OK, maybe it's just me:

[underlankers.livejournal.com]

But why is it that sleeping with a woman he's not married to is all it takes to get a CIA director out of office? I mean it seems a rather underwhelming offense given how many people who retain their positions in office *coughDavidVittercough* happen to have done much worse things and retain their position and shamelessly keep doing the same kind of foolishness they got in trouble for beforehand. In today's America where the self-appointed defenders of traditional marriage cheat on their cancer-stricken wives to establish the bases for their third marriages and where sexual mores have changed for the better, how is this is at all a cause to dismiss anyone or for anyone to resign?

Sure, it might be bad 'if they talk' but then again, people like J. Edgar Hoover got away with much more than this. I really don't know what to make of Petraeus's resignation, so I'm basically asking you guys:

If someone in that position is boinking someone who's not his wife, should that alone be enough to lead to his resignation? (I admit to gendered bias in the question here but there aren't too many female politicians involved in sex scandals yet so that can be excused). I don't think it should be and I find the whole reaction to have more to do with puritanical pseudo-moralism than anything inherent in the offense. What do you think?

Comments

[notmrgarrison.livejournal.com]

Wouldn't it then be giving a green light to everyone else at the agency, including him with a second affair?

[yes-justice.livejournal.com]

Sure. How often do you think it happens?

And who gives the green light or red light if not the penis placement police?

[notmrgarrison.livejournal.com]

With a green light, probably more often, and blackmailers would find out more often as well.

[yes-justice.livejournal.com]

Without the cultural stigmata, how would the blackmailer hold any sway?

We do this to ourselves. Penis placement is very important stuff.

[notmrgarrison.livejournal.com]

Without the cultural stigmata, how would the blackmailer hold any sway?

He might not want his wife and kids finding out.

[yes-justice.livejournal.com]

Yes. That is valid point.

Too late for him now I guess.