it ain’t cool no matter who does it
people scream themselves hoarse about infidelity in politics and call for the ouster of the guilty party. it happened with bill clinton, it happened with gary hart, with detroit’s ousted mayor…it happens alot and it’s embarassing, shameful and painful.
republican presidential candidate john mccain is apparently no exception. in 1976, after having recovered from his injuries, he began multiple affairs.
in april 1979, he began conducting a long affair with a 25-year old woman, cindy lou hensley. at the time, the then 42-year old McCain decided to divorce his wife, carol (feb 1980). the divorce finalized in april 1980 and he married cindy in may, five weeks later.
he did not take responsibility for how the infidelity may have contributed to the failing of his first marriage, and his affair cost him his relationship with his kids for several years.
it is good to see relationships healed today…and his ex-wife has shown an amazing amount of grace…but i am amazed at how he’s playing to the evangelicals about his religion. there is no remorse for what he did and not an iota of repentance. sure…we all have sins–but there are many of us who work hard at showing remorse and repenting of those–working hard at reparation and restoration–owning the crap we brought to the table.
without that, it’s hard to take him seriously now as the ‘champion’ being touted by evangelicals. fair is fair. infidelity is ugly no matter who commits it.