The Sideman

The Washington Post ^ | August 29, 2006 | Libby Copeland

[Not A Snowbird]

You're projecting Bolten's sin onto Bush. Whatever Bolten's doing is between him and God.

I'm more concerned with how well Bolten performs the job he was hired to do.

[heye2monn]

It's relevant to social conservatives who support Bush and family values. Bolten is his top aide, shacking up, apparently showing little commitment to the institution of marriage that is the bedrock of civilization.

[heye2monn]

I'm not projecting Bolten's sin onto Bush. I'm just saying that Bolten is a bad role model, just as Clinton was (although far worse).

At any rate, this is politics. Bush will get bashed for what his most powerful aide does, right or wrong.

[Not A Snowbird]

FWIW, my ex-husband is also shacking up with the woman he started seeing after we split up. Both are in their sixties. She receives quite an allowance every month because she is a widow. If they marry, it cuts off.

Now since they'll never have children, that's not an issue. She took his name, they both wear rings. They've been in a committed, monogomous relationship for over ten years. Nobody who meets them knows whether or not there's a piece of paper filed in the courthouse.

I disagree with shackup relationships because they're generally very shallow and intended to escape the responsibility of marriage, but I understand this arrangement based on who the two people are and knowing their situation. I'm not saying I agree with it, I'm saying I understand it.

The moral of my little story, I suppose, is that we don't have any details as to why they are living this way. I'm not prepared to condemn them for making that choice at their age.

[HarleyLady27]

This isn't any where near the clinton/monica mess....first of all, it isn't the POTUS that is banging someone outside of marriage, like slickster; and in this day and age, who cares....

There are alot more worse things than this, such as the mess with the joe wilson mess; murtha mouth; the idiot in Iran; sheehan's boy toys soros and chevez....

And, as the RUMOR MILL has it, the slimy one in NYC that wants to be Pres. is a lessie....

[heye2monn]

I think that older people shacking up, even if it seems convenient, sends a bad signal to younger people who are tempted to do the same. If mom and dad can do it, why can't we?

Fornication is expressly forbidden by the Bible -- and for good reason. Without strong moral standards, and without strong families, our civilization is doomed. Just look at secular Europe. It is a weak, lazy, fearful culture, intimidated by energetic Muslim radicals.

[litehaus]

"intimidated by energetic Muslim radicals."

intimidated by PROLIFIC Muslim rabbits

[L98Fiero]

"For those who worry about skyrocketing illegitimacy in poor neighborhoods, Bolten is not a good role model."

I would contend that 99% of the people you reference have never heard of Bolten. I hardly think he could be called a "role model".

I would hope that conservative Christians would be a little more understanding of errs of youth. Personally, I can think of numerous people who were once doing much worse than Bolten in their youths but were now giving speeches to my youth group. Were they not "role models"?

Being "sinful" is not a good thing. Some people do come away from those experiences a better person, though, if they learn something. I know I've learned a few lessons and I bet you have too.

[heye2monn]

Bolten is obviously not as well known as a movie star but is an extremely powerful man in Washington. He speaks for the president on the issues, appears on talk shows and has in-depth profiles written about him -- which are certain to uncover his living arrangements.

When representing an administration that is supposedly conservative on social issues, he should not be living in sin with a woman. He is doing it now, in his fifties, not some youthful indiscretion thirty years ago. Overnight he could become a role model -- a bad one -- as a national symbol of the hypocrisy of the Republican party.