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Monday, March 23, 2009

Sex Workin' It

Posted by Dan Savage on Mon, Mar 23, 2009 at 8:26 AM

Scores of sex-advice-book authors—mainstream ones, "safe" ones—advise couples seeking to revive their sex lives to think about a change of scenery. Do it in the living room, do it in the car—you could even do it at the office, if you or your spouse has a private office or after-hours access to the workplace. So I don't understand why everyone reacts with shock and horror when a politician gets it on at work. Of course this British MP, like Bill Clinton before him, was cheating on his wife, and that's not something most mainstream sex-advice hacks support. And the MP popped this other woman on Remembrance Day—their Memorial Day—which isn't going to play well with voters. But the chief complaint in both cases seems to be location. That the MP had sex in the House of Commons makes the headline; that the woman wasn't his wife is tucked into the lead.

Let's be shocked by the infidelity (routine though it may be), or by the insensitive comments politicians feel compelled to make after they get caught ("I have little recollection of the evening..."), but let's not act like tossing one off in the workplace is some sort of shocking violation of all things good and decent (unless you work for the Pope, of course).

And I promise, if elected, to spend at least 90 minutes of the 24 hours that I'm mayor getting it on all fucking over the mayor's office. Then I'll resign in disgrace.

Comments (20) RSS

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That the woman "wasn't with his wife?"

Wow. Things are heating up across the water.

Posted by Timothy on March 23, 2009 at 8:34 AM

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=72ZO6w0rl…

Posted by Rob in Baltimore on March 23, 2009 at 8:46 AM

"I have little recollection of the evening..."

Those aren't the words of a gentleman, not in this context.

Posted by Baltimoron on March 23, 2009 at 8:46 AM

And I promise, if elected, to spend at least 90 minutes of the 24 hours that I'm mayor getting it on all fucking over the mayor's office. Then I'll resign in disgrace.

Thanks for the heads up Dan.

Posted by Chip Chipmunk on March 23, 2009 at 8:48 AM

You're mixing up "the workplace" -- any old office where somebody works -- with an institution of state that some people -- not Dan Savage of course -- feel deserves respect. That's why the headline is 'Commons sex scandal' not 'workplace sex scandal'.

Posted by elenchos on March 23, 2009 at 8:49 AM

i think your boss has a right to be pissed off at you for banging in the office. and when you're talking about a publicly elected official, we (tax-paying citizens) are all his boss.

Posted by cornballer on March 23, 2009 at 8:51 AM

Dan, you're losing the power to shock, this is just boring.

Posted by getting old must be a bitch on March 23, 2009 at 8:57 AM

@5, In this vale of tears there is absolutely nothing disrespectful about two lovers entwined. Unsavory when adultery is involved but not disrespectful.

Posted by Baltimoron on March 23, 2009 at 8:58 AM

(unless you work for the Pope, of course).

What if you are the Pope?

Posted by cdc on March 23, 2009 at 9:03 AM

@9, the Pope fucks bears in the woods

Posted by or something on March 23, 2009 at 9:07 AM

I don't care about their admission or denial, i just want one true politican. Dan Savage lies his homo butt off, takes potshots against libs and dems and rights and leltts and blah and quah.

vote for nothing, for wishy-washy, vote savage!

dan, are you making it better or making it worse? given your platform, why don't you just supprt a candidate, instead of diluting the voting pool? quit fucking shit up, yo!

Posted by mjayjjaybjay on March 23, 2009 at 9:10 AM

@11, SAVAGE THE RUINOR (c0mic-book style).

Posted by fuds on March 23, 2009 at 9:13 AM

I am shocked - shocked - that a politician would have sex outside his marriage.

Posted by Fifty-Two-Eighty on March 23, 2009 at 9:14 AM

“I didn’t inhale,” “I have little recollection…” Oh, for God’s sake, just own it. Would it hurt them worse to just out and out say, “Yep, I got stoned off my ass,” or, “yeah, I hit that – twice. And it was the kinkiest, wildest sex I’ve ever had”?

Really, wouldn’t they be forgiven sooner (or at least mocked less / admired more) for coming out and owning it? They could then follow with: “smoking dope is never okay and I’m glad I outlived my habit,” or, “cheating on one’s wife in one’s office is never okay and I hope to outlive this shame.”

Saying you never inhaled is such a blatant lie that it won’t deter those impressionable teens from smoking dope and then daring to run for president. And saying you don’t really remember a sexual encounter only suggests that you have sex so often in your office with people who are not your wife that you can’t even remember the one incident that got you into trouble. It’s not going to make your re-election campaign any easier.

Own your actions, politicians, you’ll get more respect.

Posted by Allyn on March 23, 2009 at 9:53 AM

Gay marriage would probably be the law everywhere by now if Dan Savage wasn't pissing everyone off with his childish, belittling attacks.

Posted by rjh on March 23, 2009 at 10:44 AM

The Brits are always more about the propriety of it.

That said, certain areas of their nation have very very high levels of offspring that are not related to both of their "parents".

Me, I'd love to get it on with a hot sexy female MP ... I'd prefer it if we closed the curtains first, mind you.

Posted by Will in Seattle on March 23, 2009 at 12:07 PM

@15, yeah. right. i'm sure every right wing fundie fuckstick is personally perusing dan savage's blog, in case their religious fervor starts to wear out. that seems likely.

Posted by franky on March 23, 2009 at 12:43 PM

Marriage is boring because it's unnatural. Men are compelled to spread the seed. Women are compelled to get pregnant or get rich. They (men and women) deserve each other no matter what country they're in.

Posted by Vince on March 23, 2009 at 1:11 PM

just in case anyone might think "mixing it up" is some kind of remedy for a stalled sex life, i'd like to note that changing scenery would have less than zero improving effect on my waning libido, and ditto on satisfactory outcome, if you know what i mean. that kind of thing is for the sexually restless, not the sexually dwindling.

Posted by ellarosa on March 23, 2009 at 1:48 PM

I think the issue here is that he got caught. I've had sex in my lab before, but if my boss knew about it I'd be fired in a heartbeat. Real life isn't an episode of The Office.

Posted by rob on March 24, 2009 at 5:32 AM