Our Formspring Friday post this week dealt with the issue of infidelity.  In it, we mentioned that we have “unorthodox” views of monogamy.  Although Jill and I are both commited to each other emotionally, and for the most part physically as well, we would consider ourselves “monogamish”, to use a phrase coined by advice columnist and personal hero Dan Savage.

We acknowledge that physical monogamy is a difficult thing to maintain for life.  We don’t necessarily believe that human beings are wired for such a lifelong commitment.  We believe that if less of a premium was placed on physical monogamy in relationships, there would be less divorce, less unhappiness, and what the hell, probably less war and aggression in general.

This brings me to the topic of Newt Gingrich, former House Speaker and current Republican presidential candidate stumbling toward the White House on a platform of – what else – family values (i.e. traditional marriage).  While perusing EdenFantasys this morning, I stopped by SexIs and found an article pertaining to Gingrich and the recent allegations by his second wife Marianne that he requested an open marriage when she caught him having an affair with another woman.

It’s no secret that Gingrich has been a bigger threat to his own marriages than gay marriage could ever be.  By all accounts – other than those of Gingrich himself – he divorced his first wife while she was was in the hospital for the removal of a tumor, then married the woman with whom he’d been conducting an affair.  Not quite twenty years later, the process repeated itself, this time with a different illness, and a different mistress.  If the pattern repeats itself, and I imagine it will, Gingrich has already started an affair with the woman for whom he’ll leave his third wife.

I note with some amusement that, while Gingrich was calling for the impeachment of Bill Clinton for lying under oath about his involvement with Monica Lewinsky, he himself was having an affair with a younger woman who wasn’t his wife (yet).  I understand the rationalization that allows Gingrich to believe that he is a better man than Clinton, that his offense was less severe simply because he hadn’t been giving sworn testimony under oath.  But Gingrich considers himself a man of God, and has admitted not only to his extramarital affairs, but in having them, failing to live up to God’s standards.*  If God exists, the thought that He would excuse Newt for not only lying to and cheating on his wife but also treating her with the care that one reserves for a Tonka truck because he wasn’t under oath only solidifies my lack of faith.