Private lives, public issues

Whether sexual harassment is such a serious charge in a country where there are more than 9 million gays, 12.2 million rape victims and a divorce rate of one in three, is debatable. In America, one child in five was born without a father, and 25 abortions took place per 1,000 women of childbearing age in 1980. Why can’t such a population forgive a politician his little peccadilloes? But in spite of such severe tests, Americans could not ensure that only persons of saintly virtue entered the White House. As far back as 1828, Andrew Jackson was considered to be a home-wrecker. His wife had been involved in a scandalous divorce. In 1884, Grover Cleveland faced Republican taunts of “Ma! Ma! Where is my Pa?” — a reference to his siring an illegitimate child. It is a different story that Cleveland won, and the Democrats finished the refrain with some relish: “Gone to the White House! Ha! Ha!”

Senator Brock Adam’s political career too came to an abrupt end following accusations of sexual harassment. Franklin Roosevelt was accused of an affair with his wife’s secretary. Kennedy’s affair with Marilyn Monroe evoked no contempt, but admiration and envy. In 1987, Gary Hart had to answer awkward questions about sex and adultery.

President Clinton faced the biggest test of his political life in 1992 when Gennifer Flowers, then an employee of the state of Arkansas, came forward to reveal sexual escapade from long ago. Accusations of infidelity, draft dodging and experiments with marijuana also dogged him, but he was skilful enough to ward them off and enter the White House. He won a richly deserved second term too, with ease. But sadly, the past of this first baby-boomer President seems to be doggedly following him to make his future tense.

The US Army has a sexual harassment hotline. Lieutenant Flinn’s flirtation with a married colleague cost her her job. The issue set the whole nation debating for quite some time. If all those who committed similar sins were to confess, and were to be fired, the entire US Defence Forces would be emptied out overnight. Not long ago, the US Navy was also accused of a sex scandal. The issue of sexual harassment of women erupted in public following the resignation of a former Navy Secretary, H. Lawrence Garret.

Why are these lowly-placed, enraged but bold and beautiful women out to ruin the lives of the high and mighty? Are they willing pawns in the hand of powerful people seeking to wreck the political careers of their adversaries? Or are they themselves seeking celebrity status from notoriety? No clear answer yet, but they know full well that a charge of sexual impropriety can be an effective weapon. “Clinton has an amazing ability to twist free, to live always in the future. But the past has a way of catching up — even if you are President,” says Michael Isikoff of Newsweek.

The present obsession with digging out the minutest details of the personal flaws of a President has reached a dangerous and demeaning level already and his private life should, for God’s sake, be kept out of public debate. Have a heart for Hillary Clinton and Chelsea. What Americans need in the White House is a President who can provide global leadership, and not a celibate with saintly values ordained for supreme religious duties.

Dharma Kumar is a freelance writer