http://pajamasmedia.com/zombie/2011/06/06/why-the-hypocrisy-defense-is-political-suicide-for-liberalism/

I think this whole page of discussion is unnecessarily polarised between left and right, 'liberals' vs 'conservatives'. However its very rare to see an attempt to diagram the structure of a moral argument and dissect it.

A more familiar name for this phenomena is setting the bar low. I guess the dilemma for politicians is that people intrinsically need to look up to those in authority and surely even the most liberal of voters would realise that a little squirt who photographs himself in his undies and then attempts to impress assorted women with the results is someone we'd all cross the street to avoid meeting.
I think the defence of not being a hypocrite is hypocritical itself because most perpetrators of whatever misbehaviour, go to great lengths to hide it, which of course is an admission of guilt.

Indeed. This twerp certainly set the bar low...