Why Sex Scandals Are Good For America
I'm lecturing this week at a "Journalism and a Free Society" conference here at Bryn Mawr. The college-aged students are all interested, to various degrees, in classical liberalism and journalism. It's a great group -- and even includes a young man who outed himself as a Ricochet fan.
We've been discussing the Anthony Weiner scandal (which just keeps getting worse and worse) and some of the kids and other faculty are questioning whether libertarians should be that interested in such stories. I'm so interested in scandal -- and sex scandals in particular -- that I don't even understand the folks who tut-tut. But I've been arguing that it's important and distinctly American to lampoon members of Congress and other fools.
I'm reminded of multiple Mark Twain quotes, such as "It could probably be shown by facts and figures that there is no distinctly native American criminal class except Congress."
Washington Examiner columnist Gene Healy makes the case today that Weinergate-type scandals can have positive political consequences. A libertarian, he points out some of the scandals on the other side of the aisle and dismisses those who say they're unimportant:
There's nothing wrong with enjoying a good old-fashioned political sex scandal. They're entertaining, and they may even be edifying -- reminding us that self-styled "public servants" are often less responsible, more venal, and just plain dumber than those they seek to rule. ...
Not only are political sex scandals great fun, they serve an important social purpose. They remind us that we should think twice before we cede more power to these clowns.
I agree completely. I teach my children to respect those in authority but really worry about all of the power we entrust to them. A more accurate understanding of their limitations -- and flat out stupidity -- can not hurt. What do you think? Good for politics? Or do the Weiner-type scandals make you weep for America?
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Oct '10
Re: Why Sex Scandals Are Good For America
I have often thought that the reason we have such a paucity of good leaders is that we demand such perfection in their personal lives that we scare off many with potential. I don't believe that a great leader needs to be great in all areas of life. That's just way too much to demand. I am not only forgiving of their imperfections, I neither care nor want to know much about their personal lives. I also don't believe that weakness in one area is an indication of weakness in the other, as men especially are good compartmentalizers. Hypocrisy, on the other hand, I detest. And indescretion. Weiner is guilty of both as well as world class imperiousness. But then again, he is a Democrat and that is their specialty.
Aug '10
Re: Why Sex Scandals Are Good For America
I think there's a distinction to be made.
The Weiner story is great because it's a "Scandal of Stupid".
The scandal isn't that this guy has sexual appetites.
The scandal is that an elected official is stupid enough to use Twitter for sexual purposes (without even having a rudimentary understanding of how Twitter works).
Historically, the best sex scandals have been "Scandals of Stupid", where the person only got caught because they were utter morons.
But not always. When a public official is raked over the coals for an affair of the heart, when there's no evidence of public malfeasance, that's when I become a little uncomfortable about it.
Mar '11
Re: Why Sex Scandals Are Good For America
The fact that Weiner’s photographic and social networking habits are perceived as scandalous is good for politics. In much of Western Europe, the sexual peccadilloes of politicos are exploited by the opposition, but most voters seem to care a lot less about them than the “puritanical” Americans.
Sep '10
Re: Why Sex Scandals Are Good For America
I love public sex scandals, and from my point of view as a small "l" libertarian, I think they are good, but not for Healy's reason alone. I don't think they teach us to beware of ceding power to misnamed public servants as much as they reveal these clowns being tripped up by their own arrogant stupidity. Lately things have taken a definite turn toward farce, but when Republicans were in charge I also enjoyed pie-in-the-face absurdity by guys like Larry Craig and Mark Foley. Stuff you couldn't get away with in a novel.
Edited on Jun 7, 2011 at 8:42amJan '11
Re: Why Sex Scandals Are Good For America
If you were a reporter assigned to cover a fire, would that make you an expert on fire safety? If tomorrow you covered a bank collapse, would that make you a financial expert? And if you covered a terrorist kill in Afghanistan, would that make you an expert in foreign policy? No, of course not. Maybe, after many years of experience, you might gain some knowledge. But you’d still lag far behind those who have formally studied the topic and who also have experience.
Just because you’re in a job that deals with complex topics doesn’t make you an expert.
Both the media and politicians deal with topics that they themselves weren’t trained in. And yet, even if they have only the most superficial grasp of the topics – both politicians and the media present themselves as experts. They’re not.
That’s why, I argue, that we need to keep politicians in perspective. And, we need to make sure that they keep themselves in perspective. When they act as if they know better that the rest of us, it’s time to pull them back down.
Jun '10
Re: Why Sex Scandals Are Good For America
It's more of a lying to the boss (the boss being his constituents) scandal than a sex scandal. If his first words on the issue were, "hey, I'm a raging heterosexual and I sometimes go too far...I apologize to everyone I offended...especially my wife," then he'd be fine, and many many fewer people would be asking him to resign.
May '10
Re: Why Sex Scandals Are Good For America
Mollie Hemingway, Ed.:
It's a great group -- and even includes a young man who outed himself as a Ricochet fan.
You don't mean to imply that being a Ricochet fan is something to be hidden or spoken about only in hushed tones!
Re: Why Sex Scandals Are Good For America
Mark Wilson
Mollie Hemingway, Ed.:
It's a great group -- and even includes a young man who outed himself as a Ricochet fan.
