy the White House, JFK lured air hostesses, models and Marilyn Monroe. Yet his reputation remained untarnished

Survival tact: Universal adoration

(Excerpt) Read more at timesonline.typepad.com ...


TOPICS: Chit/Chat; Society
KEYWORDS: philanderer; politician
EXCERPT:

Silvio Berlusconi

Italy's Prime Minister has been bogged down in an endless sex scandal in recent months, featuring, amongst other things: a messy divorce, allegations that he slept with a minor, a prostitute’s kiss and tell and photos of naked parties.

Jerry Springer

In 1974, a raid on a Kentucky brothel uncovered a check written for a prostitute's services and signed by Jerry Springer, then serving in Cincinnati's city council.

Survival tactic: Springer came clean in a press conference and resigned. City residents were so impressed by his candour that they reelected him in 1975 and made him mayor in 1979

1 posted on 07/04/2009 11:32:59 AM PDT by Steelfish
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To: Steelfish
I pray Vitter does not get away with it and a true “family values” candidate can beat him in the primary or at least he loses the election. He does not deserve to be a Senator. Clinton did not get away with it...he got impeached. Who cares about the foreign politicians. JFK's information was not even known for years after his death. Barry Frank is one that definitely got away with it and should not have.
2 posted on 07/04/2009 11:44:19 AM PDT by napscoordinator
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To: Steelfish

They didn’t even mention the Swimmer. He not only got away with being a philanderer and a drunk, but got away with murder.


3 posted on 07/04/2009 11:45:12 AM PDT by mass55th (Courage is being scared to death - but saddling up anyway...John Wayne)
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To: Steelfish

If Jerry Springer resigned why are they saying he got away with it???? Just because he came back later and ran again does not mean he got away with it. That top 10 list would be very different than the one listed if I was doing the list. I would replace JFK with Teddy that is for sure.


4 posted on 07/04/2009 11:46:11 AM PDT by napscoordinator
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To: Steelfish

Not to mention Springer’s tv show of wacky weirdos has been on the air for 18 years. In some circles, bad publicity pays off better than good publicity.


5 posted on 07/04/2009 11:48:30 AM PDT by bgill (The evidence simply does not support the official position of the Obama administration)
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To: Steelfish
Two disagreements.

One: Berlusconi. If you haven't spent time in Italy, you have no idea the amount of attacks this man had endured during his political life. The Leftist media, university professors and union thugs have waged a relentless campaign against him since he was first elected years ago. If he wasn't a gazillionaire he never would have survived the constant ethics and criminal accusations that have never stopped.

Two: Kennedy. There is NO PROOF Kennedy had a single affair with anyone, much less Marilyn Monroe. This is total myth. Every one of his personal Secret Service guys has said it never happened and not one of the promoters of this "Kennedy as Hound-Dog" myth can explain how a highly medicated man suffering from crippling Addison's disease, who couldn't bend over to lift his toddler son, was knocking off stews and models two at a time.

It's a PR fantasy to make a fragile Democrat icon into a football-playing, robust beast. It was also a convenient cover for the Hard-On Presidency of Bill Clinton.

6 posted on 07/04/2009 11:49:00 AM PDT by Deb (Beat him, strip him and bring him to my tent!)
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To: Deb

In addition, JFK was not the “youngest president to occupy the White House,” Theodore Roosevelt was. The Camelot media machine always used the qualifier “youngest ever ELECTED” so they could emphasize JFK’s most important marketing attribute, his telegenic and youthful looks (at a distance).


7 posted on 07/04/2009 11:55:21 AM PDT by atomic conspiracy (Victory in Iraq: Worst defeat for activist media since Goebbels shot himself.)
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To: Steelfish

With Vitter, his survival Depends on if the whether or not the people of Louisiana will continue to Pamper him by reelecting him to office.


8 posted on 07/04/2009 11:56:48 AM PDT by trumandogz (The Democrats are driving us to Socialism at 100 MPH -The GOP is driving us to Socialism at 97.5 MPH)
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To: atomic conspiracy

You’re exactly right. What a perfect description, “The Camelot media machine”. Run by Ben Bradley, Exec. Editor of the Washington Post, it never stops turning out the propaganda.


9 posted on 07/04/2009 12:00:10 PM PDT by Deb (Beat him, strip him and bring him to my tent!)
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To: Deb
There is NO PROOF Kennedy had a single affair with anyone,

What do you want , DNA? His last name is Kennedy. What's he , the only one that didn't carry on Papa Joe's legacy?

10 posted on 07/04/2009 2:01:17 PM PDT by gusopol3
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To: napscoordinator

JFK AND Teddy Kennedy should both be listed: What do you think the Chappq. “party” (orgy) started with: one democrat politician in Mass with 10 single young democrat women and staffers?


11 posted on 07/04/2009 3:11:47 PM PDT by Robert A Cook PE (I can only donate monthly, but socialists' ABBCNNBCBS continue to lie every day!)
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To: gusopol3

Kennedy?

He slept with Mafia women. Hollywood women. Washington women. Lobbyist women. Communist spies. Union and labor-provided women. College and New York “society” women.

The bigger question is: Who did NOT sleep over with him in the 50’s and early 60’s?


12 posted on 07/04/2009 3:14:01 PM PDT by Robert A Cook PE (I can only donate monthly, but socialists' ABBCNNBCBS continue to lie every day!)
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To: Robert A. Cook, PE
As far as I knew, it was the book A Question of Characterthat brought out all of the philandering, copyright 1991; more well connected people may have known, but as a peon, I didn't. The Marilyn Monroe "Happy Birthday" was a shocker to me. That's why I'm surprised there's controversy about it. that it was "made up to protect Clinton, etc." As far as his being too ill to indulge, I don't pretend to know what activities the liaisons encompassed, I guess.
13 posted on 07/04/2009 3:27:27 PM PDT by gusopol3
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To: Deb

You’re not too familiar with JFK, Deb.


14 posted on 07/04/2009 3:40:40 PM PDT by fieldmarshaldj (~"This is what happens when you find a stranger in the Alps !"~~)
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