For some years, I was not a great fan of John McCain (I am now). My admiration grew during the 2008 campaign. He was the GOP nominee that year, as you remember. In August, there was a forum at Saddleback Church in California. McCain and the Democratic nominee, Barack Obama, appeared. One of the things that McCain said — less than three months before the election — was this: “My greatest moral failing — and I have been a very imperfect person — is the failure of my first marriage. It’s my greatest moral failure.”

I thought that was pretty stand-up.

When I write this way, I often hear from people on the right who say, “Moral behavior is a luxury we can’t afford these days. We have a war to win: a war against the Left.” I understand the sentiment. I have been warring against the Left virtually all my life. But I don’t count moral behavior to be a luxury but a sine qua non of success. If a party or a movement or a people gives up on moral behavior — we give up on a lot. More than is wise.