Confessions

Politicians have learned from Watergate that not only is confession good for the soul, it's good for your career. Last week Barack Obama paid a reported 17 unpaid parking tickets from his days in the Ivy League. Now that this detail from his past is taken care of publicly, it's no longer fair game during the campaign–at least that's the hope.

Then Newt Gingrich confessed marital infidelity while he was in Congress, even when he was leading the charge against Bill ("I did not have sexual relations with that woman, Miss Lewinsky") Clinton. I guess this means Newt is seriously considering running for president, too.

Here's a question, though: Wouldn't you feel better about these confessions if they were not used as a political tactic, when there is nothing to be gained from them? I know I would.