Scandal! : an interdisciplinary approach to the consequences, outcomes, and significance of political scandals / edited by Alison Dagnes and Mark Sachleben.

Includes bibliographical references (pages 249-297) and index.

Preface: Counting and classifying congressional scandals -- Sack the quarterback: the strategies and implications of Congressional leadership scandals -- Spending more time with my family: scandals and premature departures from the House -- The electoral effects of Congressional scandals -- Tom Clarke under fire: the consequences of Congressional investigations of Supreme Court justices -- Sherman Adam's fall, and the scandal behind the scandal -- The more things change, the more they stay the same: explaining the persistence of scandal in the Pennsylvania General Assembly -- Sex, scandal, and Catholic politics during Italy's Dolce Vita -- Paralleling history: scandal and the lessons of 2012 -- Scandal in the politics of race: from Martin Luther King Jr. to Barack Obama -- He "can't say with certitude": framing the Anthony Weiner scandal in political cartoons -- Shattering dignity: the Apologia of John Edwards -- Conclusions.

"There are many types of political scandals, to include political sex scandals, corruption scandals, and election scandals. All are public events of significant consequence for politicians and for the voting public. As we pay attention to scandal, we ignore more weighty matters and we over-estimate the bad behavior of our elected officials. Political scandals have tremendous consequence on citizenry and might possibly undermine democratic institutions. This volume brings together academics from different backgrounds to explore the impact and long-term effects of political scandals. What makes this book different from others is the wide spectrum of perspectives brought together to help analyze a singular subject"-- Provided by publisher.