Comments on: Virtue & Politics: Fidelity Matters http://leslieannjones.com/2009/06/25/virtue-politics-and-fidelity/ Thu, 10 May 2012 20:58:00 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.2 By: Leslie Ann Jones http://leslieannjones.com/2009/06/25/virtue-politics-and-fidelity/comment-page-1/#comment-47 Leslie Ann Jones Fri, 26 Jun 2009 16:37:22 +0000 http://leslieannjones.com/?p=389#comment-47 I also applaud Sanford for his efforts to reconcile with his wife. It does seem as if he's trying to make things right again. Everyone makes mistakes. I am by no means calling for his removal from office - especially since I don't live in South Carolina. I'm all for forgiveness and extending grace, but I also think that there are consequences for actions. The unpleasant truth is that when someone is unfaithful to their spouse, it makes me question their honesty and integrity in other areas of their life. That's why virtue is so important in our leaders. If we can't trust them to be faithful to the people closest to them, how can we trust them to be faithful to the vows they have taken for us? I believe in reconciliation and rehabilitation, but I don't think those things happen overnight. Rebuilding trust and integrity takes time, no matter how remorseful or repentant you are. For Governor Sanford, it may not matter much right now since his term is almost over, but it might make a difference if he runs for office in the future. I hope Sanford and his wife are able to mend the damage done to their marriage, but I don't think it will be easy. If they survive, it may be good news for his political career, but if his wife is unable to stand by him, I'm afraid it sends a strong message to everyone else. If she can't move past the infidelity, how can the rest of us? We'll see what happens. I also applaud Sanford for his efforts to reconcile with his wife. It does seem as if he’s trying to make things right again.

Everyone makes mistakes. I am by no means calling for his removal from office – especially since I don’t live in South Carolina. I’m all for forgiveness and extending grace, but I also think that there are consequences for actions. The unpleasant truth is that when someone is unfaithful to their spouse, it makes me question their honesty and integrity in other areas of their life. That’s why virtue is so important in our leaders. If we can’t trust them to be faithful to the people closest to them, how can we trust them to be faithful to the vows they have taken for us?

I believe in reconciliation and rehabilitation, but I don’t think those things happen overnight. Rebuilding trust and integrity takes time, no matter how remorseful or repentant you are.

For Governor Sanford, it may not matter much right now since his term is almost over, but it might make a difference if he runs for office in the future. I hope Sanford and his wife are able to mend the damage done to their marriage, but I don’t think it will be easy. If they survive, it may be good news for his political career, but if his wife is unable to stand by him, I’m afraid it sends a strong message to everyone else. If she can’t move past the infidelity, how can the rest of us?

We’ll see what happens.

]]> By: Anonymous http://leslieannjones.com/2009/06/25/virtue-politics-and-fidelity/comment-page-1/#comment-46 Anonymous Fri, 26 Jun 2009 01:10:30 +0000 http://leslieannjones.com/?p=389#comment-46 From my limited knowledge of the Mark Sanford fiasco, I thought his recent rendezvous in Argentina was to end his affair. I believe his exact words were he "spent the last 5 days crying" because of what he had done. I applaud him for coming clean on his own and confronting the issue head on. Additionally, I applaud he and his wife for making the attempt to fix their marriage unlike another recent well-publicized couple this week. I hope that they actually follow through and do work to fix their marriage. Politics and virtue should definitely go hand in hand as virtue should with any profession. Those we entrust to make decisions on our behalf should be virtuous in all they do. I do, however, believe that we should also practice forgiveness with politicians as we should with everyone. While infidelity is definitely not virtuous, has working to fix a marriage instead of simply giving up become some sort of virtue that more could practice today? As for Mark Sanford, whether or not he is forced out of office is irrelevant. His term ends in 2010, and term limits prevent him from running again. The more important thing is whether he and his wife follow through on their statements in the coming weeks, months, and even years. I applaud Gov. Sanford for coming clean before any stories were released. And I applaud he and his wife for attempting to fix their marriage. Hopefully, they will. From my limited knowledge of the Mark Sanford fiasco, I thought his recent rendezvous in Argentina was to end his affair. I believe his exact words were he “spent the last 5 days crying” because of what he had done. I applaud him for coming clean on his own and confronting the issue head on. Additionally, I applaud he and his wife for making the attempt to fix their marriage unlike another recent well-publicized couple this week. I hope that they actually follow through and do work to fix their marriage.

Politics and virtue should definitely go hand in hand as virtue should with any profession. Those we entrust to make decisions on our behalf should be virtuous in all they do. I do, however, believe that we should also practice forgiveness with politicians as we should with everyone. While infidelity is definitely not virtuous, has working to fix a marriage instead of simply giving up become some sort of virtue that more could practice today?

As for Mark Sanford, whether or not he is forced out of office is irrelevant. His term ends in 2010, and term limits prevent him from running again. The more important thing is whether he and his wife follow through on their statements in the coming weeks, months, and even years. I applaud Gov. Sanford for coming clean before any stories were released. And I applaud he and his wife for attempting to fix their marriage. Hopefully, they will.

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