Ridenbaugh Press/Northwest

Jeff Mapes of the Oregonian calls the story “truly disturbing,” and it is. One of the disturbing aspects of it is a question of both private and public import that ought to be raised by now.

Today’s specific case is that of Tony Marino, in 2008 a Republican candidate for the state House in the suburban Portland district based around Tigard. A comment on one Republican blog: “I got to meet Tony at Dorchester this year, and was very impressed. We need more candidates like Tony Marino.” He was swamped in the fall (64%-36%) by Democratic incumbent Larry Galizio, who recently resigned the seat to take a state job. Marino described himself as a “Business Consultant; Author; Radio/TV Broadcaster; Web Designer; Online TV & Radio Producer.”

But by the time of the general election, he had more to report: “bankruptcy, divorces plural, a federal tax lien and a degree from an on-line university that’s not accredited in Oregon.” Also emerging later: He ran an on-line religious seminary that offered ordination as a minister for $95.

During the middle of the legislative campaign, in August 2008, Marino and his adult daughter stayed at the Emerald Queen Casino and Hotel in Fife, Washington. This February the daughter told local police that during that stay, “her father had nonconsensual sexual intercourse with her while she said she was intoxicated.” Marino has pleaded guilty to second-degree incest, and is in the Pierce County Jail; sentencing is in a couple of weeks. The original charge was rape.

You could say all sorts of things about this appalling case. Here’s one question: What is the seeming magnetic attraction in so many recent cases around the country (and the Northwest has had its share in recent years) between major sex scandal activity, often (not always) involving illegality of some sort, and the intersection of politics, religion and “family values” activism? These cases keep arising with stunning regularity (you’ve surely heard just earlier this week about the hot-microphone bragging by the now-former family-values California state representative). The occasional instance, the unusual case of someone who breaks bad, should be dismissed of having larger meaning; but this is a powerfully and repeatedly recurring pattern. What is going on in the minds of these people?

A serious psychological study, if none has been done yet, is badly needed.