Doesn't anyone remember Gary Hart?

[undeterred]

He was a great candidate with one weakness. When he got caught cheating on his wife, it was a HUGE story, and it ruined his presidential aspirations. But he was arrogant enough to do it when he knew he was being followed.

It's the arrogance that destroys careers.

Don't Democratic politicians remember what happened to Gary Hart?

[donco6]

1. Men's brains sometimes shift places.

And they forget shit.

[skooooo]

3. And some people say women aren't suited for political positions because of their emotions...

:eyes:

[shadowknows69]

9. I've never been one to hold that view

Both sexes are equally insane at times.

[saltpoint]

2. I remember Gary Hart well and what I continue to respect in him

is his scope and depth politically and not least, his divinity degree.

He is a very formidable mind.

I supported him over Mondale in their primary contest. I would support him today over Monday and many, many other Democrats as well. He is a demonstrably accomplished adult.

[jobycom]

4. Yeah, but the also remember JFK, LBJ, Clinton, both Bushes, and most others.

They all got away with it. LBJ and JFK weren't even really caught in their lifetimes, the Bushes were ignored, and Clinton survived it with flying colors. Long term, people don't even care, when it comes to legacy. Name the presidents you'd give a better than 50% chance to for having never cheated on their spouse. I'd name one: Carter. And I wouldn't bet my life on it.

Plus, the type of person who is going to form a career based upon something as fickle and shifting as public opinion, where unemployment and complete destruction of reputation are only one public whim away, is often going to be the type of person who takes risks, who makes quick decisions based upon the moment rather than potential long-term consequences. You don't very often get into position to run for the presidency without having learned to trust in your own ability to recover from mistakes, overcome scandals, and basically hide imperfections behind evasive answers and outright lies.

People who succeed at the highest levels take risks to get there. To many, exposure of infidelity is just another risk. Every vote, every speech, every phrase uttered is a risk that could one day bring you down, so what's one more in the mix? I mean, a person who won't cheat on a spouse doesn't make that decision based on job stability, they make it based on loyalty to the spouse. If that's not enough, then certainly risk of exposure won't be. They always believe they can hide it. Most of the time they do.

[baby_mouse]

5. The same rules apply

He should have been judged on his policy, not his pecker.

[Vickers]

6. Gary who?

Just kidding.

:P

[NashVegas]

7. Gary Hart Was Stupid

He all but challenged the press. Oh, wait, he DID challenge the press:

Rumors began circulating nearly immediately that Hart was having an extramarital affair. In an interview that appeared in the New York Times on May 3, 1987, Hart responded to the rumors by daring the press corps: "Follow me around. I don't care. I'm serious. If anybody wants to put a tail on me, go ahead. They'll be very bored."<10> The Miami Herald had been investigating Hart's rumored womanizing for weeks before the "dare" appeared in the New York Times. Two reporters from the Miami Herald had staked out his residence and observed an attractive young woman coming out of Hart's Washington, D.C., townhouse on the evening of May 2. The Herald published the story on May 3, the same day Hart's dare appeared in print, and the scandal spread rapidly through the national media. Hart and his allies attacked the Herald for rushing the story into print, claiming that it had unfairly judged the situation without finding out the facts. Hart claimed that the reporters had not watched both entrances to his home and could not have seen when the young woman entered and left the building. The Miami Herald reporter had flown to Washington, D.C. on the same flight as the woman, identified as Donna Rice. Hart was dogged with questions regarding his views on marital infidelity. In public, his wife, Lee, supported him, claiming the relationship with the young woman was innocent.<11> A poll of voters in New Hampshire for the New Hampshire Primary showed that Hart's support had dropped in half, from 32% to 17%, placing him suddenly ten points behind Massachusetts governor Michael Dukakis.

On May 5, the Herald received a further tip that Hart had spent a night in Bimini on a yacht called the Monkey Business with a woman who was not his wife. The Herald obtained photographs of Hart aboard the Monkey Business with then-29-year-old model Donna Rice, sitting on Hart's lap.

[dmosh42]

8. Look at McSame! He's been banging that blonde....

lobbyist. Even goes to Florida with her for 'conferences'. No problem. Same media!

[FKA MNChimpH8R]

10. Hart was and is an extremely bright and thoughtful guy

who would have been an excellent POTUS. One of my college profs was a classmate of Hart's at Yale Divinity School and was impressed by him even then.

[undeterred]

12. I agree. We all lost on that one.

[Sal Minella]

13. LOOKS like "Charlton Heston meets Kennedy Clan"

Talk about "attractive candidate" -- but I think it was the arrogance of the dare rather than his behavior that did him in. A little discretion would have been appropriate.

[1Hippiechick]

11. Absolutely...and on the Monkey Business. What irony...and how sad - ended his presidential bid.