Yikes.

Courtney Casgraux, 41 (above), describes herself as an international businesswoman as she runs for a seat in the United States House of Representatives for Oregon ‘s first district. Casgraux’s campaign, launched last spring, was rocked over Labor Day weekend when her past occupation as a BDSM dominatrix was revealed via video on Reddit. Casgraux was outraged. “To shame me for something that helped create the life that I have today where I have opportunity … made me really mad. Because it felt like an attack on women, not just an attack on me,” she said.

Really? Letting the public know about the past activities of a Congressional candidate is wrong? Interesting take, Madam.

In response, Casgraux says she is “reclaiming her sexuality” though a campaign collaboration with Playboy. Sure, why not? Remember, she’s running in Oregon. Did I mention what party she belongs to? Do I need to?

On Instagram the former-dominatrix wrote,

First and foremost, I would like to thank Playboy for giving me the opportunity to express what freedom means to me and welcoming me into the Playboy family. Over the last month Playboy has not only championed me but my Congressional Campaign. I’m looking forward to utilizing my platform to educate, uplift voices and fundraise for those less fortunate. My journey with Playboy is just beginning so be on the lookout for more things to come.

Boy, I can’t wait. She continued, “Secondly, I’m reclaiming this American Flag and what it represents, and that’s FREEDOM AND JUSTICE FOR ALL.” (Actually, that’s “liberty and justice for all,” but never mind…)

Her campaign website further elaborates: “As a fiercely independent single mother who has had to navigate the adversities of life, I understand firsthand the struggles that American families face on a daily basis.” OK, she’s an Oregon Democrat: can you guess her platform without peaking? Yes, she wants to secure LGBTQ “rights and equality,” guarantee “abortion rights” nationwide, pass “comprehensive gun reform” and take “immediate action on climate change.”

Your Ethics Alarms Thanksgiving Ethics Quiz is,

Should her dominatrix past be held against her by voters?

Before we get to that, I certainly hold her attempt to hide her past against her. Anyone running for public office that requires competence, judgment and trust has an obligation to be transparent and honest about any relevant aspects of his or her past. The Dominatrix Candidate Principle is just another variation of the Naked Teacher Principle (NTP): if you engage in conduct that ends up on video and it is of a sort that causes some to doubt your values, character and judgment, you have no one to blame but yourself if the eventual public exposure is detrimental to your career. (This is the second dominatrix variation on the NTP: we examined a dominatrix New York prosecutor in 2011.)

Putting her attempted deception aside, is there any reason to think that a former dominatrix is even less desirable than any other knee-jerk progressive who who holds Courtney’s views? Call me biased, but I believe that the people we send to Congress should be substantive, serious people who have devoted themselves to activities and goals that benefit society. I do not regard the occupation of dominatrix as residing in that territory. Electing people who just decide one day that they think it would be neat-o to be in Congress is how we end up with representatives like Cori Bush, AOC, George Santos and Margery Taylor Greene.