Update below
Excuse me. I hate to get political on you, but I just need to let off some steam. On Wednesday, South Carolina Governor Mark Sanford joined a long list of Republican big-wigs who – ooops! – cheated on their wives. Newt Gingrich, John Ensign, Mark Foley, Larry Craig (well, kind of… does having a wide stance in a restroom stall count?), the list of Republican sexual indiscretions goes on and on.
Right: Sanford posing with his family. Filed in the dictionary under “sanctimonious”.
Now, let’s be clear, the Republicans aren’t alone in the world of wayward moral compasses. Democrats Elliot Spitzer, John Edwards and Jim McGreevey have done no better.
But here’s what really burns me up: In general, the Republicans are the ones who are anti-same sex marriage because – get this – they want to protect the sanctity of marriage.
Excuse me!?
There is a special place in hell for hypocrites like that. Unlike many Americans who are hung up on issues that in other cultures would largely be seen as a personal matter between a wife and her philandering husband, I don’t see these affairs as any of my business.
But when the people having those affairs tell me at the same time that me getting the right to marry would somehow cheapen marriage for everyone else, that crosses the line of all decency. It is an indefensible argument and leads me to believe that the Republican leaders have no moral standing whatsoever to lecture me about the sanctity of marriage.
Oh, and let’s add Rush Limbaugh to the list. Sanctity of marriage, my ass! He’s been married and divorced three time, the pill-popping windbag.
Update
So after having the opportunity to blow off some steam and get a full night’s sleep, I’m over it. Ready to move on and see the hilarity in the news of Sanford’s affair. But there have been so many Republican sex scandals lately that I get confused about them all.
Thankfully, this web site has posted a handy flow chart to keep things clear:
I hope you find it helpful. It certainly got things sorted out for me!
christao408 
This whole situation has been rather comedic. Sanford led the charge against Clinton during the Lewinsky scandal and here he is doing the same exact thing except sneaking away to another country to it just adds another layer of deception. I almost think you have to be full of sh*t to be a politician.
ITA!! And since you are living in Bangkok right now, a place where the former European colonizers of the world deem as “exotic,” aren’t you amused that he was going to “exotic” Argentina for some erotic action?But notice that his wife is NOT present (just the sons) for the press conference the way Spitzer dragged his wife out for public humiliation.John Stewart of The Daily Show said it best: “Oh, marital infidelity, you’re just another run of the mill human being whose simple moralizing about the sanctity of marriage is only marred by the complexities of their own life. Well just another politician with a conservative mind and a liberal penis.”
I think it was Senator Ensign of NV that was doing the grandstanding moralizing and attacking Clinton for Lewinsky scandal.I think it is so funny that the potential POTUS candidates from the Republican party are all self-imploding with their marital infidelities while they pretend to be so holier-than-thou.BTW, Fox News has been erroneously identifying Sanford as a Democrat–just like Mark Foley in FL. There is a pattern here: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2009/06/24/fox-news-identifies-sanfo_n_220377.html
Stupid Fox.
Newt also has three divorces also. apparently no one can live with either rush or newt because, after 3 marriages each, each is now … unmarriedno credibility, these people, republican party going south (to south america, lol), what firmly held convictions? so called ‘christian’ values, and yes, the HOLIER THAN THOU – until he isn’t.hilarious watching Maddow last night, just hilarious. I love how she broke down his speech emphasizing that he apologized for SEVEN MINUTES before any of us had any idea what he was apologizing for, and how, on several occasions, he ceased to make any sense at all.
The problem with all of the conservative moralizing a**holes out there is that inevitably their own weaknesses end up doing them. At least Democrats tend not to claim to be morally superior to the rest of humanity so when they screw up its doesn’t look as pathetic.I think that a saying (I’m not sure of the English version so I’m sort of translating from Spanish) is usually pretty correct … “tell me what you brag about and I’ll tell you what you lack” (dime de que presumes y te dire de que careces). The more a public figure rails out against gays, the likelier they are closeted gays themselves. The more they go for the marriage is sacrosanct, the more they are cheating on their wives and so on. I think you left out Ted Haggard from the list of hypocrites … a lot of religious leaders are equally guilty of their grand standing and worse, they enable retards to go around gay bashing feeling they are entitled to it because “it’s in the Bible”.
