In the wake of political sex scandals including South Carolina Gov. Mark Sanford and Nevada Sen. John Ensign, ABC's Cokie Roberts took the opportunity on June 25 to suggest that the fundamental flaw in each case was the male gender.
"World News with Charles Gibson" anchor asked question of why such affairs ever begin.
"It's an admission that can doom the most promising political career," Gibson said. "So, why do politicians tempt fate and cheat on their wives? Why do so many think they can get away it?"
ABC correspondent John Berman's report tried to rationalize marital infidelity as "politics as usual" and part of the narcissism that comes with being a politician. Berman explained the recent rash of infidelity scandals weren't bound by geography, political party or sexual orientation.
"Yes, the recent American political map of infidelity is bi-coastal, bi-partisan and bisexual," Berman said. "In addition to Ensign and Sanford, you have John Edwards in North Carolina, the mayor of Los Angeles, the former mayor of Detroit, Sen. Vitter in Louisiana, Eliot Spitzer in New York and former Gov. Jim McGreevey in New Jersey. They know it spells political disaster, so why do they keep doing it?"
However, Berman discovered one common thread among the list he rattled off - their gender. "There is of course another thing these politicians have in common - they're all men," Berman pointed out.
But Berman also called upon Roberts, self-appointed feminist philosopher and ABC News political analyst, to shed some light on this common thread. According to Roberts, cheating is a biological component of the male human species.
"Testosterone is a powerful hormone," Roberts explained. "And, um, and it seems to drive some men to do things that they would not rationally do if they were thinking with another part of their body."
This is the same Roberts who claimed the selection of Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin to be former Sen. John McCain's running mate was nothing but a ploy to win over male voters in the 2008 presidential election. Nonetheless, Berman chalked up Roberts' theory as human behavior in politics.
"As long as politicians are human, this could be politics," Berman said, as a clip from Sanford's June 24 press conference was played.
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I'm going to "tell" Cokie
Fri, 06/26/2009 - 10:12 ET by motherbeltI'm going to "tell" Cokie the same thing I "told" Annnnn-drea Mitchell (I know they can't hear me, but...)
If you want to say that testosterone causes men to "think with their ***" then shut your mouth when the men say that women are irrational and unstable because of their "cycles." There is more anecdotal evidence of that than the male thing....I don't know a single woman who doesn't claim to get PMS and bitchy every month. And that doesn't even take menopause into consideration.
I didn't think it was physically possible, but this both sucks and blows. -Bart Simpson
Well actually, there's a
Fri, 06/26/2009 - 15:13 ET by arkansaszippersWell actually, there's a good bit of truth in both sides of that argument. Well put.
I've said it before and
Fri, 06/26/2009 - 10:13 ET by taterI've said it before and I'll say it again.
If you get down to the biggest reason why we have all this sexual deviance you can trace it back to one thing. Contraceptives.
But that line of thought will never enter liberal land.
www.theholyrosary.org
"There is no problem, I tell you, no matter how difficult it is, that we can not resolve by the prayer of the Holy Rosary." -Sister Lucia
The reason that "line of
Fri, 06/26/2009 - 15:27 ET byThe reason that "line of thought" will never enter liberal land is because that line of thought is wrong. Respectfully my friend, the reason we have all this "sexual deviance" is because man, at his best, is a degenerate beast. The Apostle Paul said it best
Romans 7:18
For I know that in me (that is, in my flesh,) dwelleth no good thing: for to will is present with me; but how to perform that which is good I find not.
The fallen nature of man is the reason for the sin. The reason that liberals and other idiots are wrong in calling this type of transgression "hypocrisy" is as follows: The unregenerated (unsaved, non-holy ghost filled) state of man is that he is steeped in sin. Religion asks us to be "better" than we are, so by DEFINITION, there will be times when we are not "better". There will be times when we "revert to form", that is what REPENTANCE is for.
In fact it is very dangerous to believe that all of our temptations come from outside of us. Whether it be the old, "The Devil Made Me Do It " excuse of Flip Wilson, or your, "Contraceptives". If one fails to understand the fallen nature of man, one will similarly fail to see a reason to repent and without repentance no man can be saved. Paul posited it thusly to the Galatian Church....Please note that nowhere in the following list is an "outside" source blamed for the various types of degeneracy. They all come from WITHIN US.
