Jon Beydler's guest commentary ("Lessons learned from Weinergate", June 29) points out that much of society has developed an attitude of openness about sex and pornography. Anthony Weiner's behavior is one of the symptoms of the prevalent lack of self-control that has developed. While part of society accepts many forms of personal sexual choices, there still seems to be a consensus that something is wrong with his actions, especially as a public official. I disagree with Mr. Beydler's conclusion that it is or might be OK to act in such a manner as long as they don't lie about it.
Many seem to accept the fallacy that people can separate their public life from their private life. There is no separating a person's actions from who they are no matter where they are. If they can't manage themselves in the areas of personal responsibility, they should not be public officials. Freedom and self-government are only possible when individuals and leaders have certain fundamental commitments to behavior that are self-enforced. A person's honesty is a direct reflection of their private virtue.
Charles Brown, Mesa
Leon Ceniceros posted at 2:10 pm on Tue, Jul 12, 2011.
After the "Monica LewinskyScandal"..........American sadly have come to almost .."expect"...immoral behavior from politicians.
IF....DEMOCRAT PRESIDENT BILL CLINTON....CAN HAVE THE AUDACITY TO BRING A 22YO WHITE HOUSE INTERN....INTO THE ...OVAL OFFICE OF THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES....AND HAVE IMMORAL RELATIONS WITH HER ON TOP OF PAST PRESIDENT TEDDY ROOSEVELT'S DESK....WHILE THE FIRST LADY HILLARY CLINTON IS IN THE WHITE HOUSE.............AMERICANS HAVE SADLY, LEARNED TO........."ACCEPT"...THIS FORM OF BEHAVIOR FROM...........DEMOCRATS.
THESE SAME........DEMOCRATS....ARE DOING THE SAME THING...FIGURATIVELY....TO THE HARD "WORKING"...."TAX-PAYING"...AMERICAN PUBLIC.
Cerulean posted at 2:51 pm on Tue, Jul 12, 2011.
Beydler said, “The first mistake that Weiner made was to lie and attempt to cover up.”
Michael Weinstein suggested the same thing, “If public figures would admit their mistakes openly, we would embrace and forgive them like the imperfect humans that we are.” (guest commentary Sun, June 3rd 2011)
And, unless I am making stuff up, it seems to me that Charlie Brown is saying something very similar, “A person's honesty is a direct reflection of their private virtue.”
How does the saying go? ‘One man’s virtue is another man’s sin, and vice versa.’
Or as William Shakespeare wrote, “Some rise by sin, and some by virtue fall.”
DemocraticDad posted at 4:47 pm on Tue, Jul 12, 2011.
And yes Leon, as USUAL you are 100% correct in your assessment when you stated,".............AMERICANS HAVE SADLY, LEARNED TO........."ACCEPT"...THIS FORM OF BEHAVIOR FROM...........DEMOCRATS." Afterall, we all know that Republicans are NEVER involved in sex scandals!!!!
LOL! LOL! LOL! LOL! LOL! LOL! LOL! LOL!LOL! LOL! LOL! LOL!LOL! LOL! LOL!
LinMesa posted at 9:38 pm on Tue, Jul 12, 2011.
Leon, I guess you don't remember that at the same time Newt Gindrich, Speaker of the House, was having an affair with another woman while still married to his wife and that after he stepped down from the office the man who was elected to take his place also had to leave because he was doing the same things. I'm pretty sure these two were republicans!!
Dale Whiting posted at 10:31 am on Wed, Jul 13, 2011.
My points precisely. We expect politicians to lie, to tell us what we want to hear, not what we need to hear. But when they lie about themselves, we hang them out to dry. The list goes on and on and covers both sides of the aisle. Shame on them for lying about themselves. Shame on us for electing liars [politicians].