as the party that wants to snoop around in people's bedrooms

Come on......

So Tlaloc do you have some study to back up your claim that repbulicans would "admit" at a different rate the democrats?

Nope, and I may be wring that republicans would self report at a lower rate, but until and unless someone establishes that question one way or the other this study of extremely limited use.

There's every reason to think that conservatives would fail to report affairs with more frequency than those who regard such things as, you know, a personal failing rather than an offense against the lord almighty.

Also, outside of self reported data you can't really collect accurate data on cheating, because a lot of people cheat and don't ever get caught.

You can of course look at the break down of those who do get caught, in which case the question is "are dems just better at hiding it?"

It amazes me a Kennedy would open a mouth to criticize anyone for with the male linage it is inherited Kennedy trait consisting of grandfather, father and uncles. Kathleen may not consider it a fault but rather Noblesse Oblige, Obama would call it "spreading the wealth around'!

Does any of this depend on what the definition of "is" is?

Only if you are liberal in you use of a dictionary,law book,science book, U.S. Constitution, Bible,army field manual,U.N.resolution, tax form,ect.ect.ect.......

Also, outside of self reported data you can't really collect accurate data on cheating, because a lot of people cheat and don't ever get caught.

About 19% of Democrats, 19% of independents, and 15% of Republicans admit to having an extramarital affair.

If the word "Admit" doesn;t leap out at you here then you haven't spent nearly enough time understanding sociological data (or polling methodology). All this proves is that Republicans are less likely to self report affairs, not that they are less likely to have them. Given the additional stigma for socon republicans it makes sense that they are probably willing to admit to existing affairs at a lower rate than either dems or independents.

My thesis would be that Republicans are more optimistic about marriage and therefore marry at higher rates, often earlier in life. Thus, they are at higher risk to divorce or separate. A similar point was made in this month's Atlantic Monthly about international comparisons:

If America is a “divorce culture,” it may be partly because we are a “marriage culture,” since we both divorce and marry (a projected 90 percent of us) at some of the highest rates anywhere on the globe.

AtlanticMonthly

Similarly, if Republicans marry at higher rates, I would expect them to divorce at higher rates, all other things being equal. Think of it as the Community Reinvestment Act theory of marital stability.

I kind of like this question. I sometimes think the wealthier and more powerful a person becomes the more they feel free to compromise morals on other areas. Don't know that it would necessarily play out if studied, but it is an interesting question.

I also tend to think, when it comes to divorce and divorce rates that there are things like poverty/money stress that probably play as much if not a bigger role in divorce rates than unfaithfulness.

I find Massachusetts interesting in these studies. They have the lowest divorce rate in the country and in the recent NAEP studies, it was the only state that measured out at a top tier world level in math scores. Would be good to figure out what they are doing and see if it can be implemented elsewhere.

Steve

Sadly, James, these survey results will be repeated by certain smug quarters who don't understand statistics enough to see how weak Blow's argument was.