One problem is he's married. What of those marriage vows about love and honor, especially honor? Another: Married or not, why would you ever take such a photo and send it to anyone, particularly if you are a public servant?  This behavior reinforces the view that politicians are screwed-up or stupid or out-of-touch. Sometimes we "throw the bums out," or they leave on their own. But often, they remain in the picture in one way or another, despite their perfidy or peccadilloes.  Bill Clinton left office with relatively high approval ratings and became a beloved former president and sought-after international leader and adviser. We know of FDR's mistress, JFK's many indiscretions and even MLK Jr.'s adultery. But that has not deterred Americans from often ranking them as heroes.  In demystifying these politicians' behavior, you find there are multiple causes: Very few complex human behaviors are caused by just one attribute. And the causes can vary somewhat from politician to politician.  I think a good way to approach the issue is to look at what kind of person would be attracted to the politician's job and do well in it?  Here are some key features of the political life: high uncertainty and unpredictability, no significant job security and no playbook that guarantees success.  You can be voted out and not know clearly why. You can say something or make a decision and lose the voters' support and your job. You have no 9-to-5 day or normal home and family life. You do have a fishbowl existence. You often must speak in public or to the media extemporaneously, travel extensively, meet new people all the time and you often encounter fans who offer opportunities for transgressions. A risk-taking personality would be attracted to many of those features. I call it the "Type T," for thrill-seeker personality.
Human behavior can be mysterious, and one big mystery is why successful, smart politicians commit adultery or near-pornographic stunts despite the constant presence of the eyes and ears of the