Wow, you are so riled up over this.There is a great deal of hypocrisy in a lot of what Republicans do, however, people will just ignore this and move on to the next person who isn’t exposed yet.I don’t really believe anyone can be as perfect as the bible tells them to.People are bound to f’up some where.It’s not good to be too rigid.(However, I think same goes for the liberalism, except they just have a different standard…see the “Goode Family”)
The next time a politician is caught in a scandal, you should sit back and relax with this game-card made by R.K. Mullholland ~ http://www.somethingpositive.net/index.html
AMEN!!!
Bravo, my friend! Well said!
@TheCheshireGrins – I thought that was cleared up a long time ago. To be a politician you have to be a lying sneaky scumbag It’s a requirement.
@dikdoktor – Haha, makes sense to me!
Why are you surprised that a politician would be morally bankrupt and logically lacking?
There are a few that are decent but they are rare. @TheCheshireGrins –
@radicalramblings – @Wangium – Thanks for your comment. I’m not surprised at all by a politician or any other human being having huge failings. But something about this just crossed a line because he, along with many of these other Republicans, have specifically defended their position against same-sex marriage because to give gays the right to marry would UNDERMINE THE SANCTITY OF MARRIAGE. It is the whole, “Let he who is without sin cast the first stone thing.” The ones who are throwing the stones at my chance to get married to my partner of nearly a decade are the biggest sinners of all.@Loonsounds – I thought it was three for Newt as well but I read some sources online that seemed to indicate he might still be married, since he converted to his third wife’s religion, Catholicism, this spring.
@christao408 – I could be wrong then, you are probably right about that
Can you hear me clapping? Actually thundrous claps for an excellent post. What a snake in the grass. There, I even said that S word!! And for two days they talked about him going naked on the Appalchian hiking trek. And they expected us to believe all the crap. I am with you Chris. This needed to be said. What a jerk.
I don’t follow US politics that much and had no idea who he was until the last couple of days. I’m sure other Republicans are trying to distance themselves from him as fast as possible. It’s time for him to take a hike.
YES, THEY ARE PROFAMILY
The word that describes Republicans views on marriage: Hypocrite.
@Jillycarmel – That must explain why they keeping breaking up their families, so they get more practice creating new ones. Ah, I see! =)@GreedyGluttonD@ireallylikefood – They could change their party name to “Hypocrite” instead of “Republican”. Fewer letters so could save on printing costs…@ElusiveWords – Yeah, I apologize for these US-centric posts. I generally prefer to stay more universal in nature but this event pushed a button for me.@ZSA_MD – Thanks for your support. Was the “S” word “snake”? =)@TheCheshireGrins – @dikdoktor – You two are funny. Can you provide a running sidebar on my blog? =)@euphorie – @stebow – Thanks for your support!@tdaojensen – @yang1815 – That must be an example of fair and balanced reporting. Huh?!@TheLatinObserver – I love that saying! Profoundly true.@Wangium – Yeah, I did get a bit riled up, huh? Well, after a good night’s sleep and a swim I’m all better…
@crazygrampastuey – Very interesting. Thanks for sharing!
@christao408 – hahaha, very true.
I was just stalling to give my opinion.
@christao408 – Fox sucks.
This was so good I came back and read it again. It’s going to just get better with age.
Yup it is.
