Here is my dilemma:
I have a hard time excusing any wrongdoing by a President, because it offends fundamental fairness for a man not to be punished because of who he is. This may be especially true for a President, as he has special responsibilities, and he is someone many people look to to uphold moral values, and basic American values.
On the other hand, we have an obligation to the nation, and to our children, to have the best and most capable leaders. Are there humans out there who do not sin? How many could withstand a multi-million dollar inquiry into their personal lives, and come out unscathed? Bill Clinton could not; neither could Henry Hyde; Bob Livingston; Dan Burton; and many others to come.
If all are sinners, and if we spend vast resources to uncover those sins, then no one can serve. This goes way beyond Bill Clinton--there appears to be no easy answer. On the one hand, our acceptance of wrongdoing appears to undermine the rule of law; on the other, we create a situation in which only angels can lead us, and there are scant few of those.
How do we reconcile these competing needs--the need to uphold fairness and morality, and the need not to destroy ourselves by establishing impossible standards for our leaders? (Who would have withstood the present assaults--FDR? Kennedy? Churchill? MacArthur?). What do we do now? |
