Even the evangelical pool seems to have been tainted. Not quite a year ago, the Rev. Ted Haggard admitted to buying methamphetamines and receiving a massage from a gay prostitute, who claimed to be the pastor's lover of three years. Haggard denied the relationship, but nonetheless resigned as leader of the National Association of Evangelicals.

Craig, who had not resigned from office at this writing, despite urging from fellow senators, did quit as co-Senate liaison for Mitt Romney's presidential campaign. A spokesman for Romney, the former Massachusetts governor who has lived a life so clean he looks younger than his sons, said the campaign accepted Craig's decision.

And then everyone fasted and scrubbed their hands with lye.

Rudy Giuliani's campaign took a similar hit several weeks ago when his South Carolina campaign manager, state Treasurer Thomas Ravenel, was indicted for buying and distributing cocaine. Did we forget anyone?

Outing Republicans as closeted gays, philanderers and drug users has become modern sport for hypocrisy posses, including Hustler magazine publisher Larry Flynt, whose investigative team actively seeks evidence against Republicans who fall from grace. Flynt's team was responsible for breaking the Vitter news.

It does seem that the erstwhile buzz-killer party is on perpetual spring break. Republicans Gone Wild! The truth is that Republicans are no better or worse than Democrats. The difference is that Democrats are more open and forgiving of their human frailties, while Republicans -- bless their hearts -- try to take the moral high road where secrecy and shame necessarily ride shotgun.

The higher the road, of course, the harder the fall. And hypocrisy always shadows failed virtue.

As the 2008 election looms, the political parties seem to have traded places. The Democratic Party is now the churchgoing, family values party, with Mama Clinton as lead lip-purser and aspiring scold-in-chief. She's earned it.

Republicans may as well kick back, enjoy a reprieve from the impossible burden of perfection, and get those bumper stickers to the printer: They Don't Call Us The Grand Old Party For Nuthin'!