Another Rough Political Exit
Posted by Moonage on 20 Sep 2004 | Tagged as: People
Representative Ed Schrock of Virginia was elected US Representative in Virginia in 2001. He was chosen President of the Republican Freshman Class. He was ultra-conservative from an ultra-conservative district during an ultra-conservative administration. The sky seemed to be the limit for this very personable Congressman. Then, a radical blog “outed” Congressman Schrock for being quite gay. Rather than fight the accusations, Schrock resigned ( chose not to seek re-election ). This follows right on the heals of the McGreevey scandal. This followed one scandal after another, Clinton-Lewinski just being the highest profile of late.
I got news for anyone interested in pursuing politics as a career. You become the property of the people who elect you. They want to know on a regular basis that what they voted for is what was truly presented. In no other circumstance do the average people have the right to examine a person’s lifestyle with as much scrutiny. In Schrock’s case, he sold himself to the voters as an ultra-Conservative, very religious person. Although he maintains his religious beliefs, it can not be argued his lifestyle is conservative. It’s one thing to be gay, it’s another to be as visible about at it as he was. IT can be argued his lifetstyle was liberal, in that he wasn’t being faithful to his family. In simple terms, he was lying to the public, and more importantly, selling something he wasn’t to his voters. Now, he’s suffering the consequences. Several politicians, Barney Frank being the most noted, have openly admitted to being gay and retained their position. I think it’s more a matter of lying to the voters than it is a matter of sexual preference. Although Schrock may not have ever been elected to Congress being a gay man, it’s 100% sure he will never be elected again for being a proven liar. People can look the other way in regards to sexuality, they will never look the other way being lied to.
The bottom line, for anyone who wants to live the very public life of a politician, is be true to who you are. If you can’t be, the public life will make you be.
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