Back in the day, all the GOP scandals involved the Republicans making off with our money and they left the Democrats to be caught with their pants down. Guess after all this time they decided they want it all – money AND sex. BTW you left out McCain – cheated on wife #1 by living with wife#2. Of course he did have the smarts to divorce #1 before marrying #2… Loved the flow chart and you are correct that there is a special place in hell for the hypocrites – extra nasty place.
at one time I was shamelessly a dittohead…. thankfully I was SHOCKED into a wider relevance by Howard sterns personal Limbaughian thought (“Private Parts”) I now can’y help think of Porky Pig when I hear EIB network eibabbabibidy that all folks!as for fallen heroes championing causes they’ve no moral standing for- I’m reminded of a character named Malcomb X, who was the epitamy of everything he preached against prior to his enlightment in his life. Please for a minute understand he was dead before I was even born and I’m not of his ethnic background and nor do I understand perhaps even enough of his struggles to begin to have an opinion… but so what, since when did that type of reasoning stop anyone from opining? I simply like the albeit dramatic reenactment of a scene where he is cornered on the pulpit by his inglorious past to the daggered question, “what right do you have to even talk?: to which I hope he responded something like so, “who but a sinner who has known these temptations to warn you against them? Who but a rank sinner to help you become elevated above the worst there is.?” I’m not saying that you’ve zero right to be incensed by the hypocracy all around you- but I’d hope you’d perhaps think about the idea that fighting for something bigger than a human or seemingly- like the ideal of a sactifyable marriage, or any ideal for that matter by lowly individuals whom are found out or already known to fall short of their expressed ideals – shouldn’t instantly disqualify them from breathing in and out or hoping to honour something with their struggles. just as I wholly understand I smoke cigarettes which makes me quite the hypocrate to say one should be careful to avoid this addictive habit as it becomes harder and harder to chose against for ever so many with time, shouldn’t make me a hypocrate at all, but of the other side of the coin, a person flawed by choice whom wishes to warn against those thinking they’re above the dangers. sure, if I’d a record of having had quit, I’d add all the more weight to my argument by being quite the bit more complete in my message…. more pure… I don’t smoke so you shouldn’t. hell I did smoke and for this hypothetical point of logical ramble quite so I know even more about the dangers first hand and beat them. but why is everyone out to find the hypocrate? I too like to judge if necessary for myself credibility of others and their words versus deeds, but there that ideal versus reality, we create utopias with ease, but reality is a quite different place. well, so much for the short word.
totally agree. i get so angry when i hear about politicians like mark sanford using the whole “sanctity of marriage” argument as their reasoning behind their opposition to same-sex marriage. what sanctity is there when someone completely neglects his family as well as his duties as a governor, and flies all the way to argentina just to cheat on his wife? i’m also disappointed that the general public and media seem to let headlines like these go by without trying to play up the fact that these men are truly the world’s biggest hypocrites.
@Uncious – Thanks for your thoughtful comments. Lest you think I generally have knives out for hypocrites – I don’t, as I’m the first to admit that me and every other human have huge flaws and inconsistencies between what we do and what we say – let me clarify my point, if I may.There is a big difference between someone saying, “Let me show you the sin because I, too, have sinned” and someone saying, “You can’t have the right to get married because if you do, the value of marriage will be cheapened” while at the same time cheapening the value of marriage through their own actions.In this case, I think your smoking analogy is a little off. The direct parallel would be Governor Sanford saying to me, “Chris, you shouldn’t cheat on your husband. I’ve cheated and have seen the error of my ways.” That’s the same as your analogy, “You shouldn’t smoke. I smoke and I see how bad it is for my health and how hard it is to quit once addicted.”But in this case what Sanford is actually saying through his actions and previous words is, “Even though I don’t know how to protect the sanctity of my own marriage, I still don’t want you to have the right to get married.”That’s the button that was pushed.
@murisopsis – I actually considered adding McCain but decided to keep it recent. I guess I’ll give him a little bit of a pass for his years of torture. You know, the sanctity of marriage is hardly important when you’ve been pushed to the brink of life and death, right? You deserve a rich, beautiful wife after that, not one who was injured in an auto accident that nearly killed her. (Of course, my tongue is firmly planted in my cheek.)
