Private Conduct, Public Conduct

TChris makes an interesting point, talking about the resignation of a Bush administration official for “receiving massages” from a paid escort: “In Republican world, private conduct that causes only private harm, if any, is a greater reason for disgrace than repeated efforts to undermine the country's legal structure. Go figure.”

Here’s how I figure it: repeated efforts to undermine the country’s legal structure is what Rethuglicans want. It’s their goal. They won’t come out and say it, but their lack of condemnation of such repeated efforts to undermine the country’s legal system speaks volumes. We can clearly see why Rethuglicans think there is no reason for disgrace here.

And further, the reason private conduct can have such huge repercussions in a Rethuglican world is because the worst thing you can do is engage in sexual or “immoral” activities outside of marriage and get caught. That explains the Clinton impeachment, it explains the outrage over the Janet Jackson “wardrobe malfunction”, and it explains this current resignation.