Yeas & Nays has gotten a sneak peak at tonight’s CBS Evening News with Katie Couric and the news anchor presses several 2008 presidential candidates on their views on infidelity — including several with personal experience on the subject.
Senator Hillary Clinton
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KATIE COURIC: Harry Truman once said, “A man not honorable in his marital relations is not usually honorable in any other.” Some voters say they don’t feel comfortable supporting someone who’s not remained faithful to his or her spouse. Can you understand or appreciate their point of view?
SEN. HILLARY CLINTON: Well, I can certainly– understand why some people would feel that way, and– and that is their perfect right to do so. But I think– that would be a tough standard for most of– American– history to be able to meet, when we look at people who have made a big difference in our country.
I think there’s more to someone’s honor and integrity, and to their public service. I think sometimes we confuse the private and the public in ways that are not necessarily– useful. So, of course, it’s a deeply personal matter that I take personally. But I think on the public stage– there are a number of people who have– represented our country, led our country– accomplished great achievements on behalf of our country who might have some– challenges in their personal life, but have made a great contribution.
Former Mayor Rudy Giuliani
KATIE COURIC: Harry Truman once said, “A man not honorable in his marital relations is not usually honorable in any other.” Some people say they don’t feel comfortable supporting someone who has not remained faithful to his or her spouse. Can you understand their reservations?
MAYOR RUDY GIULIANI: Sure, I can. Absolutely. You know, they look the every single part of us. And the only– only thing I can say to people is I’m not perfect, you know? And I’ve made mistakes in my life. And– and that– not– not just in that area. In other areas and I try to learn from it. I try to– I feel sorry about them. I try to– I try to learn from them so I don’t repeat them.
Sometimes I even repeat them and you– you try again. I mean, you– you– so– I have a– maybe a more generous view of human beings and a more generous view of life. I mean, it comes from growing up as a Catholic. I mean, we’re all sinners. We’re all struggling. We’re all trying hard. We ask for forgiveness, and then we try to improve ourselves again. And I’ve– relate to other people that way. Relate to the world that way.
KATIE COURIC: How important is the politician’s relationship with his or her children?
MAYOR RUDY GIULIANI: I think it’s important. And it– but, no more important than anybody’s relationship with their children. There’s nothing special about politicians’ relationship or a lawyer’s relationship or a news– news anchors relationship with their children. Or a baseball player’s relationship with their children.
It’s all– all the same as far as the relationship between a– a parent and a child. Often, they’re real complicated. Often, they’re least understood from the outside. They’re best understood from the inside. But, I don’t think there’s anything special about politicians’ relationship with their children. Except maybe for a high profile person, and sometimes the problems that that creates.
Senator Barack Obama
KATIE COURIC: Harry Truman said, quote, “A man not honorable in his marital relations is not usually honorable in any other.” Many people say they don’t feel comfortable supporting someone who’s not remained faithful to their spouse. Why should they?
SEN. BARACK OBAMA: Why should they not–
KATIE COURIC: Support someone who isn’t faithful. In other words, people feel uncomfortable. Is that appropriate? Or, you know, how do you feel about that?
SEN. BARACK OBAMA: Well, I– you– you know, I– I do think that– public morality and– and private morality are not sum– you know, or not equivalent. You know, we– some of our greatest presidents haven’t always been terrific husbands. And some who have been wonderful husbands have been (LAUGHS) rotten presidents.
So, you know, I think that– other countries have typically taken a little more– casual on approach when it comes to– the personal lives of– of elected officials. And I think that there has to be some space for privacy. I will say this.
I do think that– I’m very proud of the relationship I’ve got with Michelle. And– the work and the value that I’ve put into it. And I hope it does say something about my character, the strength of my marriage. But, you know, if– if I was– had a wonderful marriage but didn’t have good ideas in terms of providing healthcare for every American or repairing the damage that’s been done to our foreign policy by George Bush, then– my marriage alone shouldn’t qualify me for– for being president.
KATIE COURIC: Should infidelity qualify someone– or should infidel–
SEN. BARACK OBAMA: Disqualify.
KATIE COURIC: –infidelity disqualify someone?
SEN. BARACK OBAMA: You know, I– I’m very– I’m very cautious about– applying– strict moral rules to– or– or– or a blanket universal rule to– to people. Because, you know– I mean, there are some people who might say that the fact that– you know, I indulged in– drugs when I was young disqualifies me. I mean, there are a lot of ways that you can apply that kind of morality. What I’m always hopeful of is that– people are– judge our public servants based on their passion, their commitment, their public integrity, how they operate with that public trust. And, you know, if we start getting too– sanctimonious about some of these issues then there aren’t going to be that many people who are able or willing to serve.
Former Governor Mitt Romney
KATIE COURIC: Harry Truman said, quote, “A man not honorable in his marital relations is not usually honorable in any other.” Many people say they don’t feel comfortable supporting someone who’s not remainedfaithful to their spouse. Why should they?
GOV. MITT ROMNEY: Well, I’m certainly faithful to my spouse, my spouse. Ann and I fell in love in high school. We– really our lives revolve around each other. I’d rather be with Ann than any other person in the world. And– if I have any extra time, I wanna share it with Ann. That’s just the nature of– of our relationship.
I know other people who’ve had other circumstances. If– if a marriage doesn’t work, if people really can’t get along, if they end up really disliking each other, then I guess it’s appropriate to go find a new relationship or move away from marriage. But I’d do that. I would recommend people doing that in an honorable way. And– and there are ways of doing that that are appropriate and ways that are not.
KATIE COURIC: Well, what do you think of people who base their judgment at least partially on a candidate’s ability to remain faithful to his or her spouse?
GOV. MITT ROMNEY: You know, I let people look at me any way they want to. I’m not gonna give advice to the American people in which aspects of a person’s life they look at. After all, the president of the United States is gonna be under a microscope. He will be. The first lady will be. The whole family will be. Every mistake will be open to the world. In some respects, you respect the nation.
In some respects you represent an example to the children of America. So we’re gonna get looked at in all sorts of ways. And I’m not gonna try and counsel the American people as to what to look at. I know they look at my faith, for instance. And I’m happy to have them do so. Some are critical. Some are positive. It’s just part of the package. And– take me as the– the whole character that I am.
KATIE COURIC: Do you think that people shouldn’t vote for candidates if they are– commit adultery, for example?
GOV. MITT ROMNEY: I think people should be able to do what they want to do. And– and– express their own views when they get into the– the voting booth. I’m not gonna tell them how to– to– to do that. And I know that people will, again, take their own counse
Former Senator Fred Thompson
KATIE COURIC: Harry Truman said, “A man not honorable in his marital relations is not usually honorable in any other.” Some people don’t feel comfortable supporting a candidate who hasn’t been faithful to his or her spouse. Can you understand their reservations?
SEN. FRED THOMPSON: Yes. I can understand where that’s coming from.
KATIE COURIC: Do you think it’s– an appropriate way to evaluate a candidate?
SEN. FRED THOMPSON: Everybody’s gotta make up their own mind about that. I think that you can evaluate a candidate any way you want to. It’s a free country. There are a lot of things that go into it. When we elect a President, we’re electing the leader of the free world. We’re facing– tremendous challenges ahead. I don’t think we’ve come to terms with the nature of the threats against us, really in terms of– of radical Islam and the things we’ve got to do and the threats to the economy with the growing retirement population, things that– of that nature.
So, nobody’s perfect. Everybody– has– weaknesses and has made mistakes one time or another in life. But everybody’s gotta decide for themselves what they want to consider that go into making up. The leader is going to have to deal with these problems of the country.
