Yes, hypocrisy makes it worse

As is often the case with controversies surrounding politicians, much of the rhetoric on Rep. Mark Souder's affair with a staffer has been divided politically. As I have stated on numerous occasions, hypocrisy makes it worse on these type of issues for conservative Republicans, especially those who claim to be committed Christians.

At Ace of Spades, Drew M. responded to liberal bloggers and some in the media posting a video of Souder extolling the virtues of abstainance education … with the his mistress serving as the interviewer.

There are a lot of things that adults do that they teach kids not
to, not always because the thing itself is bad but because kids are not
able to handle them (either emotionally, physically or what have you).

I agree that Souder's personal failings are not a failing of any public policy proposals he supports, but that video does illustrate the depth of his hypocrisy – to discuss an issue relating to his view of the proper place and function of sex with a women with whom he is cheating on his wife.

Hypocrisy always makes it worse. Is it more noteworthy if Rush Limbaugh's mansion in FL or Al Gore's mansion in TN uses twice as much energy in one month than the average American home uses in one year? Obviously, conservatives would agree that Gore's act is worse because he spends his time lecturing others on how they should conserve energy more. There is a reason that conservative bloggers loved reporting the fact that the UN Climate Change conference in Bali ran out of private jet parking places and limousine rental businesses in Copenhagen had to have extra cars driven in from hundreds of miles away, across Europe during the most recent enviro-conference. Why? Hypocrisy.

If conservatives can see the reason why "Green" advocates gulping down fossil fuels is especially newsworthy, then they should also see why conservative Christian pols sleeping around with a staffer (or even a non-staffer, for that matter) is a big deal. Liberal critics have every right to pound Souder and any conservative that would defend him.

I will repeat again that if conservatives want to establish themselves as bastions of morality, then they have to act that way in their life, not simply propose laws that encourage (or force) others to behave in ways they are not willing to do themselves.

If there is a "good guy" in this whole fiasco, it is Mike Pence, Souder's fellow Indiana Republican. Pence confronted Souder during the week, when a reporter asked him if he knew of anything "funny" with his fellow representative. On Sunday, Souder told Pence his affair was with a staffer. At that point, Pence insisted Souder resign. He also turned him into the ethics committee. That is the type of leadership and principle needed within politics, regardless of party.