@dikdoktor – @ZSA_MD – Glad you enjoyed it redux. I won’t add anymore, though.@onmovement – It is funny, because I’m normally a very level-headed person. It takes a lot (and I do mean a LOT) to get me riled up. But this is what can do it. (Shakes head in disbelief…)
@christao408 – okay okay, so I could only earn a B in philosophy class! my analogies aren’t always so perfect! lol. don’t rub rub rubbity rub it in1! (kidding) yeah, I see you point- I didn’t miss it even if my attempt at commenting in words didn’t quite make muster. it sure does annoy anyone to see libeerty denied in a land expressing liberty as an ideal. and what for? because this group thinks their whole notions of life based largely in a faith others do not choose is the only validity…..sorry but push the RRRNNNTf wrong answer button firmly and remember folks, we chose to try and seperate the state aspects from those of secularized or private beliefs. thus as disgusting as it may be to some- we support all manner of what some of us privately find abominable publically- because that is the social contract we abide by.we deny only those whom impugne this freedom. at that means mostly we try and whack those whom can’t seperate church from state beliefs…. and hopefully this is only in words…but sadly some are somewhat explosive in their disagreements….those have to be whacked literally as in weedy plants cut short DEAD. all others face public humilation for their beliefs at all times if the majority disagree. talk aloud everyone! speak freely now! we want all oppinions until they’ve been weighed useless to the cause. sticky thing is that people remember words for a long time and opinions are judged more valid the more tightly they’re held……buggery, i better be right about this interpretation…..right and very loud about my rightness!
Awesomely said and the flow chart was exceptionally funny!PS: I have always found it amusing the way Americans (in general) are so gravely concerned about the private life of public people (especially politicians)! The interesting thing is that this is spreading to other cultures including here in India.
@Dezinerdreams – It is a unique aspect of American culture. I think we expect our public people to be leaders, especially in terms of demonstrating wisdom, judgement, morals, etc. that the rest of us can aspire to. This is something that has made President Obama so appealing. At some level, many Americans see him as the embodiment of the best our country has to offer: someone born of humble roots who against many challenges rose to a position of great importance; someone who exhibits grace and elloquence; someone who honors his family.Of course, put someone up on a pedestal, then they have that much futher to fall when it turns out they are human after all!
I am a Republican ( please don’t hate me…lol) but I won’t get into a political debate with you…I just think that it is a “power” issue as much as anything else…regardless of their political affiliation…I think that the POWER goes to their heads and they think that can just do whatever they want and don’t stop to think about who they are hurting or what the ramifications are going to be!! As you said…no political party has the corner on messing up their private lives. I just wish they would all settle down and start paying attention to what needs to be done to get our country back on the right foot again!!! ( Whichever foot that may be!!!)Ruth Ann
@christao408 – But of course 🙂
i totally agree, the republican party is extremely hypocritical, which i guess must appeal to a huge mass of people somewhere in this nation because they certainly keep getting reappointed and reelected to various political positions.i love the flow chart!
Maybe the Republican party should use “mai pan rei” as their slogan.
No perfection in the human race, but some integrity would be appreciated.
Heheh…love the nerds that make charts
Nice chart!
Your aunt and uncle used my line, but it deserves repeating…AMEN!I was just railing on this at work yesterday. I am forwarding the blog to Mom. It saves me the trouble of repeating what you said so eloquently. I wish “sleeping on it” made me less enraged!By the way, Jon Gray reports that he has sponsored some facebook page that advocates making divorce illegal, as that is what can most effectively “protect marriage.”Later,A
@Redlegsix – No worries about being a Republican. I’ve long said that if the party would stop clinging to wedge social issues and get back to actual fiscal conservativism, I’d reconsider supporting them. As you point out, there are serious issues that need addressing.@ElusiveWords – What color shirt will they be, though?@yang1815 – @Wangium – @kunhuo42 – Oh, you guys and your charts… =)@albertmoore – Absolutely. Say hi to your parents for me, too!
puahaha. I just noticed the asterisk below.
“There is a special place in hell for hypocrites like that.”Welcome to South Carolina.
@minhaners – It makes it all the funnier, doesn’t it!
@moptoplop – Haven’t been but that’s what I’ve heard from a liberal Californian friend who was stranded there several years.
I read that she chose to stay with him to maintain the sanctity of their marriage. I think this was right before he asked her if she’ll let him go see his mistress in Argentina. =)