Galatians 5:19-21
19Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these; Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness,
20Idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies,
21Envyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings, and such like: of the which I tell you before, as I have also told you in time past, that they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God.
This affects Christians who have received the Holy Spirit the same way the apostles did ( acts 2:4) as well as those who merely believe but who have yet to "receive". We all are "shapen in iniquity". We are all in the same war and as a result we will all lose a few battles. I am not condoning what this man did and neither do I condone my own sins, I am merely explaining their true origin according to scripture. God bless, hope this helps.
Good Grief
Fri, 06/26/2009 - 10:15 ET by BondPlainBondCokie Roberts evidently allowed her brass balls to think on her behalf. Now, is this her journalistic opinion - or her medical diagnosis?
Spew alert!
Fri, 06/26/2009 - 10:20 ET by motherbeltHell hath no fury like.....
I didn't think it was physically possible, but this both sucks and blows. -Bart Simpson
No kidding, spew alert
Fri, 06/26/2009 - 10:29 ET by BlondeEven though I knew what the punch line was going to be....and the disclaimer, well!
I hope he fails, too.
Women cheat just about as
Fri, 06/26/2009 - 10:24 ET by G. MayWomen cheat just about as often as men, so is it estrogen for them? Or do they just think male politicians' testosterone is more powerful than other males'?
Men and women cheat for a variety of reasons, and at Sanford's age, testosterone is the least likely culprit.
Good to see so-called journalists weighing in with their so-called medical opinion.
Went to bed with a 10, woke up with a 2
Fri, 06/26/2009 - 10:37 ET by sic721"There is of course another thing these politicians have in common - they're all men," Berman pointed out.
The reason being very few men will admit to sleeping with a liberal woman, i.e., Pelosi. Boxer. Waters. Feinstein. etc., etc., so they're all essentially safe from 'scandal'.
"If you tell the truth, you don't have to remember anything."--Mark Twain
A typical feminst making a
Fri, 06/26/2009 - 11:18 ET by Tom PaineA typical feminst making a sexist blanket accusation that would never be tolerated if it were made by a man targeting a (liberal) woman
Of course the women these
Fri, 06/26/2009 - 11:36 ET by mattmOf course the women these men cheat with are just innocent bystanders, right?
So What?
Fri, 06/26/2009 - 11:49 ET by JustAlI have no way to know and no desire to know the details of this man's sex life at home or on the road. For all we know he hadn't been able to get any at home for years (how many people are in that boat?).
There isn't anything "deviant" about wanting or needing sex. Additionally, from the emails and his demeanor, he actually was/is in love with this lady, now how many here can help who they fall in love with (show of hands, please).
But, he was not physically in the state or in a generally known location to handle an emergency had one happened in his state. Therefore, he deserves to loose his job. I have no problem judging a politician's performance, but I have no right to judge a human being's reaction to love.
Many of us who post here desperately want a fiscally conservative government that is willing and able to defend our nation (including it's borders) without bankrupting or enslaving the citizens.
But when people make " morality" the issue they will loose, they will loose big, and they will loose every time, then we get nothing.
I understand the whole "not
Fri, 06/26/2009 - 15:25 ET by arkansaszippersI understand the whole "not being in the state" thing, as far as him needing to lose his job, but I really don't care what politicians do with their wangs. Maybe I'm strange, but it doesn't bother me if one of them has an affair. I don't see how cheating on your wife affects your job performance. I'm sure we all work with somebody who might be cheating, and they probably do their job just fine.
Affairs are rarely about sex
Fri, 06/26/2009 - 11:48 ET by dvdaughtryIt's a newsweek article, but it is the only I could find on a fly (and I have heard these stats before).
http://www.newsweek.com/id/160910
only 8 percent of cheaters said that sexual dissatisfaction was a primary contributor [in cheating] and only 12 percent said the mistress was better looking or in better shape than their wives. It really started to show a completely different pattern than what most expect. In fact, the majority—48 percent—said that the cheating was about an emotional disconnection.
