There are many ways to define a moral man. It could be his position in life or the religion he practices. Or morality could simply be the way he treats others.

Albert Einstein once said, “The foundation of morality should not be made dependant on myth nor tied to any authority lest doubt about the myth or about the legitimacy of the authority imperil the foundation of sound judgment and action.”

In government, the terms morality and politics generally appear together in negative context and are hardly compatible. Like the terms jumbo shrimp and friendly fire or death benefits, political morality can be added to the list of classic oxymorons.

In 1999, former President Bill Clinton was impeached following an immoral choice and a resulting lie he told the nation. There are many reasons for lying about such actions. Protecting self, family, save his job and spare himself the embarrassment of it all are a few. He did deceive the nation. However, he did manage to successfully run the country, focus on the needs of the nation, ease national debt and keep clear communications open with world leaders. The world was more forgiving of his actions than the nation.

For the first time in our nation’s history, President Bush initiated war with a first strike under the guise of pre-empting terrorism. Using incorrect and misleading intelligence and fear of terror attacks, Operation Iraqi Freedom was born. At some point Bush was informed that the basis of his information was false. When it was realized there were no weapons of mass destruction, Bush’s first reason for attack misled the country and the world. At the very moment, Bush received this truth, he was responsible for it and it became his moral duty to share that truth with the nation.

Is there any difference between the actions of Clinton and Bush? Is there any difference between a personal lie and a national deception? Is there a difference between having an affair in the oval office and maintaining a war under false premises? Is there a more enduring moral within sexual context or mortal combat?

Clinton’s indiscretion distracted the media, caused unwanted discussions within families and brought the presidency down to mere human proportions. There was moral outrage. On the other hand, Bush’s deception has us in war to this day, and we have lost more than 1,000 soldiers, injured thousands more and devastated a nation that we now have to rebuild and terrorism is at the highest level since 9/11.

There is no impeachment pending for Bush.

Comparing this situation to Einstein’s definition, Bush’s false intelligence created a myth and his authority imperiled lives. Clinton tried to create a myth with his denial but eventually confessed to the nation. Authority was disrupted but not permanently distorted. The question remains, who is the moral man?

Aristotle once said, “Character is that which reveals moral purpose, exposing the class of things a man chooses or avoids.” So, why did Clinton lie? Did he do it to save himself, his family, his position as president? Did his lie permanently damage our nation, our standing in the world, our democracy, or our safety? What does Bush’s choice reveal? Has the choice to take out Saddam instead of Osama Bin Laden affected the nation? Has it affected our standing in the world? Our democracy? Our safety?

In questioning the morality of man in the context of lies and deception, one must understand the purpose for the lie and how each man chooses to face or avoid the consequences. Clinton accepted his impeachment and has continued his life and leadership. Bush continues and believes in his war of false premise without regret. History will reveal the character of each and the fine lines between moral and immoral will become clearer in time as will the personal intent of each man.

The actions of both these men are not moral, but there is a major difference between the seriousness of their decisions.

Clinton was a good president. He kept American’s safe and secure. He made a mistake, but the world still respected and trusted us. Bush, on the other hand, has taken America to a new low. His decision, his lie, has cost the nation more than anyone could have imagined. He took our pride, our respect and shook our stability in the world.

You can’t feel safe in your home and content with your life when the world around you is crumbling. We no longer live in the land of the free. We are confined by fear, sadness and anger. It is time for change. We need to start rebuilding the nation’s character and rescue America’s true morality.