Lord knows, none of us (save a few extreme exhibitionists) would like to see our sexual exploits–even the most law abiding and legal–splashed on the front pages of the world.

If you haven’t seen it, no matter what your personal point of view, Monica Lewinsky’s TED talk (above) is worth considering for viewing.

Clinton deserved to get impeached. His actions, not just the sex, but the lies and cover-up, were reprehensible and condemnable. They were a huge distraction for the nation, an embarrassment, and brought shame upon the office.

He should have fessed up, made his apologies, and moved forward.

It shouldn’t have been over politicized, and pedophile Republican Dennis Hastert leading the charge, among others, was hypocrisy at its “finest”. Congress came to what the majority believed, in a mostly party line vote, but still bipartisan, was a fair and just decision in deciding it didn’t rise to the level of removal from office, but nor was it ignored, and Clinton’s legacy is forever tarnished and diminished by this experience.

Trump should have owned his past, put it all on the table, let the public consider it, and let the chips fall where they may.

He wasn’t, he lied, he likely committed crimes, rather than telling the truth to the nation, and he actively and deliberately deceived voters and withheld information that all voters had a right to know in considering if he should be worthy for the highest office in the land.

Sadly, image in our country is more important to many than reality.

It is the political calculus, the urge to lie, conceal, and commit fraud against the American people is the sad reality of modern politics. We should be allowed to be imperfect in our personal lives and still serve our country. It has been the truth since the very beginning.

Can we grow up, break the bonds with our puritan past, and recognize that sex and sexual indiscretion is as American as apple pie as well?

Washington appeared to be a saint, despite the signs that he slept around a lot, although we give him credit for just sleeping. Jefferson raped his slave (there is no other way around it), Hamilton, and his sexual infidelities have moved from truth to theater on Broadway, Ben Franklin fucked his way around Paris, ostensibly for the good of the nation, and John Adams had a legendary stable and solid marriage.

There is reason these guys had an amendment to be secure in their homes and papers, they knew they had sordid details they wanted to hide from the public. All of them were amazing leaders, and the nation owes them a debt of gratitude. But, yes, some messed up sex lives indeed. Of the last four presidents, two appear to have had stable marriages (from two major parties), and two presidents have been non-monogamous (from two major parties).

It is not all about the sex. It is about the fraud, lies, corruption and other crimes. The sex is not an excuse or a pass. Can’t we just figure out that it would be better to just be honest, admit our human frailties, become a sex positive nation, embrace enthusiastic yes, and understand the “Pursuit of Happiness” clearly includes sex, and move on?