Some Hypocrisies Are Not Hypocrisies

[The Big Dog]

In response to Suanterelle's blathering about hypocrisy among those on the right, we have the following from someone who may just have a bit more education (which we know is important) than Saunterelle.... Professor Victor Davis Hanson.

But what's a little double standard anyway, right?

Some Hypocrisies Are Not Hypocrisies

Victor Davis Hanson
Pajamasmedia.com

I think the standard explanation of the trashing accorded the foolish Governor Mark Sanford (who in embarrassing, and by now truly surreal fashion, confessed, and confessed, and confessed to an affair with an Argentinean girlfriend) and the tsk-tsk treatment of former Senator and presidential candidate John Edwards — who, in grotesque fashion, fathered a child with his mistress, lied about it on several occasions while he tried to gain political mileage from his ill wife, all as he concocted an alibi that his aide, not he, had really impregnated Rielle Hunter — is that Sanford suffered from the addition wage of hypocrisy.

That is, self-proclaimed moralists like the late Henry Hyde, Newt Gingrich, Larry Craig, Mark Foley, John Ensign and other conservatives raised the sexual morality bar high on others, and then proved they could not meet it themselves, while libertine Democrats like a Bill Clinton, Barney Frank, or Jesse Jackson never claimed to judge others’ sexual mores. Therefore their behavior is not at odds with their rhetoric. So despite their public status, the “sin” in their case remains more a “private” manner.

But there are some problems with this facile analysis. While it is true that Americans seem to detest hypocrisy more than sin, there is something more to this strange unevenness in attitudes toward conservative and liberal transgression.

[JustMyOpinion]

A little interjection: Again, why do politics matter here? The debate about which party had a harder time keeping their pants zipped seems like a moot point to me. Republicans and Democrats are equally susceptible, and guilty in acting on impulse. I don't think it matters one iota in the heat of the moment which political party one subscribes to, and the responsibility falls squarely on the shoulders of the INDIVIDUAL that broke the marital vows regardless of political stance.

And, by the way, if this is a pissing contest about which party screws around the most good luck with that tally! I can just imagine how many infidelities are swept under the carpet and we will NEVER know about them and for that I am grateful.

Most times when a marriage is violated by an extramarital affair that is a hypocrisy, pure and simple.

[harpman1]

You have missed the point entirely.
Let me try again.

Of course all people are capable of infidelity, regardless of political party. We know that. Stop diverting the conversation.

The point is THE MEDIA'S TREATMENT of the offense and the offender.

Is that clear at last?

Sheesh.

[JustMyOpinion]

Ah, well, let me make this clear WHO CARES?! The media is always attempting to manipulate the masses and it seems like a waste of time to figure out who is the worst offender in the scum bag category based on politicians who have almost always spoken form both sides of their mouth, and the media that LOVES to make the most of it. What a circus.

Get your peanuts here!

Don't underestimate me Harpman...

[harpman1]

Nice dodge, but no dice.

Media treatment is unequal based on their prejudices.

As the "watchdogs" of politicians, they kink the system and disguise the scumbags they support, while misinforming the masses, and whoring their sacred "public's right to know".

Just saying "they all do it" is to distract from the actual point.

And implying that the state-run media is tarring the offending pol's equally is either willing blindness, or blatant bullshit.

[saunterelle]

Sorry harpman, but the media is not any harder on right wing cheaters than it is on democrat adulterers.

My issue with many right wing cheaters, like John Ensign, is that they are vastly more hypocritical than their Democrat counterparts. For instance, Ensign was a Republican moralist. He went after Bill Clinton during the Monica Lewinsky debacle with full-force, and wagged his holier-than-thou finger at many other people who were caught out having affairs. He is also a "Promise Keeper," who pledged to keep the 7 promises, including:

PROMISE 3: A Promise Keeper is committed to practicing spiritual, moral, ethical, and sexual purity.
PROMISE 4: A Promise Keeper is committed to building strong marriages and families through love, protection and biblical values.

So, the hypocracy is blatant. These people act like moral role models for our children and society and then crush many people's expectations when they commit adultery. That make it worse, in my book, than just comitting adultery.

JMO, if Democrats do the same sort of finger-wagging I hold them to the same standard. This isn't meant to be political.

[harpman1]

Any honest analysis of media coverage of political adulterers reveals the dishonesty of your post instantly.

But you go ahead ranking levels of hypocricy based on the stated morals of the offender.

Dem's will always rank lower, as they do not have a moral stance to defend.

It is easy to call another a hypocrite, when morals mean nothing to you.

For evidence, see the hiding of John "Breck Girl" Edwards affair and bastard child, when they all knew for months before the Enquirer spilled the beans.

[saunterelle]

Any honest analysis of media coverage of political adulterers reveals the dishonesty of your post instantly.

Really? Prove it. Show us an "honest analysis of media coverage of political adulterers."

The only reason that Gov. Sanford is still in the spotlight is because he won't shut his yap. He continues to do interviews and profess his love for his mistress, even commenting that they are "soul mates."

But you go ahead ranking levels of hypocricy based on the stated morals of the offender.

Of course. How else would you rank hypocricy?

Dem's will always rank lower, as they do not have a moral stance to defend.

Of course they have a moral stance to defend. They took the vows of marriage just like everyone else who comitted adultery. The extra hypocracy of many Republicans occurs because they won't shut up about their morality. They try to dictate to everyone else what morality should be. Thus, when they break their own professed set of rules, it looks much worse.

It is easy to call another a hypocrite, when morals mean nothing to you.

Actually, I have very strong morals. I have never commited adultery like many people have.

For evidence, see the hiding of John "Breck Girl" Edwards affair and bastard child, when they all knew for months before the Enquirer spilled the beans.

Are you talking about the media here? If so, do you have any proof to back this claim up? Even if you did, it is no different than Fox News knowing about Ensign's affair and doing nothing. www.lasvegassun.com/news/2009/jun/19/we-have-suffered-indescribable-pain/

[capttankona]

There you go with Bill Clinton again. Ensign and Sanford are only guilty of an affair. Bill Clinton was accused of Sexual Harassment and he settled the case and was found guilty of perjury, he was accused of Rape by a credible source, he was accused of sexual harassment by a Democrat supporter after forcing her hand onto his genitalia, he also had an affair in the White House with an intern and a well known affair with another lady.

Yet, he was defended like he only had an affair like the two Republicans. The level of hypocrisy in the Press and you as well is so high it can only be denied by a person of low moral standing, and you know it.

[Mink]

Cattankona, I'm not sure where you got your information about Clinton, but that is besides the point. Whether one has an affair or "forces another's hand on one's genitalia", is the same thing, when married.

[capttankona]

Oh really, so being accused of rape, with a witness after the fact of the physical state of the woman, paying off someone to drop their sexual harassment charges, sexual harassing Democrat donors, having sex with interns and a long running affair are the same as a Republican Governor just having an affair?

You have very low standards. You also have a short memory.

Gennifer Flowers
Paula Jones
Juanita Broaddrick
Kathleen Wille
And who could forget Monica Lewinski

edited to add: Being a sexual predator is not the same as having an affair, no matter how much you may wish it was in Clinton's case.

[JustMyOpinion]

John Edwards to me was one of the WORST offenders. Why? He flaunted his wholesome pretty boy face to the public as if he is a saint, and he is the epitome of hypocrite. I didn't like him BEFORE he got his tool caught in the zipper, and I really despise him even more now for trying to fool the average American. To me he is the most nauseating of all. Clinton never attempted to act is if god was his best friend and nothing but holiness surrounded him, Edwards on the other hand...What a flipping creep.