Officials need some new rules

Michael K. Casler, Las Vegas

Monday, Nov. 19, 2012 | 2:01 a.m.

If we look at all the high-level officials who have had affairs, I think we need some new rules. Affairs open these people up to blackmail. If you want a high-level government job and decide you don’t like your spouse anymore, you either need to find whatever strength you need to ask for and get a divorce, suffer in a bad relationship or resign. If you cannot do one of those, and you have an affair and try to hide it, you become a security risk. David Petraeus said he resigned because he did not uphold his military code. No, he should have resigned because he was too weak to get a divorce, had an affair and, most importantly, placed himself in a position where he could be blackmailed.

If people want to have the freedom to have affairs, they need to stay in the private sector. If people want big, important positions in the government where many people’s lives could be at risk, they must show the restraint, moral courage and good judgment required when temptation comes along.