Explanation, Please

Is there anyone out there who can explain to me why outing a covert CIA operative is not worse than covering up extramarital oral sex? I honestly want to know, because I cannot come up with any rational explanation. To me, it really comes down to the perpetrator of each and to the motives for each. Clinton was a pariah to the right wing; Shrub is their savior. Clinton just wanted to get off without anyone finding out; Shrub et al wanted to discredit an administration critic intent on exposing the administration's lies about Iraq.

Clinton's actions resulted in a semen stained dress. Shrub et al's actions resulted in over 2000 dead American soldiers, tens of thousands of injured soldiers, tens of thousands of dead and injured Iraqi civilians, the outing of a covert CIA operative, loss of American credibility in the world and a much more fertile recruiting ground for terrorist groups.

Now, remind me again why Shrub et al's actions are not so bad...