Should morality be a necessary qualification for leadership? Particularly when one holds public office?

@Graylight Actually it had more to do with criminality. He was accused of RAPE.

@hippyjoe1955 Noooo... one woman accused him of rape before retracting her statement and working for him on the road.

I'm referring to the Lewinsky scandal, the only official scandal he's been involved in concerning women.

@Graylight Actually 4 women accused him of rape and there were several other cases going back to his college days in England that he was a serial rapist.

@hippyjoe1955 No, one formal accusation of rape, rescinded. Others have alleged sexual assault, which is different and only one author has brought up the salacious charges you mention in a book he wrote for profit. But if you have another source, then by all means...

@Graylight

it was about him lying under oath ... deep and extensive lies under oath

@questionWeaver Yes, unquestionably. That was a failure not only on a political level but a human one.

But the whole thing started with America demanding he be removed from office because of an affair. Moral grounds, wouldn't you say?

@Graylight

no ... do not rewrite history ... Clinton was defending a case from his Governorship ... when he took advantage of these other ladies ... then lied ... in court.

THEN he had problems ... he had managed to spiral his behavior into a challenge to the Presidency.

It was the stupidest waste of time on the planet

@questionWeaver Not re-writing history, simply discussion a different period. Yes, the troubles began prior to the whole Lewinski thing. But at its foundation, the Republicans came at him with moral outrage to embolden the country's reaction against him.

@Graylight

yes ... many attempts were made to make the whole thing moral ... but polls showed people did not bite ... they did not like his behavior ... but that was insufficient ... now, the lies, that did bite deep ... likely changed the course of history ... those lies led to an expansion of southern conservatism to all non-urban parts of the US.

It resonated to the heartland and that is a voting block that now holds power ... and is unlikely to give it up for another 13 years ... or more