Moral forfeiture, vacuum of leadership.

Thanks to my good friend Frank in Phoenix for forwarding this message to me, especially after my recent reflections on Mr. Obama.  I also signed on (at the link at the bottom of this) to tell congress to get going. 

Subject: Tell Pelosi and Reid: Now is the time to repeal DOMA.

“Dear Friend,

First John Ensign. Now Mark Sanford. Seems like a lot of politicians who’ve voted to ban gay marriage have broken their own marriage vows.

And that’s why this is exactly the right time to repeal the Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA) - the awful legislation that prevents legally married same-sex couples from accessing federal rights and benefits.

President Obama claims he’s in favor of repealing DOMA - he just needs for Congress to send him a bill. Speaker Pelosi and Sen. Reid should give him the opportunity to make good on his word.

I just signed a petition to tell Speaker Pelosi and Sen. Reid to introduce legislation to repeal the Defense of Marriage Act. I hope you will, too. Please have a look and take action.”

http://act.credoaction.com/campaign/repeal_doma/?r_by=-1912776-1f40DVx&rc=paste

Above, Sen. John Ensign (R-Nevada) appears to be making a point, so let me offer oneof my own.  “Thou shalt not.”  It’s an old view on moral righteousness, isn’t it, Senator?  But you are one of the anchors keeping bad legislation like DOMA on the books. and now look what you’ve admitted to.  (Queerty has the link to Rachel Maddow’s “aftershock” report.  Apparently what he’s admitted to goes on and on beyond a mere affair.)  Ensign, we will remember, was one who called for President Clinton’ resignation after the Lewinsky (”I did not have sex with that woman”) affair, and also for Sen. Larry (”Widestance”) Craig to resignation after his arrest for public bathroom sex solicitation.

And now Gov. Mark Sanford, another conservative American, and one who had been considered as a running mate for John McCain in the 2008 presidential election and a possible 2012 president candidate, has explained his disappearing act.  According to the Wall Street Journal’s Capital Journal blog, about 54% of Americans think Sanford should resign. 

“And precisely half said that someone in “high public office” who commits adultery lacks the personal character to hold office.

“By contrast, when the Wall Street Journal and NBC News asked a similar question back in 1999, just 21% said adultery showed a lack of sufficient character for public office.

“Of course, that 1999 survey came amid raw feelings about the impeachment of President Bill Clinton in the aftermath of his own liaisons with Monica Lewinsky, and the reading likely was skewed by the partisan divide over that episode. Still, the poll findings suggest politicians who wander still can expect to pay a price.”

By my lights, the price to be paid is the forfeiture of conservative moral leadership that pretends to want to defend marriage.  DOMA doesn’t defend the marriages of Sen. Ensign or Gov. Sanford, and does nothing to protect the spouses and children of mid-life crisis failures who can’t seem to remember either their marital vows or the oath to uphold and defend the laws of this nation.  What really scares me about Sanford is that he went missing and lied even to his staff.  At least Ensign had his mistress (and her husband) on his staff, so at least one or two people knew what he was up to.

And if moral leadership is forfeited (whether or not these men resign their office) where are the elected officials with some integrity who will openly say that integrity itself demands the repeal of DOMA?

This entry was posted on June 30, 2009 at 17:00 and is filed under Sex, LGBT Rights, Public Affairs. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can skip to the end and leave a response. Pinging is currently not allowed.

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