Gary Hart

[Grumpy]

Vanity Fair interview with Gary Hart

VF - Before the Democratic nomination, in 1988, a poll previewing a general election showdown placed you 13 points ahead of George H.W. Bush. In his book and in a The New York Times Magazine article, Matt Bai has suggested that, were it not for your scandal, you might have impeded the Bush political dynasty. Do you believe that?

Hart - I will not elaborate on this except to say clearly the media has become more intrusive in people’s private lives and the loss of privacy on the part of candidates has caused an awful lot of people of quality to choose not to seek public office. And that is reflected in the decline in the caliber and quality of people in public service, unfortunately.​

 

[b23hqb]

Interesting article. I wonder how his Monkey Business has been going these last three decades......

 

[SamSpade]

Interesting article. I wonder how his Monkey Business has been going these last three decades......

What sank him was not Donna Rice - it was his hubris at challenging the press to actually find any dirt on him.
It was smart-ass attitude that said "I'm clean - just TRY and find anything". If he had never done that, I doubt anything would have happened.
The press is brutal and they love for politicians to kiss their -- ring.

Nowadays, it's nothing. Politicians can say "I never said that" and they get NO blowback when a video of them saying EXACTLY that is shown.
They can say "we got off the chopper under sniper fire" and when video comes out showing no such thing - it has no effect.
They can get caught red-handed and not out of context - and suffer no consequences.

 

[Clem72]

Vanity Fair interview with Gary Hart

VF - Before the Democratic nomination, in 1988, a poll previewing a general election showdown placed you 13 points ahead of George H.W. Bush. In his book and in a The New York Times Magazine article, Matt Bai has suggested that, were it not for your scandal, you might have impeded the Bush political dynasty. Do you believe that?

Hart - I will not elaborate on this except to say clearly the media has become more intrusive in people’s private lives and the loss of privacy on the part of candidates has caused an awful lot of people of quality to choose not to seek public office. And that is reflected in the decline in the caliber and quality of people in public service, unfortunately.​

So, what he is saying is that the parties sending up candidates today, they’re not sending their best. They’re sending people that have lots of problems, and they’re bringing those problems to us. They’re bringing drugs. They’re bringing crime. They’re rapists. And some, I assume, are good people!

Sorry, couldn't resist.

 

[GURPS]

What sank him was not Donna Rice .....

at least Donna was attractive