TIME TO TAKE THE BEDROOM OUT OF POLITICS

TIME TO TAKE THE BEDROOM OUT OF POLITICS

So now some political figures, both Democrats and Republicans are calling for Anthony Weiner to resign. No doubt most of those voicing that opinion are doing so to appear more favorable in their constituents eyes. But more than half of Rep. Weiners constituents are reported to be in his corner.

No doubt that his actions were crude, offensive, undesirable and uncalled for, but this isn’t anything new to the political parties, or even in the general population. You may wonder why your husband or significant other stays up late spending his time on the computer, but would rather not know.

Sexual misbehaviors have been seen in politics (as well as the general population) since the beginning of time, and most relevant in our own country when it was reported that during the presidential campaign John Adams sent his running mate (Charles C Pinckney) to England to procure “procure four pretty girls as mistresses, a pair for each elderly gentleman." John Adams denied the accusation, but lost the election to Thomas Jefferson. Who was not without this “moral restraint”. *

It was reported that Thomas Jefferson later admitted to "improper" behavior toward a beautiful young woman, (the wife of a close friend) and had carried on illicit affairs with two different married women while serving as a diplomat in Paris and had fathered children by one of his own African-American slaves. This did not end his political career and he was elected for a second term and is remembered as one of Americas’ greatest heroes. *

Andrew Jackson is reported to been a home-wrecker when he began seeing a married woman who “ran away” with him, and they were later married. *
Ulysses S. Grant was accused of fathering a daughter whose mother was a Native American girl although this is thought to be an invalid accusation. *

During the 1884 campaign, Grover Cleveland was accused of fathering an illegitimate child whose mother was a Buffalo, New York prostitute. He was serving as Mayor of New York at the time. He later admitted the truth and stated that he was supporting the child and its mother financially. He won the election and served as our president for four years, electing him again in 1892. *

An unfounded rumor accused President Woodrow Wilson of having had an illicit relationship with Edith Galt, who became his second wife, after the death of his first wife. The illicit affair was rumored to have driven his first wife to her death. There was no evidence to support these rumors. *

Warren G Harding is reported to have had two different long-lasting intimate relationships during his marriage. Hardings’ political advisers bribed one of the women with cash and an all-expenses paid vacation abroad with her husband to be out of the country during the campaign of 1920; Harding himself financially supported a child whom his second mistress claimed was the Presidents and, from the White House, stayed closely in touch with her through a Secret Service agent. *

Presidents Franklin D. Roosevelt, and John F. Kennedy all carried on illicit relationships with mistresses. *

We all remember the Bill Clinton/Monica Lewinski scandal and the lesser-known Political figures Edward Kennedy, Tom Davis, Mark Foley, Tim Mahoney, Larry Craig, Paul Stanley, John Edwards, Bob Packwood, Eliot Spitzer and Jim McGreevey.

The list could go on and on but in most cases there was personal physical contact between the politician and the other involved person/persons. Many left office by request, or to avoid public knowledge of other misbehaviors. Others who weathered the storm and not only finished his term but won other elected positions.

I doubt that Anthony weiner will “step down”, but may be ousted by his own party. In any event this is not the only politician who has sought validation of his own importance in an arena other than the political or domestic one. And certainly will not be the last.

I believe that there has also been at least one female political figure who has been charged with “sexual harrasement”. Now that the girls have “broken that glass ceiling”, I wonder how many female political figures will have been found to have had sexual misbehaviors.

* http://us.history.wisc.edu/hist102/towncry/sex.html