The consequences of David's sin were evident in the judgment of his actions. We have the First Amendment of the Constitution which guarantees its citizens freedom of press. There are no comparisons here. This is correct in the understanding of the differences between ancient Israel and modern U.S. forms of government. It is incorrect, though, in the misunderstanding that the human condition has not changed over the last four to five thousand years, and that transcendent principles of the Judeo-Christian ethic are still very much applicable.
Sin is sin.
Crime is crime. Whether based upon Mosaic, Roman, or British common law, crime is punishable. It is not. As of this writing, however, the pressure of continued stalling, cajoling, and evading by the Clinton administration of the press, the Republicans, and ultimately the American citizenry appears to be at a standstill. Still, President Clinton continues to defy his harshest critics by maintaining respectable polling numbers for job performance.