http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/hypocrite Hypocrite - a person who pretends to have virtues, moral or religious beliefs, principles, etc., that he or she does not actually possess, esp. a person whose actions belie stated beliefs.
Your question is answered implicitly in your paragraph, but it's not the one you state. They hated Clinton, forgave Newt, overlook Rudy, etc. because of political power pure and simple. The language of morality (used against opponents) and forgiveness (applied to favorites) is what they use to justify their positions to their followers, but it is first and foremost a calculation based on pure political power, not morality. I think David Kuo is absolutely right that they have been selling their followers a bill of goods while cashing in when they could. And for the record, I detest Dobson more than Falwell or Robertson. The guy is evil. I'll be damned if I'm raising my two daughters to defer to thier hubands in matters of conflict... I'm raising them so they don't marry some demented Ned Flanders follower of Dobson.
I think the relevant part in the Bible suggests you shouldn't be condemning anyone, because we're all capable of awful crap.
This is exactly my point. I don't care if Gingrich, Clinton or Dobson cheats on his wife. I do care that so many politicians and people that influence politics condemn others for private behavior that they consider to be "immoral." That junk has no place in our politics, but it is there -- and it is represented far, far, far, far more often from one party than from the other. I'm sick of hearing who has better "family values," who is more "moral" and who is more "Christian." Especially when the ones yelling the loudest are so often engaged in hypocritical behavior.
Would people feel better about politicians if they went around saying, "I cheat on my wife and plan to do so while in office."? Politics has a lot to do with illusion and I think some level of hypocrisy is required of politicians.
so the only two options are bannering morals/values or admitiing to it? what if they just keep quiet about it?
I love the undercurrents of politics- cheat, lie, hypocrite It is what it is... sad American Politics= 'Mr. Smith Goes to Washington' to the tenth power.
Are you saying politicians shouldn't talk about morals or that they shouldn't talk about their infidelities?
this is true and its not my place to pass judgment upon others when it comes to their personal lives, but in the case of alot of these "christian conservative" republicans it is a hypocrisy issue. if you are going to champion "traditional family values" and claim you are defending the institution of marriage when you fight gay marriage, than you better hold yourself to a higher standard. bush, haggert, foley, ginrich - all hypocrites.
don't campaign or attack others based on morals/values.. don't hold other people to high moral standards or pretend to be living in such high moral standards if they are not clean themselves..
