BASTARD is the word Michelle Malkin had for Republican Gov. Mark Sanford of S.C. regarding his affair with his very good friend. The Gov. left his four sons at home on Father’s Day weekend to be with his Latin lover- what a guy!
The mention of moral authority sends many eyes rolling. However, I contend moral authority is important in elected officials not as a sort of righteous litmus test, but as a standard by what we can expect from our elected officials who are entrusted with the public’s trust. We should view “moral authority” through a broader lens than many currently consider it. We shouldn’t just consider moral authority as something that involves the flesh. Lack of moral authority and the watering down of our standards will continue to leave us people like Barney Frank, Chris Dodd and Mark Sanford. Just like I believe Timothy Geithner lacked the moral authority to be tax chief when he was a proven to be a bona fide tax cheat. Moral authority underscores an elected official’s credibility not just his sexual peccadilloes. This is true with any indiscretion – financial, marital, and ethical. However, the refrain many Republicans are adopting is “they all do it.” Do we really want to continue to lower the bar? Tax cheats, philanderers, unethical types who frolic and play with lobbyists. The WSJ just reported how many elected officials are going on Caribbean junkets with lobbyists. Aren’t these the types that are just more inclined to “say one thing and do another?”
It’s time we purge the party of adulterous Republicans who not only destroy lives but jeopardize the integrity and future of the Party. These shallow, self-serving individuals have no place in our organization. They leave us compromised and vulnerable as we try to pick up the pieces from a disastrous 2008 election. They tear families apart and break innocent hearts. They tear down the principles we stand for - as we, the boots on the ground, bust our butts for the cause. The Republican Platform clearly and proudly states: “We believe the family is the foundation of a stable society” Those who do not believe in that enough to live up to it should not expect the rest of us to believe in them. I’ve heard rumblings that these shameful situations exist within the Maine Republican Party. These compromised individuals should get out now before the 2010 campaign season for the good of our Party, our State and our Country.
- Roxy Hagerman's blog
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Great piece Roxy.
Now is the time to develop a clear strategy to preserve and protect our Maine Republican Party Platform. We must not underestimate the power of the preserved document. There are those who do not support the Platform. There are those who ignore it. There are those who believe that it should be a "living document" that changes as society's view of right and wrong changes. But not unlike our beloved Constitution, the document is our north star designed by people who unitedly believe in the Laws of Nature even though they come from all walks of life and exercise independent thought as to how to apply those laws and principles in their own lives and homes. A moral compass will preserve our Platform and the Platform helps us preserve our moral compass.
Right on! Character is almost the ONLY thing that matters. We aren't compartmentalized so that we only betray socially, only lie privately. More than anything else we need to restore pubic trust and that can only be done with trustworthy public servants.
Patricia C. Egan
You are absolutely right on the mark Roxy. One of the biggest problems within our party is that our political "leaders" lack a moral compass. And let's not limit that to males and sexual indiscressions. Our party platform also clearly states support for the sanctity of life and the preservation of traditional marriage, yet those who aspire to be leaders in our party routinely thrust such principles aside in the name of political expediency.
I think it is the political "power" - real or (more often) perceived - that makes politicians feel they need not be accountable for their actions. The damage goes beyond the torn families and broken hearts you mention. We need only look at the state level for evidence of them withdrawing impotant legislation and changing their votes under threats by the opposition to "out" their activities. That effects every single man, woman, and child in the state they claim to serve.
Our State committee does nothing to hold them accountable. They look the other way and if they can get anyone with an "R" beside their name elected, they care little about how they vote, act, or otherwise represent the platform. That leaves the job up to people like us to hold them accountable.
Awesome! I love it you said it all so well. It's time to clean house!
I could not agree more.