Re: A Republican president would have probably been shot at dawn for doing half of this."
If so, it would have been Republicans pulling the triggers.
The Republicans have an interest in fostering the myth that they own the only claim to morality in DC and that Democrats own the only claim to corruption. This is expressed when a poor Republican (for instance, like Gingrich, and uh, who was it who was considered for Speaker before Hastert?) has a rumor of scandel (or even just a danger of significant bad press, sometimes). In that case, the Republicans rush him out of town as quickly and quietly as possible.
I suppose it is good PR to do things that way, but it does not reflect well on Republicans' resolve to stand by their friends.