Of course, sleeping with the enemy is not kosher. If an elected official is carrying on with someone who represents a threat to our security, or if an obvious conflict of interest is involved, there is no doubt that public concern is justified. But what about the guy or gal who is having an affair outside of marriage, but which impacts their official position naught? Is it our business if someone we've elected (or are considering for election) is cheating on their spouse? What if they're not married, but engaged in "illicit" sexual behaviors, like homosexuality or prostitution, or just "sleeping around"?
Does the office matter? Is it maybe OK for a local politician to engage in certain behaviors that would not be acceptable on a national level? Or vice-versa?
For that matter, what about police and community leaders? Teachers? Preachers?
At what point do our personal peccadilloes become fodder for public consumption, and why?
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9 comments:
Woo! Great question Scorbs....I am not sure if there is an easy answer to this, and many factors play in...it also depends on what position this person is elected to. While the behavior itself may have no bearing on the persons position what-so-ever, it does show what sort of personality traits and potential for poor choices, not to mention morality, the person may have.
In other words, if an elected official is able to cheat on the person they have pledged to love and cherish forever, how can we possibly trust them to keep their promises to the public?
How a person conducts themselves in their personal life can certainly tell alot about how they will perform their JOB.
Just my 2 cents...I could care less who does what, who sleeps with who...
It comes with notariety, the public interest in anything you do. Someone in the news does something shady (or a relative) it's on the front page. If I did it it would never hit the papers. It also brings them down to our level...the fact that they are not perfect either.
DK-My thoughts exactly-word for word. Quite personally,I couldn't care less who sleeps who,as long as they do their job.
Sensationalism sells. Most of what is reported is not done for an honest public safety reason or a need-to-know basis. Often times, people's lives are shattered because of an err in judgment, a sickness or problem that in any other profession, would not be grounds for dismissal.
Frankly, to me? What Bill Clinton or any of the other adulterers did, had no real effect on their job performance. I didn't need to see and hear all of that dirty laundry aired.
We are a fairly puritanical country when it comes to matters of sex. Heck, in some countries there is something wrong with a politician if he DOESN'T have a mistress!
And as some people know, one of the two major party candidates has had an affair. Does it matter that it was a long time ago? Apparentally, it does since Edwards is seen as unfit due to his affair but McCain is fine with his. Maybe in 20 years, Edwards can make a comeback.
I used to teach high school, so I can tell you that parents can be insane. Some wanted me fired when I was in a local production of Cabaret and I lived with a girlfriend for a while and wrote letters to the editor on topics such as evolution, gay rights, etc., never mentioning my school affiliation.
Strangely enough, the parents that had the problems were almost exclusively parents of students I did not teach! Parents of my students and athletes I coached were pretty cool with everything.
That's pretty incoherent, but I don't have more coherent thoughts on it right now!
it's all a matter of forgiveness...
but scandal certainly is fun!
My opinion only, so don't kill me for it. I don't care if they do...but when they are caught, be honest about it...don't deny what is true. What irks me is the lying that then portrays them as doing the same while acting as our 'representatives.'
I think I am on the same page as daily kenoshan. It does reflect on how honestly they perform their duties as our representatives or in protecting our interests.
KK has it right, “Sensationalism sells”, the harder the media can beat their drum, the more people will listen.
Look at Ronnie Regan as an example, married and divorced before becoming president. No one cared, but once in office it’s oh my goodness, the world is ending.
Once you tell a lie you have to remember it the rest of your life or you will get caught. If you do something which some people feel is wrong, be the first to admit it...ya I did it, so what! End of story.
When the Clinton hullabaloo started I had to go to Germany. The people of Germany just couldn’t figure out why the US was wasting so much money and time on it; it was a joke to them.
I agree with others, if you screw up it won’t affect your job performance the next day; and if it does, you were the wrong person in position to start with.
Do I care personally? No, not really. The problem with this arises over the fact that they can be blackmailed into doing something they shouldn't.
Lets say some unsavory character found out Governor Doyle was cheating on his wife. They go to the Governor and say "Listen Gov, we really like this KRM train deal. It would be a real shame if people found out about apartment 12D."
The same goes for smoking pot, martinis at H&W, etc, etc, etc. It puts the politician in a spot that can be leveraged. Thats why we should care about their behavior.
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