I have a theory to explain these hypocritical family values politicians.

[ginnyinWI]

Or to be precise, why any Christians with power get in trouble with sex scandals. And it's this: Christianity as we practice it in Fundie circles in this country set too high a standard. Naturally most fail to measure up, and feel bad. So they learn to live a double life--one for show, and one that includes all the bad stuff.

Then the Christian family values type of Fundie gets himself some power--either he's the head of a big church, or he's elected to office, or attains some other position of wealth or power. He wants to have fun with that power, so he keeps the public image and does it in private, and since his conscience is seared through years of such hypocritical living, he can do it with relative ease. All he has to do is think up some excuses for his behavior and tell them to himself.

This is in contrast to a non-Christian who still believes in having good moral values and strives to live that way. He has no double life because living that way is his reward. It's the way he's freely chosen to live. He has no feeling that he's a miserable failure because he believes that people are basically good rather than sinful. Instead he has that belief in the goodness of humans to live up to. He is also very uncomfortable with any kind of lying or hypocrisy in his life because he's lived an open and honest life, having no reason to put up a false front. It doesn't matter whether he attains power or not--he's the same guy with the same values. He sees himself as equal to the next guy and doesn't get all arrogant from his success.

Not saying only those on the right get into trouble morally. It's just explains why they do, contrary to all appearances or expectations.

I was a part of the Christian Fundie community once so I know something about this.