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Thanks to his wife Elizabeth's new book, former senator and presidential candidate John Edwards is back in the spotlight over his past indiscretion with another woman.

Edwards is just one more name to add to the legendary and long list of political philanderers. Disclosures about former presidents, like Dwight D. Eisenhower and John F. Kennedy, and representatives in Congress, like Wilbur D. Mills, bring back colorful memories. Their escapades give the political profession a bad name. But why do they cheat?

Some philandering politicians — men and women — are predators. Some even see conquests as one of the perks of the job. After all, the opportunities are plentiful.

But, from my observations, it is most often not the politician who is the predator, it is a member of the public.

Like rock stars and their groupies, there are politicians who have fans and some of those fans are willing to do anything for their elected official. Weak politicians will succumb and predator politicians live off the easy accessibility. It becomes particularly difficult for everyone else when a fan/groupie is hired by the elected official to be on-staff. In most instances nobody says anything about the arrangement. For the good of doing the people's business someone should intervene and undo the hiring.

There may be more powerful jobs, religious leader comes to mind, but elected officials have a tremendous allure because of their power. All day long they hear how great they are, what wise decisions they make, what terrific people they are and, by the way, "I need your vote."

Some of the public have crossed the line in their efforts to persuade their representatives. I remember well, when at a Maryland Association of Counties dinner in Annapolis, a lobbyist sat next to me. He then tried to play footsy with me under the table while we calmly conversed with the other eight guests around us.

And I remember the time a community leader asked to meet with me in my Rockville office on a matter of great importance to his community. As I was expounding on the many complications of the issue and why I could not support his position he interrupted me with, "Your mind is so exciting. How about if we …"

It is all hilarious, in retrospect. At the time, however, it wasn't. I have no trouble saying "no" but not everyone is good at refusing advances.

People in power have enormous responsibility to the public, their families and themselves. Not all politicians have the strength of character and fortitude to withstand the pressures.

One of the major factors that brings enormous stress is absence. Whether an elected official is gone most of every day and comes home only to sleep, or if they are living near the state capitol or nation's capitol during session time and are gone week after week, regardless, it is a difficult situation. Not only are there constant battles and dirty tricks to deal with from your colleagues but there are also long hours and a never-ending barrage from lobbyists, community activists and individuals. It is rare when elected officials aren't physically and emotionally drained during 70- to 80-hour work weeks and during session time. A smart politician, their spouse or significant other will insist on routine, programmed downtime and time to go home for the elected official. Absence doesn't always help the heart grow fonder, you know.

While the public often sees elected officials surrounded by many people, actually most politicians are very alone. I used to compare myself in-office to a race horse, coddled and catered to continually but expected to deliver on race day.

The problem for the politician is that for every issue before them there are so many different expectations. You deal with dozens of issues a day and much of politics today is not about winning or losing, it is all about compromise. From my perspective, with compromise no one truly wins. While you may make everyone a little bit happy, you've also made them unhappy or angry, too. Fooling around with someone probably takes your mind off the loneliness and all the demands.

Philandering politicians are not noble people, regardless of the reasons they give for why they do it. I consider indiscretions to be immoral and unacceptable under any circumstances. But, you know what? If I am given a choice of voting for a politician who is an effective leader who brings fine results to make life better for the public and is a philanderer, or an ineffective follower who considers an elected position just a job, not a public service, I'll choose the philanderer every time.

Wish I never had to make such a choice but too often it is the reality. I don't excuse the indiscretion, I don't forgive it but I want good government. Overwhelmingly, thank goodness, most politicians, even great ones, are not philanderers.

Gail Ewing of Potomac is a retired at-large Montgomery County Council member.