From the E-Mailbag…

Bart Lidofsky writes…

My major reaction to the Al Gore sex revelations (or lack thereof) is that it really doesn't matter to me, and it shouldn't matter to anybody who is not directly affected. Frankly, the only time that revelations about a public figure's private life makes a bit of difference to me is when it involves hypocrisy. Al Gore has never made any representations of being sexually faithful, or wanting other people to be so. John Edwards, on the other hand, made a big deal of his strong marriage with his wife, so it was relevant with her. I found it somewhat creepy how the press landed on Paul Ryan for daring to have sex, and with his wife of all people, but have little problem with publicizing the records involving Larry Craig's conduct in propositioning an officer for gay sex (or doing an incredibly good imitation of it) while maintaining a solid voting record against gay rights.

I think I disagree with this. Al Gore is being accused of doing something which is (a) a crime and (b) extremely stupid. If it were just a matter of cheating on one's wife…well, that isn't a crime and that shouldn't matter to us. But when a public official breaks the law, that is a matter of public concern. If Gore were accused of robbing a liquor store at gunpoint, would you say it wasn't any of our business? Or that it was only our business if he had been crusading against the robbing of liquor stores so his actions therefore constituted hypocrisy?

And for emphasis: I am absolutely not suggesting Gore is guilty. I am dismayed at how many folks have jumped to convict or exonerate in a case about which they know darn near nothing. I'm also generally sympathetic to Gore because he seems to me to hold the record for having his enemies make up bogus stories about him that were then sold as fact to a large swath of the American public. This and other accusations about him may be true but there seems to be a different standard for the guy…a great willingness out there to instantly believe any negative thing about him.

If (note the "if") there is actual proof that he molested the lady, that's a public issue. Everyone can decide for themselves how much weight they wish to give it in their consideration of Al Gore but it's not the same thing as marital infidelity. It also may be our concern if we invest emotion and loyalty and donations in a leader who then does something as outright reckless as that. My disappointment in John Edwards was all about that. In the Post-Monica Era, anyone who aspires to public office, or tries to lead in other ways as Gore has, has to know such things do come out and your opponents milk them for all they're worth. To screw around is to play Russian Roulette…and when they lose, they take our cause with them.