Political Power and Sex Scandals
http://thedianerehmshow.org/shows/2011-05-18/political-power-and-sex-scandals
It’s happened before and it’ll happen again. Still, every time one of our politicians admits or is discovered to been involved in some unethical sexual encounter, there’s a pause. We wonder why so many people, or should we say, so many men, with political power seem to risk so much so often, and to what extent, if at all, do sexual transgressions undermine a politician’s credibility with voters? As we sort through those issues here, across the Atlantic political implications abound in the aftermath of criminal charges against the head of the IMF who had been widely expected to be a strong contender in the next French presidential election. Please join us for a conversation about political power and sex scandals.
Guests
Randy Cohen
former writer, 'The Ethicist' in the New York Times Magazine
Michele Swers
associate professor of government, Georgetown University
Sandra Sobieraj-Westfall
Washington editor,
People Magazine
Eric Pape
reporter, Foreign Policy Magazine
Comments
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How is it that western democracies elect morally ambiguous immature men to high office? Even the minor oddball contenders mimic these mysogynistic and perverse behaviors. It is a larger corruption at work on their egos. Here's the head of the IMF demanding Greece and Portugal liquidate their national pride and social responsibilities so the Glowball wealthy can maintain their Mississippi River like income stream. They won't give a country another high interest payday loan until compliance is demonstrated with austerity legislation. A boob in the leadership of such mass sadism can't help but embrace degeneracy. And don't forget little Grady Lee Howard. I was living in New York state at that time and saw his sleazy commercials endorsing Conestoga Life Insurance for seniors even as a hundred thousand elderly on fixed incomes were defrauded. He followed Arlen Specter around like a hound dog for 20 years, learning every trick of the trade, and then had the audacity to run against his shady mentor. And these days it's not only the men. Read about Mrs. Robinson (apt name?), political operator and wife of a big time Irish politician who bankrolled a younger adulterous lover and tried to cover it up with hubby's help.
It is the system of classism and privilege that corrupts. Ask, stepson of a used car dealer, Bill Clinton. Or better yet Diane, rest your voice and let Elliot Spitzer moderate subject matter he knows so well. And don't cry for Maria Shriver. She knew she was marrying a piece of meat 25 years ago. Maybe she'll meet Mike Tyson on the rebound.
Mr. Howard,
I don't know whether you have a bizarre sense of humor, or require some sort of medication, but may I suggest that the esteemed Diane Rehm Show website is not the proper forum for these odd posts of yours. Thank you.
I would like to suggest that it is not only male politicians who can't keep their zippers closed. Aren't there major (and not so major) wall street figures, male college professors and many others who seem to believe that they have the right to overdo sexual prowess? Perhaps some females in the same positions of power do this also but they are not revealed to the public.
I would like to suggest that it is not only male politicians who can't keep their zippers closed. Aren't there major (and not so major) wall street figures, male college professors and many others who seem to believe that they have the right to overdo sexual prowess? Perhaps some females in the same positions of power do this also but they are not revealed to the public.
Uptight:
Don't scold Diane for airing dirty laundry. From the long train of posts you can tell the American public is keen to learn the details. Maybe you yourself have read Genesis 9:21-23 or 38:8-9, and if such things can touch the pages of God's word, then why can they not touch the Diane Rehm Show? I know it is stuffy in that closet of skeletons but don't "take it out" on the children.
There has been no discussion of the character of a politician who has a son as a result of his affair. There is now a ten year old boy who is hearing about himself in the news. It demonstrates an extraordinary ego on the part of the former Governor.
Genesis 19:30-38 is tabloid material too, Pancake. Every criticism you make of me and my past behavior is accurate and true. Again I repent and beg mercy. Whether it be Lot, or Noah or Onan or Strauss-Kahn they are all sinners of an elite nature.
I disagree with one of the panelists - I don't think we want the politicians and public figures we put up there to be "like us" - I think we want them to be BETTER than us. The fact is, many men cheat on their wives, and vice versa, and even have children. People don't want to acknowledge this, but one of the side effects of genetic testing is revealing, to the consternation of many, that quite a significant percentage of children raised in so-called intact families were actually fathered by men other than the official fathers.
