Ever since the 1980s, I have cringed at the mere claim of “family values” as a plank by a Red-winged political candidate. The litany of such creatures who later turned out to be less-than-choir-boys (as well as a few girls) has been stark. A sampling: Newt Gingrich. Dan Burton. David Vitter. Helen Chenoweth. Mark Foley. John Ensign (all members of Congress). Mark Sanford. Bob McDonnell. (both governors). While most of them were naughty in their sexual proclivities, others like McDonnell have been caught in bribery scandals.
And now, Alabama Governor Bob Bentley. No need to go into the sex tapes that have been played for our listening (dis)pleasure. Suffice to say that the randy old goat, who even in this day and age still trumpeted the tired old FV refrain in his most recent campaign, has dug himself quite a hole. He took great pains to deny that he had a physical relationship with his now-former aide. Does that mean he merely lusted for her in his heart? If they weren’t intimate, that audio tape showed he has a fertile fantasy life away from his state office duties.
Whether or not Bentley’s detractors succeed in the attempt to kick him from office, it is yet another example of political “do as I say and not as I do.” When politicians go around and claim “family values” while bashing their opponents’ lack of purity, my antenna immediately goes up. Often, these holier-than-thou folks are guilty of the same sin as they are shaming others over. I have no doubt that some of the folks going after Bentley are themselves guilty of some extra-marital hanky-panky. They can’t help themselves, it is part of their legislative culture. In his case, Governor Bentley thought nothing of throwing away his 50-year marriage, as he is the No. 1 dude in Alabama these days, and that he deserved the perks that come with power and adulation. He may very well hang on to what remains of his tattered tenure a la Mark Sanford, but it will be a tortuous descent to that final day of his term. No doubt that by then, Bentley will himself be glad to depart from his high office. May the door hit him on the way out.