Office Closets

Has there ever been a "clean" politician in public office?

I mean someone whom you just couldn't find any shady business dealings, sex scandals, or tax evasion problems in his/her life. Why does it seem like every politician has skeletons in their closet? How hard could it be to stay out of trouble? I have lived my life honestly, never stolen or hurt anyone, nor cheated on a significant other. It's really not that hard...

Public Comments

1. MIKE GRAVEL!!!!!!
2. Not since Calvin Coolidge.
3. Richard Nixon
4. NO... Politician in Latin means, "thief wearing a suit"
5. Gosh, I hope so, but you'd have to look long and hard to find one! They have way too much temptation in front of them constantly. They are greedy and self-centered.
6. Ron Paul is also pretty honest. There are a "few", I could count them on my one hand to be exact. Sad Sad Sad when we as the voters keep voting these scum bags into office and back again.
7. Jimmy Carter, but that's why he wasn't a great politician. He was too honest.
8. I'm sure that there have been clean and honest politicians at some point in some place. HOWEVER, it is the nature of our political system that people get elected and reelected, as well as they get to accomplish the items on the agendas by making friends and working on deals. This leads to people owing favors, and being "bought and sold" before they are even elected. Additionally, do not forget the maxim "Power corrupts. Absolute power corrupts absolutely."
9. Honestly, we have all done things in our lives that we're not proud of. But, once you decide to become a politican, you open your life up to be judge and scrutinized. No matter who you are, if people look hard enough, they will find something.
10. Maybe George Washington
11. Lots you just never hear about them cause they never make it to the top. Big money controls the big offices and you have to be willing to play that game to get there. Jimmy Carter was the last President to buck the system and he was rather ineffective because he wouldn't play the game
12. Ron Paul