One thing Democrats don't understand (thank goodness!) is that your mistakes can't rule you if you own up to them. Look what happened with George W. Bush's DUI arrest. He said, "yeah, I did that. I was dumb and stupid then, but I'm wiser now." Since history suggests that Bush learned from his mistakes and has not repeated them, there's nothing more anyone can do to attack Bush with them.
And the truth shall set you free.