It's a pride thing, not a penis thing.
I had a family member go through this last year, except the mistriss was 15 years young. He has said repeatedly that they "connected".
They must have, because his wife is extremly pretty.
You trying to say Jesus Christ can't hit a curveball?
So the next question
Fri, 06/26/2009 - 11:51 ET by taterSo the next question is...what causes emotional disconnection?
From what I've seen of Sanford's wife...she's pretty good looking.
www.theholyrosary.org
"There is no problem, I tell you, no matter how difficult it is, that we can not resolve by the prayer of the Holy Rosary." -Sister Lucia
'Cheating'
Fri, 06/26/2009 - 13:13 ET by JDWYou are right. How many insurance companies did Edwards swindle in his pursuit of the fortune? How did the results affect him personally?
Although we are unaware of the sexual relations of people such as Reid, Pelosi, Rangel... it is obvious how their power affected them.
JDW
DAILY WAVE
When people fear their government there is tyranny.
When government fears the people there is liberty.
HMMMMMM
Fri, 06/26/2009 - 12:47 ET by rick007It didn't hurt JFK,Ted K, or cigar Willy.
What about Butt Frank??
I have to say, I'm kind of
Fri, 06/26/2009 - 12:51 ET by Radical1979I have to say, I'm kind of disappointed with the men here. It's almost as if most of you can excuse someone cheating on their spouse. If something is wrong at home and a man feels the need for a relationship with another woman, I think he needs to deal with his wife and children FIRST. I'd be devestated not to have the chance to be what my husband needs/wants, and would like to at least have him have the decency to separate from me before entering into another relationship.
As for Sanford, my problem with him is that he left his state without an acting governor. It's a 24/7 job. If you don't like it, don't run for office.
Sandford & Buns
Fri, 06/26/2009 - 13:28 ET by Jack BauerCan't speak for the other men here, but I was one of the first to post that Sandford was a total jerk. No excuses. He should RESIGN right now.
In fact, the more I read about his behavior, the more reprehensible he seems to me. Maybe he has a brain tumor, cos I don't get it.
Kudos to his wife's "go blank yourself" to her betraying, gutless husband.
Right there is the difference between Republican and Democrat women whose men pork around with loose women -- or men, depending on the proclivity.
Remember all those supposedly feminist Democrat women dutifully humiliating themselves in public as they "stand by their scuzzy man." Like Mrs Spitzer?
This is why Todd Palin would be scared to even think about betraying Sarah. She being a crack-shot, for starters.
I agree, Jack, pond scum,
Fri, 06/26/2009 - 14:08 ET by motherbeltI agree, Jack, pond scum, he is. (Yoda voice LOL)
I too am cheering on the wife. I hope the moment that she told him to go blank himself was when he asked to appear by his side at his press conference!
I didn't think it was physically possible, but this both sucks and blows. -Bart Simpson
Who's excusing it? No
Fri, 06/26/2009 - 13:23 ET by G. MayWho's excusing it? No one's even "almost" doing it. As a matter of fact, most people (I'm unsure of their gender here) seem to have been fairly universal in condemning him.
WTF
Fri, 06/26/2009 - 12:52 ET by rick007The same number of men that cheat is equal to women they cheat with .
Every time a man cheats on his wife theres a female ( or another party) that cheats on her also.
That is unless hes a Butt Frank.
But then again we are talking about female logic here.
WTF
Fri, 06/26/2009 - 13:00 ET by rick007I have to say, I'm kind of
June 26, 2009 - 13:51 ET by Radical1979
Hey Radical 1979 if your hubby seperated from you ,who would pay the bills?
Would you just make him pay acctual living costs??
Or would you want him to keep you at the lifestyle you got accustom to?
Wow, is that relevant?
Fri, 06/26/2009 - 16:14 ET by Radical1979Wow, is that relevant? I'm saying I would want to do my best to keep him from feeling the need to cheat, and if I couldn't to give me the respect of separating from me before he has an affair. Why the venom?
HMMM
Fri, 06/26/2009 - 13:20 ET by rick007Remember beauty is only skin deep.
Bitching and nagging go to the bone.
You people talking about beauty are the ones that bring sex into the equation.