The connection I see between political leaders and their sexual conduct concerns the issue of trust. When someone lies, cheats, and deceives their own spouse, then what can the less personally connected voters expect from them? Such behavior certainly doesn't lend itself to increasing public trust and confidence in the individual.
I agree with your male panelist who states that people can compartmentalize their personal and professional lives. Some very successfully, such as Benjamin Franklin, who had an affair with a woman that results in the birth of his illegitimate son William in 1728 or 1729.
Also, the following website identifies American politicians who had infidelities, but nonetheless were successful in their careers.
http://ashleymadisondiaries.com/2010/03/infidelity-is-not-a-new-phenomenon/
One's sexual desire is tied to one's sense of self. Perhaps some people 'need' sexual pursuits to maintain their self esteem and ego, which affects their performance in their professional life.
Do they test blood for substances like viagra in these types of cases?
wasn't there a baptist leader invoved with a a long term /holiday type relationship with a transgendered prostitute in NYC? I can give a whit about a persons privet life unless they are "moral evangelists" getting cought with their pants down.
arnold must be nuts. I've seen pictures of the housekeeper and she looks like somebody's grandma. guys like him are supposed to mess around with supermodels and actresses. grandma must have thrown herself at arnold to get him interested.
What does it say about the US congress when their justice juices start flowing over lies under oath about b jobs (an extra marital affair) and impeachment was on the table. And then the US congress holds no one accountable for an intelligence snowjob which resulted in hundreds of thousands dead and injured?
What do your guest think about the amount of time spent by the US mainstream media, so called progressive blogs etc on sex scandals instead of far more critical issues?
If you went out on a US street and asked American people how many of our US congress members, Governors etc who have had affairs and children out of wedlock....they would be able to answer. If you asked them how many Iraqi people or American soldiers have been killed and injured as a result of an unnecessary and immoral war. They would not know. Guarantee that.
I've never been satisfied with the resolution of the Duke University lacrosse rape case. The accuser was vilified and the prosecutor ruined. I think the outcome had something to do with the high wealthy status of the accused White players and the lowly struggling status of the Black victim.
Now we shall see how accusations between an international politician and a West African immigrant maid are resolved.
Isn't it customary to assume slave labor purchased includes sexual access?
Why does the debate overlook the fact that what these cases ALL have in common is a powerful personality who feels so entitled to sex that he will lie, cheat, or even commit violence to get it. It is the entitlement “rules-don’t-apply-to-me” mindset that makes them unelectable. And the reason people are so interested is because we're all wondering where this entitlement mentality is leading in our society.
RE the IMF guy's incident being a setup
The woman involved is a hotel maid with a long, good work record. Why are you besmirching her reputation?
The much more likely explanation is that he arranged for a "woman of the night". However before his pay-for woman arrived, the maid did. Not realizing the mix-up had occurred he proceeded as described.
What happened to Innocent Until Proved Guilty? All this talk should be done after he has received a guilty plea. Not before.
Yes kathleen, these stories are the viagra of media, to the exclusion of the People's business. Finally, someone gets the joke. We ourselves are under the same extortion of public welfare spending as Greece and England, and this Strauss_Kahn (as well as Schwarzenegger) is one of the magicians making our tax money disappear and reappear in Oligarch pockets. There is a faint equivalence between screwing the public and screwing the underling. It's all hierarchy and ranking, reinforced by the glorification of celebrities and the wealthy and powerful. The fact that the new accused is a socialist shows just how little ideology means among the corrupted.
What's the point of being powerful if you can't do things that are forbidden other people? Riches are a path to and attribute of power in our society, but by themselves they end up feeling meaningless to many---particularly those who have never known privation---because even if you can buy things other people can't, any one of them could did he but acquire enough money.
No, the real mark of power is privilege, which word derives from the Latin for 'private law'. Examples: a police officer has a much better chance of getting away with murder or kidnapping than I do because we give him the privilege of killing and detaining as he sees fit---not that in the modern world he can expect no consequences at all, but until very recently (about 1965) those consequences were unlikely and few, especially if his victims were poor in money and rich in melanin. A DMV clerk isn't paid all that much, but he can create delays for a citizen raising what he thinks is too much of a fuss. A man who can order a woman to scrub toilets any number of hours of the day can easily believe that he has the right to order her to lie beneath him. And a man who commands must be considered, if not obeyed, by entire national governments can easily feel he has the right to take his pleasure---in sex, and in dominance---where he will.