You don't mean to imply that being a Ricochet fan is something to be hidden or spoken about only in hushed tones! · Jun 7 at 8:47am
Not at all! I just loved that he went out of his way to announce he was a fan. And he's a cool kid, too. Just goes to show how great our community is.
Jan '11
Re: Why Sex Scandals Are Good For America
I am Tiger Woods.
Jan '11
Re: Why Sex Scandals Are Good For America
...or was that Tiger Mom?
Jun '11
Re: Why Sex Scandals Are Good For America
It is true that great leaders may be given mythical qualities by the veils of history and legend while, in reality, their lives may have been riddled with flaws and imperfections.
However, this reality notwithstanding, I would humbly submit that there is an ethical character to leadership.
A leader is not just a manager or planner of affairs. She or he must possess the ability to persuade others to follow and persuasion implies a set of shared cultural values. Real leadership cannot happen in the absence of a shared Ethos.
Consider this: if Adolph Hitler had nightly gone on the stage at Nuremburg, dressed in a pink tutu and painted green, proceeded to masturbate in front of the crowds and then made his furious speeches, who would have followed him?
I will feel sorry for the obviously delusional state in which the frustrated and middle-aged Mr. Weiner dwells but I would never follow him.........anywhere.
Sep '10
Re: Why Sex Scandals Are Good For America
Fundamentally it's about truth. Politicians present themselves as something worthy of respect and this includes their personal lives. If a politician has to hide something - anything that would embarrass him, he is making himself and his constituents vulnerable to undue influence, whether it may come from his wife, his girlfriend/boyfriend a blackmailer from another political party, government or corporation.
These things can be very subtle. Perhaps Maria Shriver knew of Arnold's dalliances and coerced him into governing more like a, um, Kennedy. Or Bob Packwood getting a pass for years for groping women because he voted pro-choice.
Personally I think there is a whole underground world of political blackmail going on. Spies have used certain techniques for years to compromise other agents and to get people to give information. Why would these techniques not be used in the political realm? You can give a Senator's $100,000 and get his ear and vote on issues, or you can set up a hotel room with cameras hire a hooker for $5,000 (though maybe just a maid would do..) and have him vote your way every time for less money.
Jan '11
Re: Why Sex Scandals Are Good For America
I think that they could be good. But then re-reading the ending of the Gean Healy quote that you've provided, I believe that the vast majority of people [they're many on the Right, too] actually do want to cede more power to these clowns. Therefore, I'm weeping.
Re: Why Sex Scandals Are Good For America
LowcountryJoe
I think that they could be good. But then re-reading the ending of the Gean Healy quote that you've provided, I believe that the vast majority of people [they're many on the Right, too] actually do want to cede more power to these clowns. Therefore, I'm weeping. · Jun 7 at 9:35am
Oh man is that a good point. Now you're making me want to cry.
Jun '11
Re: Why Sex Scandals Are Good For America
Franco: Fundamentally it's about truth. Politicians present themselves as something worthy of respect and this includes their personal lives. If a politician has to hide something - anything that would embarrass him, he is making himself and his constituents vulnerable to undue influence, whether it may come from his wife, his girlfriend/boyfriend a blackmailer from another political party, government or corporation.
These things can be very subtle. Perhaps Maria Shriver knew of Arnold's dalliances and coerced him into governing more like a, um, Kennedy. Or Bob Packwood getting a pass for years for groping women because he voted pro-choice.
excellent points.
Jul '10
Re: Why Sex Scandals Are Good For America
Franco:
Personally I think there is a whole underground world of political blackmail going on.
Absolutely. Bart Stupak didn't flip on Obamacare, and then resign, because he was suddenly convinced it was pro-life friendly legislation.
He was bribed or threatened and I'd bet on the latter.
Feb '11
Re: Why Sex Scandals Are Good For America
What drives me nuts is that we in the private sector must hold ourselves to a much higher standard than Congress. I'm continually amazed at how careful and cautious senior corporate people are about doing ANYTHING that might sully the "brand" of their company. To the point of removing innocuous vacation photos from private Facebook pages. Why shouldnt this group of elected buffoons, whose salaries are paid by us, not be penalized in the same way?
Re: Why Sex Scandals Are Good For America
Let's clear up that there are different types of scandals, because we have 2 here.
Anthony has a sex drive that takes him outside of his marriage to potentially public places.
That isn't a mid-term expulsion worthy scandal. It's a scandal that voters are free to judge at the polls in the next election.
The lying is a different kind of scandal. That may be expulsion worthy under house rules.
He is almost like Billy Jeff Clinton, except the President also committed a crime by lying under oath.
If the house boots him, that's house business.
As a libertarian even though I'm all for folks getting their groove on as they see fit, I'll remind you that libertarian is not libertine. I might boot him as a voter for the infidelity to his wife.
Jun '11
Re: Why Sex Scandals Are Good For America
Yes, Susan. Yes. And it applies not only to ethical issues but also to basic efficiencies and accountability for actions taken in the pursuit of business building.
In the private sector, there is a punishment doled out for incompetence and inefficiency which potentially hangs over all of our heads - it's called Chapter 11.