Don't Hate the Mayor, Hate the Game

San Francisco Mayor Gavin Newsom, 39, cheated with his married secretary, wife of his best friend and campaign manager. Perhaps I have been jaded by reality t.v. and tabloid newspapers, but I don't understand why we become so completely shocked and outraged when a politician is caught with their pants down (literally); what I do understand is that Newsom is a man before he is a mayor, and we should collecectively thank him for his speedy, honest confession.

The controversy stems from the fact that we tend to immortalize politicians, place them on pedestals that they are not worthy of. They juggle the same worldly issues that mere mortals face every day: adultery, fornication, addiction and/or substance abuse. We become so indignant, puffing our chests out whenever the newest scandal crawls across our television screen, but if we looked at these mayors, congressmen and presidents as men perhaps we would be more understanding and less shocked by their indiscretions.

Although cheating and adultery are clearly unacceptable to most constituents, it must be noted that Newsom is a young man with movie star looks, a millionaire smile and endless charm. No doubt he has top-notch groupies, eagerly making their presence knoat political events as if they were at a professional basketball game. Although Newsom is easy on the eyes, most politicians have sex appeal regardless of their physical features; they exude intelligence, presence and most importantly power. From JFK to Clinton, Presidents of the United States have long been entangled in unforbidden love affairs, so the path of wickedness has a lofty legacy. Politics and power go hand in hand, and as long as men are placed in positions of authority, there will be a flock of doe-eyed secretaries, staffers and volunteers falling all over themselves to get next to them.