Should we forgive them?

Elliot Spitzer, Anthony Weiner and Bob Filner are just the latest in a long string of politicians, involved in some sort of scandal, who have said they are sorry and have asked forgiveness.

Should we forgive them?

No!

The Founding Fathers wanted us to know that integrity in office was absolutely paramount.

John Adams wrote: (referenced by W. Cleon Skousen in The 5000 Year Leap Copyright 1991, 2006 by The National Center for Constitutional Studies)

Politics are the divine science, after all. How is it possible that any man should ever think of  making it subservient to his own little passions and mean private interests? Ye baseborn sons of fallen Adam, is the end of politics a fortune, a family, a gilded coach, a train of horses, and a troop of livery servants, balls at court, splendid dinners and suppers? Yet, the divine science of politics is at length in Europe reduced to a mechanical system composed of these materials. (Quoted in Koch, The American Enlightenment. p.189.)

"Some might feel inclined to smile at such a puritanical ideology in a practical politician such as John Adams, but he had a ready answer for the skeptic. Said he:"

What is to become of an independent statesman, one who will bow the knee to no idol, who will worship nothing as a divinity but truth, virtue, and his country? I will tell you; he will be regarded more by posterity then those who worship hounds and horses; and although he will not make his own fortune, he will make the fortune of his country. (Ibid.; italics added.)

Benjamin Franklin had some comments as well. In a speech to the Constitutional Convention of 1787, Franklin said:

   Sir, there are two passions which have a powerful influence in the affairs of men. These are ambition and avarice; the love of power and the love of money. Separately, each of these has great force in prompting men to action; but when united in view of the same object, they have in many minds the most violent effects. Place before the eyes of such men a post of honor, that shall at the same time be a place of profit, and they will move heaven and earth to obtain it. The vast number of such places it is that renders the British government so tempestuous. The struggles for them are the true source of all those factions which are perpetually dividing the nation, distracting its councils, hurrying it sometimes into fruitless and mischievous wars, and often compelling a submission to dishonorable terms of peace. (Smyth, Writings of Benjamin Franklin, 7:4. Referenced by W. Cleon Skousen in The 5000 Year Leap Copyright 1991, 2006 by The National Center for Constitutional Studies)

 And, Edmund Burke said, "Constitute government how you please, infinitely the greater part of it must depend upon the exercise of the powers which are left at large to the prudence and uprightness of ministers of state." Prudence and uprightness. Remember those characteristics?

Can anyone imagine any reason but ambition and avarice for any of the aforementioned to seek or hold political office? I am not aware of any talents they may possess for making money outside of politics, but certainly high office is a road to riches. Something the Founding Fathers warned against.

Consider Barack Obama. Abandoned by his  father, before his birth, raised by a middle class family, but today worth millions. Just imagine the millions more he will be paid making speeches when he is finally out of office. Outside of politics, that is an almost impossible accomplishment.

Consider Nancy Pelosi. Already wealthy, she continues, after 26 years in Congress, to make the arduous journey between Washington and California. Averaging one trip per week, that is over 1,300 round trips at some 5,000 miles each. Over 6.5 million miles! 265 times around the earth. Only an insatiable thirst for power would drive that. Why, oh why, do voters keep re-electing such people?