Why do we idolize criminals?

for example, america worshipped/worships james brown. An american icon some might say, yet he was a notorious wife beater, jail regular, drug abuser. why are we so quick to love this man, among many others, yet someone like bill clinton for example, is so dispised for something like the lewinsky ordeal. some say it's because he represented our country, but doesn't someone like a james brown represent america just as well? i'm confused.