"There are few who would not rather be taken in adultery than in provincialism." ~Aldous Huxley

Senator McCain's Assassins

On February 21, 2008, the New York Times ran an article on its front page with the headline For McCain, Self-Confidence on Ethics Poses Its Own Risk.

This entire issue about Senator McCain and Ms. Iseman sounds like the implosion of the Republican Party as now constructed. Some disenchanted, right-wing zealots, realizing they probably won't win the White House this fall, are resorting to a no-compromise, scorched-earth policy in preparation for 2012.

Even if the stories were true, it doesn't affect the man's ability to govern as president. If true, the problem and its resolution are between the Senator and Mrs. McCain, adultery historically not being "aberrant" behavior. History tells us that making such behavior public creates more heat than light. We can start with George Washington, if you'd like.

It's sanctimonious to expect our politicians to be better than the people who put them in office. Americans can be an infantile bunch of self-righteous hypocrites.

Winston Churchill said, "The best argument against democracy is a five-minute conversation with the average voter." Amen.