There is a lot of chatter about the root cause of the loss of Anthony Weiner's former congressional district to Republican Bob Turner. Some are saying that it is a referendum against the Obama administration and its catastrophic economic policies. Some are saying it is a pro-Israel vote, which is ironic since New York Congressional district 9 is heavily populated with Jewish voters, Orthodox, Reform, and what-you-will. However, Turner came out with a strong "I Stand With Israel" message, which may have appealed to the sentiments of NY9 Jews, as opposed to the traditional Democrat Palestinian sympathizer position. I think these are factors that contributed to the Turner win, but I also believe that voters, when faced with a moral conundrum which pits degenerate behavior against the more virtuous candidate, will gravitate to Republicans and Conservatives. The Right is the only side of the political tug-o-war that believes morals matter, and which is unafraid to tackle social issues which impact families, children, and religion, in policy discussions. It may well be that Weiner's disgusting behavior; the full frontal nudity tweets and online sex chats with numerous women, even after he was married, is so repugnant that even a distract that has unfailingly gone to Democrats since 1923, cannot stomach the thought, nor take the chance, that another sexual pervert might represent them.
New York Congressman, Republican Chris Lee, resigned almost immediately after he sent a photo of himself, waist up and shirtless, to a woman. He did not lie about his culpability, he took responsibility for his tacky and untoward behavior, and he got out of Dodge. Weiner first denied that the tweets were his, then he blamed them on a hacker, then he tried to minimize the offense, then he fought to hold on to his congressional seat after having been fully exposed as an immoral, narcissistic, troubled liar. Perhaps the voters in NY9 have had it with the Weiners of the world. Bob Turner at 70 is certainly a safe bet, at least when it comes to decency.
Character does matter. America made the mistake with Bill Clinton of overlooking moral principle in exchange for a bit of economic security and prosperity. But the social decline of moral standards and behavior has never shifted from its downward trend since the Clinton/Lewinsky years. We can't afford sexual reprobates in positions of political leadership. One's sexual behavior and connection to a religious, moral identity in regard to the purpose and potential of sexuality, transfers to the overall character and conduct of an individual. Democrats in NY9, and perhaps elsewhere, are now feeling the sting of rebuke from an American electorate who still, to some degree, values the indispensable role of morality in a free society.
