How would you feel if your candidate, Obama or Clinton, was caught up in a scandal big as Spitzer's?

[Tropics_Dude83]

This is my worst nightmare. As much as we believe in our preferred candidate, either Clinton or Obama, we don't know what they do 24/7. We can't say for certain that our candidate wouldn't do that. In fact, this isn't quite a hypothetical as President Clinton, husband of the present candidate, had an affair and was accused of perjury and obstruction of justice. Who among us would have thought on Jan 15, 1998 that a president who had finally hit his stride was about to be rocked by a major scandal. Same with Spitzer. I remember following his career as attorney general. He had a tremendous reputation. I remember his major legal victories against the bad guys and cheered when he was elected overwhelmingly. He was a strongly progressive rising star. Who would have thought....

Ever since this happened, I've got to thinking about how I would feel if either of our candidates ever got caught up in a scandal as huge as Spitzer's, not necessarily sex, anything illegal. As hard as it would be, I think I would have to retract my support of either Obama or Clinton. I can't imagine either of them ever betraying their millions of supporters but as much as I love what they stand for, I think I'd have to abandon them if they were rocked by scandal.

What would you do? How would you feel? Could they ever earn your respect and vote back? I would be devastated and I don't think they ever could. Not if they had a scandal as huge as Spitzer's. This whole thing got me thinking about them.

It got me thinking really that any one of our role models, our heroes, could let us down huge one day. Thank god Spitzer wasn't a national figure.

Now, lastly, I hate the GOP so MUCH that I would pop the champagne, spray it across the room, and dance all night long, if a Spitzer like scandal hit John Mccain.

[movonne]

1. I think the clintons already have that scandal in their closet....

[nadinbrzezinski]

2. It is the Republican play book

count on a scandal, real or imagined

Google Arkansas project to see what I mean

The right wing will DO ALL they can to keep dems out

And if one should be elected... I expect impeachment

[angie_love]

3. i'll be jumping up and down if it happens to grampa mccain.

[ElsewheresDaughter]

5. i'm sure that grandpa mc cain's tool doesn't work anymore& there won't be any sex scandals from him

[angie_love]

13. Honey, Viagra is an old politicians downfall.

mmk?

[anamandujano]

4. Obama's scandal has just made the scene. This is it folks.

It's name is Wright.

[Tellurian]

7. Yes,and the irony is Wright IS so Wrong!

[Tropics_Dude83]

8. Oh god-Wright isn't in the same universe as Spitzer-n/t.

[anamandujano]

12. Presidential candidate steps down because of ties to racial preacher

compared to another guy gets caught with hookers?

[mac2]

21. Or land deal with Rezko?

Rezko seems to be a political hack since he was raising funds for both parties.

Real fraud and crime not punished but for Democrats sex ones seem to the final blow.

I'm still suspicious of the Spitzer resignation. It was so quick and puts in office a person who NYers would not elect for mayor let alone governor. Spitzer helped push legislation to track money when he himself was caught because of it? Get real. I know Spitzer is smarter than that. As a result he leaves office and the Wall Steet investigations and 911 truth stops?

Yes...folks we have another Monica thing before us on the media with the fabulous and sexy Spitzer prostitute. What could be more entertaining and a good smoke screen for the "House secret meeting" regarding them spying on us?

[tekisui]

9. No, this isn't it.

Nice try, though.

[DB1]

10. No legs.

[Exilednight]

20. Last week it was Rezko. What will it be next week?

[mac2]

22. Spizter

[SeaLyons]

29. I don't think the Obama supporters

realize the seriousness of these videos being shown 24/7.

[DB1]

6. It is late, only read your headline. Sick feeling,but tired of tabloid politics.

I would still support our nominee.

[Liberal In Texas]

11. Already happened. Remember Monica?

I had to eat crow with the repukes. We don't need this kind of bullshit in our party.

I don't have a problem per se with prostitution and all that, but don't' bloody lie about it. Or don't hold yourself up to some higher moral ground.

If you are like this, get out of my party.

[scheming daemons]

14. Ask Gary Hart supporters in 1988....

...

[mac2]

15. McCai has his own sex skeletons in the closet.

Remember South Carolina when he ran for President?

[mac2]

18. Boy my typing is bad...McCain. Sorry.

[Spider Jerusalem]

24. wtf?

Bush, Rove & co put about that McCain had an 'illegitimate black daughter' (he and his wife adopted a girl from Bangladesh). That's not a 'sex scandal', that's trying to make him look bad to racists.

[mac2]

28. What ever.

[kerry-is-my-prez]

16. Guess I wouldn't have to be worrying much about them anymore - they'd be gone.

I don't think a candidate would survive it.

[Beacool]

17. Well, I think that we can rest assured that Hillary won't be caught with a prostitute.

LOL!!!

Seriously, if either one had a similar scandal blow up during the nomination process they would have to get out of the race. They would be tainted and would lose the election. The party leaders would drop them like a hot potato.

[mac2]

19. But she was accused of having an affair and the death of

Mr. Foster.

[SeaLyons]

30. yes, Hillary has been put through

the evil wringer. You've got that right. She prevails!!!!

[izzybeans]

23. I'd want them to drop out.

[mac2]

25. Better yet let us replace the party leaders who keep picking

and supporting with big bucks these candidates who would let us down. They need to hire a good dectective to investigate their background, etc.

[Tropics_Dude83]

31. I hope to god they've all been vetted as well

And I think they probably have.

Now we have word that Spitzer used campaign fundraising cash for his trysts with prostitutes. WTF??????? OUTRAGEOUS.

[MaineDem]

26. I hope to hell this has all been vetted

There should be NO surprises in either's background at this point. If there is then someone didn't do the proper homework.

[mac2]

27. Are these politicans falling on a sword for their PNAC?

[democrattotheend]

32. I'd be devastated

I believe in Obama and sometimes I put him on a little bit of a pedestal...I thought the whole Lewinsky crap was overblown, but I never had the respect for Bill Clinton that I have for Barack Obama.

My dad asked me a few weeks ago what I would ask Obama if I got the chance to ask him a question. The question I came up with was "Senator, are you the real deal, or will you turn out to be just another politican and break my heart?"

I'm young but I work in Washington and I am already cynical. I certainly don't claim that Obama is necessarily different from most politicians, but I am also not sure that he isn't. And right now that's enough for me.

I always thought Spitzer was one of the good ones, and in many ways, he was. I'm not one who believes that a politician's personal life should necessarily be relevant to the public discourse, but this is still really disappointing.