ooofff..
I just read purported emails between Sanford and his mistress at the state. It is actually pretty sad to read them. Yes he comes across as a cheesy middle-aged republican dude, but it is also pretty clear that he was a man very much in love and very much conflicted about the relationship. She also seems to share this internal struggle over their love. I feel bad for reading them, but I suppose State should have published them b/c it turns out his statement that it has been romantic/physical for only 5 or 6 months was very much a continuation of the lie.I admit I do take some schadenfreude when hypocrites are caught because it exposes the naivete in their espoused worldview for everyone else but them, but I do feel sorry for this man and his family and the woman who he clearly loves. This is between him and his wife (the affair is at least - the fact that he ran off for a week without telling any staff could certainly be an issue for those in the palmetto state). He owes me nothing. He never made a vow to be faithful to me. He hasn’t made a mockery of me and the life I built with him. He hasn’t hurt my children. But he, and others in his party, have espoused a philosophy that demands a certain world view and life path of the rest of us in society, yet behind closed doors they live a very different life. That is the part that is so infuriating.
I look around at many people I know who are libertarian or socially liberal when it comes to public policy and many, if not most of them, are actually quite conservative when it comes to their own personal life choices and family. They just want everyone else to be able to make those same choices for themselves. They trust the people to decide what is best for their own life. They are, you know… Democratic.
Actually, Republican. Democratic principles (not those of the party, I should emphasize) would have the majority dictating the lives of the minority. Republican principles (not those of the party) would allow individuals to make their own life choices.
Otherwise I agree.
I don’t want this to sound like a defense of Sanford, but rather a defense of the word hypocrite. What he did is obviously a bad thing. But having an affair while espousing family values doesn’t make you a hypocrite, it just makes you weak. Unless of course the person having the affair espouses family values but secretly thinks that affairs are perfectly ok.
Another thing- everyone is pointing at this as hypocrisy because he is a Republican, Republicans espouse family values, and family values means it’s not ok to have an affair. Therefore, because he’s a Republican, he’s a hypocrite. Does this mean that if he were a Democrat, it would be ok? And for that matter, does that mean Democrats are pro-cheating on your wife?
1 year ago - read more...
