I think being a politician is an incredibly difficult proposition. On the one hand, you have to be ego-driven to enter the fray, even if you're doing it for all the right reasons. On the other hand, in a 24x7 media world, with Internet and twitter and Facebook, etc., you surrender your privacy, and every mistake you may have made in your life becomes fodder for every person who has access to a keyboard.
Latest example: Nikki Haley, candidate for the GOP nomination for governor in South Carolina. Yesterday a conservative blogger and supporter of Haley said he had a brief affair with her several years ago when she was married and he was single. Haley has vehemently denied the allegation. The blogger, Will Forks, a well-know conservative in Columbia, said he came forward with the story because he was aware that it was about to be published in the media.
And it seems that Forks may be telling the truth. The Columbia Free Times quotes several politicians in an article about the revelation, and apparently the alleged affair was "common knowledge" around the state house for the past year. The Times reveals in the piece that they were one of the media outlets pursuing the story.
Meanwhile, Michael Brendan Dougherty at the American Conservative writes that "Columbia, South Carolina is one of the most treacherous, gossiping, and self-obsessed political capitals on Earth. Everyone there talks, and whispers about an affair between Haley and Folks are nearly a year old at this point. Political consultants were wondering two years ago why Haley’s car was so often seen in front of Folks’ home." Dougherty believes the allegations are true after talking to sources in South Carolina, and writes that the AP and other South Carolina sources have been researching the story for the past year.
Itf the allegations are true, it could be the end of Haley's bid for governor ... or South Carolinian could rally around her. The recent romantic adventures of current Governor Mark Sanford may make that more difficult.
The other two people who may be hurt by this affair if it turns out to be true are Jenny Sanford (the governor's wife) and Sarah Palin. Both women have strongly backed Haley but Palin has gone a step farther, denouncing the allegations and comparing them to things said about her and her family.
I wish we were more like the French when it came to this sort of story. If we disqualified every person male (mostly male, let's be honest) or female who has made this kind of mistake, there would be few people in public office. Or in the schools, or in the churches, or just about anywhere.
And being from the religious right doesn't seem to help (ask John Ensign). People are people when to comes to sex.
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