Re: Kerry Scandal - Should Adultery Disqualify a Candidate for President?

February 17, 2004 | Comte de Maistre

[ComtedeMaistre]

While many people have been focused on whether or not John Kerry had an affair with an intern, they overlook the two most important questions. These are:

1. Should past adultery disqualify a candidate for President of the United States on ethical or moral grounds?

2. Given your knowledge of the American people, do you believe that an accusation of adultery, even if proven, can prevent a candidate from being elected President?

[ComtedeMaistre]

I ask this question because, during the Clinton scandals (he was guilty of violating perjury laws, not just adultery), his job approval ratings remained high (assuming that the pollsters in the media were not fiddling with the poll results).

[MJY1288]

It's a character issue, If his wife can't trust, why should we

[Wissa]

I think a lot of people were happy with the performance on their 401k's, but they'd prefer to avoid having to go through another Monica episode. I think it could have some effect on the election. Maybe not a lot, but some.

[Voltage]

BUt will Americans vote for a lawyer who made his fortune driving doctors that deliver babies out of busines?

[Cicero]

Traditionally, adultery was always considered to be a much more serious sin than simple fornication because it involves the breaking of a solemn vow and brings discord into the family and the community. It often hurts childen as well as those immediately concerned.

It's a question whether the word of someone who breaks a solemn oath or vow can be trusted. Especially someone like Kerry who shows no hesitation in breaking his solemn vows repeatedly and deliberately.

[coloradan]

Not at all. Rape doesn't seem to matter (ask Juanita Brodderick) so why should adultery?

[gooleyman]

I believe that minus Ross Perot in '92, Clintoon's adultery would have been a major reason he would have lost the race. Perot muddied the waters enough that BJ could skate by.

I think also that if it were proven that Kerry committed adultery, he would lose in a 2 man race against Dubya, hands down.

Of course I think/hope he'll lose anyway. Proof of adultery would be nice icing on the cake.

[per loin]

Yup, and with the results from Wisconsin, the Botox Brigade has gone into full panic.

[conservatism_IS_compassion]

do you believe that an accusation of adultery, even if proven, can prevent a candidate from being elected President?

Certainly. Unless of course he is a Democrat, in which case it is a resume enhancement.

While we're discussing is and not "should be", I strongly suspect that if that candidate were a woman, even being a Democrat wouldn't be enough.

[eeriegeno]

Clintoon all over again. At least Hart did the decent thing and withdrew. I suspect that Ms Heinz is looking for a dull paring knife right about now!!!!!!!

[gooleyman]

Not at all. Rape doesn't seem to matter (ask Juanita Brodderick) so why should adultery?

----
If I'm not mistaken, when we found out about Juanita, it was well into his second term. In fact his second term has started when we learned about Monica. Newsweek (I think) sat on the story through election season.

In spite of them both (and all the rest) the jerk probably could have won a third term if the Constitution hadn't prevented it.

[rovenstinez]

If his wife can't trust him,...... then should we?

[optimistically_conservative]

1. Should past adultery disqualify a candidate for President of the United States on ethical or moral grounds?

No. I can find nowhere in the constitution where a standard of morals or ethics, including a litmus test of marital fidelity or bachelor virginity, is a prerequisite for the office of President. I already know I'm guaranteed a sinner with low moral character by the fact the candidates are human AND politicians. I do want to know whether he is truthful about his shortcomings. Lies can be diqualifiers.

2. Given your knowledge of the American people, do you believe that an accusation of adultery, even if proven, can prevent a candidate from being elected President?

No, but dishonesty will.

[Intolerant in NJ]

2. Given your knowledge of the American people, do you believe that an accusation of adultery, even if proven, can prevent a candidate from being elected President?...don't know, but Suzy Estrich said tonight on Fox that she talked to a number of democrats this week and they were very nervous about the allegations against Kerry, proven or not - "we just went through four years with Clinton like that, and don't need any more"...thank you, Drudge......

[plain talk]

I think it depends on wich people you are talking about and the situation of the candidate. Is it a single affair or multiple ones? An isolated case or a habitual problem? It is a recent affair or did it happen 20 years ago? Does the candidate lie about it or confess it? So I think most Republicans and Independents people react to this depending on the magnitude and degree. Dems don't even care if the candidate is a rapist.

[Phlap]

No, but dishonesty will.

Bingo! Never the sin always the cover-up.

[Common Tator]

Should past adultery disqualify a candidate for President of the United States on ethical or moral grounds

Well it did not disqualify Thomas Jefferson nor did bigamy disqualify Andrew Jackson.

One president in the 1800's kept a prostitute in his employ in the white house. The media joke was that he had extra Ass-sets in the white house.

If we learned nothing else we should learn that sexcapades will not take a popular president down. ON hte other hand jaywalking could take down an unpopular president.

The people who would be opposed to Kerry if he were proved to be a adulterer, would not vote for him if he were not. And the people who are going to vote for him will not be detered if he ran around on his wife.

There are just two issues the economy and security and as Kerry proved tonight a platform of trashing Bush will not get a candidate a clear majority.

I for one hope that Kerry Gets the nomination. Edwards is a slick speachmaker and he has likeability. He could very well win the election.

Those who trash Bush for not trying to take down Kerry are nuts. At this stage of the game if it is not Kerry, then it is Edwards. Edwards would be a lot harder to beat than Kerry.

Perhaps a few of you can see why Bush and Rove wanted Kerry to win. They still hope he will.

Kerry would be easy to tear down.. Edwards would be a lot harder.

[LiT]

1. I used to think so, but now you might have to define adultery. Today the dictionary defines adultery as follows:

: voluntary sexual intercourse between a married man and someone other than his wife or between a married woman and someone other than her husband;

But that definition could change, just like the definition of marriage did over the past 30 years. I guess when they (whoever they were) decided to change the definition of marriage in the dictionaries, they forgot to change this one, because with this definition what do you call it between 'same sex marriage partners'? Forgive me for that comment, but it's true.

and;

2. Given my knowledge of the American people, that vote, I don't really think it matters to them because they voted for Bill Clinton(twice), but I do think it matters to the majority. So, for those that don't vote, and don't like what is going on in our country, then realize your vote can make a difference and your voice needs to be heard. Vote for what is ethical and what is moral, before they try to change the definitions of those as well.

[Aunt Polgara]

Adultery will only disqualify Republicans. Dems don't care.

OTOH, if he is in the middle of a nasty divorce, even the Dems might not want to put up with him, especially if his wife gives him a Bobbit cut. ;-)