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Amending ways leads to political rebirth

Nebraska’s former second in command, Rick Sheehy, reimbursed the state some $500 to compensate for thousands of calls to four women on a cell phone issued to him by the government. Then Lt. Gov. Sheehy resigned when news of this personal overreach came to light.

Former governor of South Carolina Mark Sanford won a special election in that state’s First Congressional District, sending the tarnished politician to Washington.

In 2009, while serving as governor, the popular Republican disappeared from view. He told his staff he was “hiking the Appalachian Trail” when, in truth, the married family man was in Argentina with his mistress.

Since then he has been, in his words, “saved by God’s grace.”

Remember Bill Clinton’s time in the White House? It was marred by a fling with intern Monica Lewinsky, becoming a messy political affair. He now commands global respect, teamed with George H.W. Bush on charitable projects and is the go-to guy when squabbles erupt with everyone from North Korea to Led Zeppelin.

Even the disgraced former New York representative Anthony Weiner is considering another stab at public office.

Compare these men and their political rehabilitation with the obstinance of Richard Nixon or Tom Delay when faced with their own scandals. Perhaps the old campaign rule about repeating a lie until the people believe is waning--although that’s sometimes hard to imagine, considering the shouts blaring from talk television.

Yet it does appear as if modern politicians and the American electorate have reached a point where forthright contrition paves the way toward public forgiveness.

 

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