Even having lived through the Clinton years, we may not yet realize the lasting damage done to the body politic.

In making adultery, serial infidelity and perjury acceptable at the highest levels of this country, Bill Clinton lowered the bar for those who follow.

The rote defense of Clinton's philandering, particularly with regard to young White House intern Monica Lewinsky, was that if it didn't get in the way of his job, it was none of our business.

Of course, many of us didn't buy that ruse then, and we don't now. Regardless, there are many who believe Clinton's bimbo eruptions did, indeed, get in the way.

All the sexual harassment claims, the lying under oath, the congressional time and public attention spent on it all -- there's no way it didn't get in the way. And at a time when Osama bin Laden and al-Qaida were spreading their wings.

Now, an article in Vanity Fair exposes that Clinton's post-White House escapades may not be much better.

Who knew?

Well, we all could have.

As a former president, Clinton may be even less accountable to the people than when he was president. But as an adult who garners much attention, what kind of role model is he to young people? And as a former president, shouldn't he uphold some sort of dignity? Or is that out the window as well?

Character is actually taught in many schools, through the help of programs such as "Character Counts" -- which touts the "six pillars" of character: trustworthiness, respect, responsibility, fairness, caring and citizenship.

But how can we raise younger generations to believe that character matters, when we're totally excusing a president, and now former president, for not exhibiting it?

Post-Clinton, society is struggling with what's acceptable and what isn't in our public officials. Just one example: Al Franken, the often raunchy and acerbic former writer for Saturday Night Live , is seeking a seat in the chambers of the United States Senate.

Franken's writings and utterings are rich fodder for opponents. He once made jokes about rape. And he wrote an article for Playboy magazine that wouldn't exactly be read into the Congressional Record.

Years ago, that kind of record would pretty much be laughed out of a nominating convention. The public used to think more of itself than that. But last weekend, Franken was nominated to run for the U.S. Senate by the Democratic Party of Minnesota.

Bill Clinton's legacy? That your private, even professional, life just doesn't matter anymore?

If there are no boundaries, there are no boundaries.

Ironically, Clinton's reputation may be worse today than at the height of the Lewinsky scandal. Conventional wisdom is that his finger-wagging, red-faced, race-baiting tirades and reckless comments on his wife's campaign trail actually hurt her in the Democratic primary just ended.

Much of the country is just tired of him. His youthful charm now only a memory, even the Obamas must wonder if they want him hanging around much should they inhabit the White House next January.

Mrs. Clinton famously blamed her husband's problems on a "vast right-wing conspiracy." We now know he brought his problems on through a lack of character.

And the more Mr. Clinton is in the limelight, the harder it might be for educators to teach character with any amount of credibility.