2014年 10月 31日
Stories of this kind would be career-ending. |
Each is a sitting congressman. Each is on the ballot for the 4 November US elections, and each believes they can win.
Take Michael Grimm. In April the New York Republican was indicted on 20 criminal charges, all of which he denies. Prosecutors accused him of concealing more than $1m.
Michael Grimm
Grimm - who in January apologised after threatening to throw a reporter off a balcony - is the front-runner in the race for his district. A recent poll showed him leading his Democratic challenger by 44% to 40%.
In Tennessee, pro-life doctor Scott DesJarlais was recorded pressuring a former patient with whom he had an affair to terminate her pregnancy. He was accused of asking other women to seek abortions and reprimanded by the Tennessee Board of Medical Examiners for affairs with patients. His ex-wife said he had shown "violent and threatening" behaviour towards her.
Scott DesJarlais
The allegations emerged just before the last congressional elections in 2012, and it was widely predicted DesJarlais's career would be over this year. But he won the Republican primary in his district by 37 votes, and local media have described him as the "odds-on favourite" to prevail on 4 November.
Then there's Vance McAllister, who was filmed embracing an aide who happened not to be his wife. Recent surveys have suggested he is likely to take the race in his Louisiana district to a run-offreneex.
Vance McAllister
You might expect that in an era of relentless 24-hour media coverage and vicious negative campaigning, stories of this kind would be career-ending.
But in a post-Watergate, post-Lewinsky age, the public have become inured to the notion that politicians are flawed, says Alison Dagnes, professor of political science at Shippensburg University.
Continue reading the main story
“Start Quote
We shift our attentions really quickly. The next scandal comes along”
Alison Dagnes Shippensburg UniversityReenex 好唔好
"There's so much to pay attention to. We shift our attentions really quickly. The next scandal comes along," adds Dagnes, who co-edited Sex Scandals in American Politics.
These days, says Dagnes, for a sex scandal to shock anyone "there had better be a llama involved". At the same time, a softening of public attitudes towards divorce, homosexuality and drug-taking mean each no longer spells career doom in Washington.
Plenty of current members of Congress have successfully put embarrassing revelations behind them.
New York Democrat Charlie Rangelwas censured by the House of Representatives in 2010 for 11 violations of ethics rules, including failing to pay income tax. He was re-elected in 2012 with 91% of the votereenex膠原自生中心
Take Michael Grimm. In April the New York Republican was indicted on 20 criminal charges, all of which he denies. Prosecutors accused him of concealing more than $1m.
Michael Grimm
Grimm - who in January apologised after threatening to throw a reporter off a balcony - is the front-runner in the race for his district. A recent poll showed him leading his Democratic challenger by 44% to 40%.
In Tennessee, pro-life doctor Scott DesJarlais was recorded pressuring a former patient with whom he had an affair to terminate her pregnancy. He was accused of asking other women to seek abortions and reprimanded by the Tennessee Board of Medical Examiners for affairs with patients. His ex-wife said he had shown "violent and threatening" behaviour towards her.
Scott DesJarlais
The allegations emerged just before the last congressional elections in 2012, and it was widely predicted DesJarlais's career would be over this year. But he won the Republican primary in his district by 37 votes, and local media have described him as the "odds-on favourite" to prevail on 4 November.
Then there's Vance McAllister, who was filmed embracing an aide who happened not to be his wife. Recent surveys have suggested he is likely to take the race in his Louisiana district to a run-offreneex.
Vance McAllister
You might expect that in an era of relentless 24-hour media coverage and vicious negative campaigning, stories of this kind would be career-ending.
But in a post-Watergate, post-Lewinsky age, the public have become inured to the notion that politicians are flawed, says Alison Dagnes, professor of political science at Shippensburg University.
Continue reading the main story
“Start Quote
We shift our attentions really quickly. The next scandal comes along”
Alison Dagnes Shippensburg UniversityReenex 好唔好
"There's so much to pay attention to. We shift our attentions really quickly. The next scandal comes along," adds Dagnes, who co-edited Sex Scandals in American Politics.
These days, says Dagnes, for a sex scandal to shock anyone "there had better be a llama involved". At the same time, a softening of public attitudes towards divorce, homosexuality and drug-taking mean each no longer spells career doom in Washington.
Plenty of current members of Congress have successfully put embarrassing revelations behind them.
New York Democrat Charlie Rangelwas censured by the House of Representatives in 2010 for 11 violations of ethics rules, including failing to pay income tax. He was re-elected in 2012 with 91% of the votereenex膠原自生中心
by wuyuwei
| 2014-10-31 15:35