There is just as much hypocrisy in a general public who would persecute a politician over his sexual indiscretions, in my opinion, as there is in the politician for pretending he is against that sort of behaviour while secretly doing it, and then denying having done it.

It's massive hypocrisy on all sides, as far as I can see. Most human beings are quite capable of committing sexual "indiscretions" at times...because they like sex! And yet, most of them will gossip mercilessly about other people doing it and will persecute those people for it, specially if those people are supporting a different political party.

That's hypocrisy. It's political opportunism. It's the desire to damage a political foe by any means possible.

A politician's private sexual acts with other consenting adults have little or nothing to do with his ability to do his job competently, and they are nobody's business except his (or hers), the other persons directly involved, and family members such as spouses, children, etc.

People will always justify their political opportunism by some stated rationale as they leap with delight on any new revelation about the sexual affaires of ANY politician whom they dislike, because they are very pleased to see him in trouble. They'll pretend they're upset over some high and lofty principle of morality. That's where the real hypocrisy comes in. They're not upset in the least. They are obviously VERY pleased by the whole situation, and their supposed outrage masks their true intentions. Their true intentions are to destroy the career of someone they see as a political enemy, and to gloat over his destruction.

They're out for blood.

And both sides do it. Republicans and Democrats alike. But they do it to "the other guys", while trying hard to minimize the damage to "their own". And what's that? More opportunism and hypocrisy.

Now, sex crimes on the other hand...such as rape...those are clear indications that a man is not fit for office, and that he should be arrested and charged. But having consensual sex with another willing adult is not a sex crime. It's something most of us are quite willing to do at times if we like the other adult enough or we find them attractive enough (on shorter acquaintance) and we know perfectly well that it's not a crime. It's a choice.

If we wouldn't damn ourselves for doing it, we have no business to damn a politician for doing it.