Why are so many scandals titled "Whatever-gate?"?

Question

Most of them aren't as serious as Watergate was.

Answer 1

It's just a handy way to indicate that it's a scandal of some sort.  It's daft, but editors need to catch the public eye and catch phrases are a useful way to do it.

Answer 2

It's a play on words taken from the 70s when then Republican U.S. President Richard M. Nixon was brought down by a bungled burglary into Democratic headquarters at the Watergate Hotel in Washington, D.C.

As it turned out, Nixon not only knew about but approved the criminal activity. He resigned in the face of impeachment and a bunch of his cronies went to jail.

From then on, anything smelling of scandalous behavior has been dubbed (something)-gate. For example, during (Republican) President Ronald Reagan's administration when Oliver North was hauled before a committee about some hanky panky with arms to Iran, it was called "Irangate".

Sometimes it IS used a little too loosely!  

Answer 3

During Nixon's term a break in was made at the Democratic National Committee Offices in the Watergate Apartment complexes.  Nixon's involvement with this scandal eventually led to his resignation. Since that time anything that is considered a political scandal ends with the " -gate" term.

Rather stupid, but most of political stuff is.

Answer 4

Maybe it comes from the word floodgate like when the scandal comes out it's like opening a floodgate.