TheSequitur.com Editorial Board
Oct. 12, 2006

It took a nuclear blast to divert attention from the fiasco involving former representative Mark Foley. Even if just for a little bit.

This steamy scandal is just the latest national obsession clouding minds when more pressing issues obviously face our republic. North Korea. Afghanistan. The Dow Jones. Henry Kissinger. Iraq ... Mark Foley. It is difficult to fathom that elections nationwide could be influenced by one hypocritical homosexual from Florida.

While the campaigning politicians are busy in their districts explaining away the sex scandal, the rest of the world has continued to tiptoe along the fine line between a tenuous peace and full-out global chaos.

So what else deserves our attention? Most recently, North Korea detonated a so-called nuclear device. Of course, there’s the Afghan and Iraqi quagmires, both seemingly endless efforts to quell inevitable civil wars, one which may result in another Taliban regime in Afghanistan.

Speaking of war, Africa continues to bleed profusely in Darfur, the Congo and Nigeria - unfortunately just a few examples there. There is also a growing tension between the United States and some nations in South America, notably Venezuela. And while countless domestic problems plague us at home, we appear to be concerned only with the egregious behavior of one of 535 members of Congress.

Issues such as immigration, oil prices and the economy continue to loom over us. Also, has anybody noticed that, like a bad flashback, Henry Kissinger is once again involved with American war making? What about the Dow Jones index reaching its highest peak ever? Are these issues not as important as an alleged old pervert from Florida who likes to flirt with young boys? Doubtful.

The Democrats, however, cannot be faulted for taking advantage of the situation. Some may see the current crusade as retribution for the Clinton affair back in the 1990s. Nevertheless, the political climate has become one that awards the team who lands the most mud-pies on their opponent. With the GOP currently dominating all three branches of government, the Democrats have struggled to restore parity to the political playing field. As the victims of past questions into their own morality, it might be hypocritical to denounce their attempts to capitalize on this scandal.

Likewise, the media cannot take the blame for the extensive attention this issue has received. Sex sells; this is undeniable. The American public gravitates towards issues involving people with wealth or power involved in unsavory activities. Public interest increases dramatically when that powerful person purportedly maintains a higher moral standard that of the common citizen.

Unfortunately, it seems that in the today’s political climate the public’s attention is easily diverted from the pertinent issues. The voters are led to overlook real problems and cast their ballots in a hyper-inflated high school popularity contest. Thus, a downward spiral begins, with the politicians providing their constituents with what they want and, in turn, the electorate continues to vote for the best smear campaign.

The solution begins with us, the American public. We must refuse to be distracted by red herrings and illusionary rhetoric, as well as frivolous issues involving the often disgusting private lives of politicians. The people must keep focused on the course of the country if the United States will weather the tempest of global events.
[NYTimes, Al Jazeera, ABC News No. 1, ABC News No. 2, The Independent, CBS News, Slate, Houston Chronicle, Washington Post, ABC News No. 3]

Senior Editor Dwayne Robinson abstains from all staff editorials.