Most people won't lose their jobs due to such behavior. I won't stop visiting my doctor if I find out that he is guilty of such an offense, nor will I stop using my plumber or accountant if they made such errors in judgment. I hire these people for the services they render; their private life isn't my concern.

Yet, according to news reports, Governor Elliot Spitzer of New York, who recently was considered a rapidly rising star in the political arena, will today resign his position after being implicated in a vice crime. Polls show that an overwhelming majority agree that Spitzer must leave office. Other than the clergy and politics, I can't think of another job that would be jeopardized by behavior of this ilk. Even the top executive of a Fortune 500 company would get a pass.

Defrocking a clergyman for such behavior is understandable. Morality is his job. How can one guilty of such an indiscretion continue pontificating about the virtue of chastity? But how does such behavior affect the way our elected officials balance a budget or preside over public matters?

I think this is another example where, as a society, we proclaim one thing, but deep down we have a different opinion altogether. We talk about the importance of "separating church and state"; of having a purely mechanistic government. We claim not to make any spiritual or moral demands of our leaders whom we elect to "purely secular" posts.

But in our heart of hearts we know that our success as a nation stems from our professed relationship with G‑d—in "whom we trust." Without this relationship we are lost and doomed to corruption and chaos. And we expect our leaders to live according to this ideal.

Politicians come and go. We'll be fine—we still know what's right.