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Health & Fitness

Too Legit to Quit and Other Stories of Political Dogma

Moral misstatements and missteps mask a bigger issue.

It doesn't surprise me that the creator of the "legitimate rape" concept is staying in the Missouri's Senate race.  Egos abound in political campaigns and it is the arrogance that gets them in the end. 

We have seen many politicians fall from grace going back to George Romney and his infamous, "I was brainwashed," comment in the 1968 election to Gary Hart's "go and follow me" challenge to the recent sexual exploits of Democrats and Republicans alike.  The Internet has provided fertile ground for capturing and exposing these politicians in all sorts of bad situations that even a young prince could not avoid. 

People do stupid things and these same people seek our votes.  They elect to run for office again and again to massage their egos and not necessarily to do the work of the people.

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We, in Los Angeles, have politicians who have skated and fell through that thin ice, witness our mayor, who ran with his wife spearheading his campaign to victory, only to divorce her through the revelation of an affair with a TV newsy. 

Moral virtues have been turned into agendas with the right wing sporting the same old tired messages tied to religious beliefs and we have the left wing pushing their agendas as well, all ignoring that we are at the abyss.  The country is in an economic morass balancing on budget deficits and an economy that just isn't producing enough jobs, not to mention back breaking pension liabilities with two generations getting ready to retire. 

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Moral leadership is important at this juncture because, as Americans, we cannot bet our future on politicians who have these lapses in judgment or who put their agenda ahead of common sense.  How dumb was that comment about a "legitimate rape," buttressed with the urban legend that women can produce some hormone to stop a pregnancy? 

As a long time political observer it sickens me to think about the lack of talent we have locally and on the national political stage.  I guess the choice of running for office is a real tough one despite President Kennedy's "Ask Not" speech.  I think we really cannot condone politicians who cannot move towards solving our real problems instead of worrying about such sublime things as sugary drinks or a high speed train to no where. 

I don't think either of our presidential candidates can pull a rabbit out of their hat, and if they did, watch out for PETA...

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