I'm confused about this scandal developing over Secret Service and U.S. military personnel paying for sex in a country where prostitution is legal.

Would it be all right with U.S. authorities and the media if the same personnel had noncommercial consensual sex with women in their hotel rooms?

What if the prostitutes were male?

Exactly what is the current ethos for sexual impropriety among Secret Service agents and U.S. military personnel in 2012? For instance, is it all right for U.S. military service members to fool around with members of the same sex but not the opposite sex? Is the exchange of money the problem?

Don't get me wrong. My moral compass agrees that a scandal took place in Cartagena, Colombia. People entrusted with the security of the United States shouldn't be compromised by sexual trysts during a mission. I believe the U.S. government should do everything in its power to discourage adultery, fornication, group sex, homosexuality, lesbianism, and other nonmarital sexual activity. There's no question, in my mind, that all of these things can lead to compromise, blackmail and blown missions.

I'm just taken aback that people such as Barack Obama, who have been doing everything in their power to advance the sexual revolution, see anything wrong with consensual sex by government employees and U.S. military personnel — paid or unpaid.

What exactly is the problem? Where is that line drawn today between acceptable sexual activity and unacceptable sexual activity? Can someone show it to me?

When the U.S. government condones open homosexual sex in the U.S. military forces, is it logical to conclude there might be some confusion about what's wrong with heterosexual sex?

Aren't many of the advocates for the sexual revolution that brought us open homosexuality in the military and same-sex marriage also in favor of legalizing and condoning prostitution? Hasn't prostitution been around a lot longer than same-sex marriage?

I'm just trying to figure out why an administration that insists contraception should be available to every American for free, even if it means others must violate their religious convictions in providing it, would have a problem with sex any time, any place, by anyone.

This same administration insists the morning-after pill should be available to children without parental consent and without a prescription in every grocery store and pharmacy in America. Yet it has a problem with grown men paying for sex from prostitutes?

And why are the media going ballistic over this scandal? Isn't this the same media that say consenting adults should be able to do whatever they choose whenever they choose? When did the news media suddenly become the sex police?

Again, I'm not diminishing the potential adverse impact of such reckless behavior. Instead, I am trying to illustrate what happens when you redefine sin, when you redefine right and wrong, when you break down morals that have been around for thousands of years without much thought of the consequences.

Let's consider this: Is it more dangerous for a Secret Service agent to pay a prostitute to come to his hotel room or for the president of the United States to be a serial adulterer — and even commit perjury in the cover-up, as did Bill Clinton?

We learned recently that John F. Kennedy had a long-term affair with an intern in the White House. The press was well aware of his many extra-marital activities but covered them up from the American people.

Should we really expect higher standards from U.S. military and Secret Service agents than from presidents themselves? Do we have one set of rules for our anointed leaders and another for those who protect them and carry out their assignments?

What's the matter with those proclaiming what happened in Colombia a scandal? Are they just a bunch of old fuddy-duddies out of touch with the changing morality?

Or is it just time for us to admit there really are some problems with uninhibited, unencumbered, prideful, boastful, reckless, and even aberrant sexual activity of all kinds — especially in the White House, the U.S. military and sensitive agencies like the Secret Service?

To find out more about Joseph Farah and read features by other Creators Syndicate writers and cartoonists, visit the Creators Syndicate Web page at www.creators.com.