Sandra Sobieraj-Westfall said that nobody remembers the name Monica Lewinski anymore and that it is no longer attached to POTUS Clinton?
And this women is a reporter? Wow!
Randy Cohen said that many people preferred a philandering JFK to a monogamous Richard Nixon. He also said that Schwarzenegger was not a very good Governor before we knew about this infidelity, and he was a not very good Governor after. Hey Randy, JFK was not a very good POTUS before we knew about his philandering, and he was not a very good POTUS after.
Definition of SHENANIGAN
1: a devious trick used especially for an underhand purpose
2: tricky or questionable practices or conduct —usually used in plural b : high-spirited or mischievous activity —usually used in plural
Examples of SHENANIGAN
Origin of SHENANIGAN
origin unknown
First Known Use: 1855
What Time period did Adultery, step down to SHENANIGANS ?
When did fornication become common place in your thinking ?
We live at a time when there are a multitude of business and political frauds. Each week brings another scandal or the discovery of a new ponzi scheme. Your discussion suggests that honesty in personal relationships are not relevant when it comes to evaluating the honesty of the person in business or politics. Yet, in so many cases, those who have been dishonest in their personal life, often have a problem keeping their commitments in the business world or in the political arena. How can anyone assume that the failure to keep your promises to a spouse are not as important as keeping your promises to a business partner or customer, or the people whom you represent? We should expect our business and political leaders to adhere to the highest, not the lowest, ethical and moral standards. They occupy positions of high honor and public trust...they should be deserving of those positions...if they don't...then there are others ready to claim their position who will do just as good of job...as they could perform. No one is irreplaceable...
I really don't care for the rationale that a woman involved in sexual liaison with a man who is her employer or otherwise holds some level of power over her cannot completely consent in that liaison. That seems to remove any sexual agency from women.
Absolutely anyone forcing sex on anyone else should be prosecuted and there should never be any victim blaming. Strauss-Kahn's case is criminal.
However, when it is not a criminal case, why is all agency given to the man in power? Women of "lower station" can't consent to sex with a man of "higher station?" That rubs me the wrong way.
I am disgusted. Why is it that even though we understand that rape charges have been used throughout history to tarnish the reputations of political figures, we assume that “Victim” is innocent? I am a vocal feminist, but I also acknowledge the avenues allegations of rape open, whether true or false. These allegations effortlessly dismantle people of power. We need not assume he, nor anyone else, is guilty. Ignoring his own declaration that he might be charged with some kind of scandal soon is unreasonable at best. Why would he take what he has well above the means to pay for? No, think about it. Rape allegations are becoming more and more common. Is it because women are suddenly becoming braver by refusing to live in silence? No, it is because money corrupts people. Rape is the easiest crime to pin on someone—it is: he said. She said. And if is she says, “Rape,” the police say, “book ‘em.” Easy as that.
We no longer have strong values in this country about marriage or sexual conduct, which exacerbates misconduct of this sort. It is more likely to happen, and the perpetrators are more likely to believe it is acceptable. I believe it represents a fundamental disrespect for women, which I find very disturbing. I do not believe that these men receive enough scrutiny, and I am dissapointed that anyone can get away with this type of behavior. Essentially, they hide it and it is personally profitable for them to do so. I believe in every case, they are a disgrace, and I feel strongly for the lives they ruin along the way.
One of the guests said this: "Rape has nothing to do with sex." I have heard that comment before, and still sounds just as ridiculous as it ever did. That's like saying that murder has nothing to do with death or that stealing has nothing to do with transferring property.
It must be hard to find credible guests.
'The View' comes to public radio. What about female high school teachers who have sexual encounters with, in some cases, mulitple boy students? Aren't there documented incidents where a female has been attracted to a male in a position of power and made first advances rather than the male forcing himself upon her? Let's ignore these becasue they simply show that as a species we are pretty much all morally flawed and it just doesn't help today's story line. Liberalism and estrogen bled thru my radio speaker. Coodies of the worst kind.