Until relatively recently, a self-confessed adulterer had never sought the presidency. Now, lurking just over the horizon are three Republicans who have topped several national, independent polls for the GOP's favorite 2008 nominee: Sen. John McCain (affair, divorce), former House Speaker Newt Gingrich (affair, divorce, affair, divorce), and former New York Mayor Rudy Giuliani (divorce, affair, nasty divorce). Together, they form the most maritally challenged crop of presidential hopefuls in American political history.Why is adultery suddenly fine and dandy for Republicans? We know from Bush's terrible run in the White House that common sense and effectivness have been de-legitimized as criteria for picking a President, but when did audultery become so acceptable in the pious party ?
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