From the Providence (R.I.) Journal — Originally published Thursday, July 16

The sometimes intriguing, sometimes bathetic sex lives of politicians are … alluring to most people as a form of popular entertainment. But the main thing to ask is how their … sexual activities affect their performance and ethics as public officials.

Thus the most troubling things about South Carolina Gov. Mark Sanford [R] in his affair … were that he had spent public funds on a trip to Buenos Aires that included meetings with his (former?) mistress and that he disappeared without telling anybody else in state government where he could be reached. …

Then there’s another family-values promoter, Nevada Sen. John Ensign. Sen. Ensign, like Mr. Sanford, was mentioned as a member of the GOP farm team of 2012 presidential candidates. He had an affair with his campaign treasurer. To have an affair with a subordinate is … in some enterprises, a firing offense. (At many places of employment, it’s expected in such cases that one of the two lovers would quit his/her job.)

Then there’s the fact that the lady and her husband, who also worked for Mr. Ensign, were fired, but then … received payments from Mr. Ensign’s rich parents. Further, the National Republican Senatorial Committee (then chaired by John Ensign) miraculously gave the son of the mistress a job. The phrase “hush money” trips easily off the tongue here.

So did Sen. Ensign violate Senate rules and federal election laws? More investigation is needed. …