Should private affairs reflect on a leader's public conduct?

[Count of Montesano]

While I don't condone what Senator Edwards did (cheating on his dying wife), I do think that some things should remain private even if someone's a public figure. The only exception is if someone breaks the law while having an affair (Senator Craig) or has extramarital sex while officially on duty (President Clinton).

Also, does cheating on your wife automatically make you completely unfit to be a public figure? I do recognize it's a substantial character flaw, but I feel a lot of American politicians who commit horrible ethical decisions on the job get a free pass as long as they don't cheat. I'd rather have a philanderer who takes his job as public servant seriously than a teetotaler born-again Christian who is a total incompetent or who is completely in the pocket of special interests.

Your thoughts?

[finsternis]

I'm with you. I too do not like the idea of cheating but if an official does it, it shouldn't affect him. If he did it, it is his personal life. He should be kicked because he sucks at the job or is not taking the people's interest as first priority, but not because he cheated. Clinton was a good president, so who cares if he slept with whoever? That is something his, his wife's and the person he slept's business.

[bushbush]

i really don't care. If he does a good job leading the country, i have no problem with what he does in his bed room (as long as not illegal, like sex with a kid something).

[Farnan]

It depends...

If he is secretly cheating, then yes it can be bad for a politician and the country as it can be used for blackmail purposes. This can lead to bad situations where someone uses it for their advantage. If its out in the open I don't see what harm it can do.

However, addictions should certaintly be a factor. If a candidate is addicted to drugs, alcohol or gambling it can lead to a very very bad situation for which the public pays.

[finsternis]

It depends...

If he is secretly cheating, then yes it can be bad for a politician and the country as it can be used for blackmail purposes. This can lead to bad situations where someone uses it for their advantage. If its out in the open I don't see what harm it can do.

However, addictions should certaintly be a factor. If a candidate is addicted to drugs, alcohol or gambling it can lead to a very very bad situation for which the public pays.

The question is: should people care about it. If they do, then yes it can be used for blackmail and stuff. If people don't, because they only care about he being a good representative, then blackmail is out of the question.

As the man is leading the country in some aspect, he is supposed to represent the best we have to offer, so yes, while in a leadership position he should act more honorably.

If he's left the office and is once again a private citizen, I couldn't care less.

Yes, the best we have to offer, a man (or woman) who is great at their job, who take the people's interest first, who is intelligent and kind. I don't think that a man who has sex with one person is better than one who has sex with several.

[Farnan]

The question is: should people care about it. If they do, then yes it can be used for blackmail and stuff. If people don't, because they only care about he being a good representative, then blackmail is out of the question.

It doesn't matter if the public cares, it could matter if his wife and the divorce judge cares...

And the addiction ones can be used for blackmail even if people don't care about it.

[Thanatos]

As the man is leading the country in some aspect, he is supposed to represent the best we have to offer, so yes, while in a leadership position he should act more honorably.

If he's left the office and is once again a private citizen, I couldn't care less.

[dwringer]

What? No poll?

Actually that's probably a good thing. Some things are best left unknown . . .


Thanatos: actually, politics aside, I would just like to commend you for using the words "Couldn't care less" instead of being ignorant like 99% of people and saying "Could care less"

[Thanatos]

What? No poll?

Actually that's probably a good thing. Some things are best left unknown . . .


Thanatos: actually, politics aside, I would just like to commend you for using the words "Couldn't care less" instead of being ignorant like 99% of people and saying "Could care less"

I try to have excellent grammar, thank you for your kind words.

[gambit]

It should, quite immensely in fact. His public life is something he tries very hard to keep straight and look neat and tidy. He smoothes out all the edges and brings out the little white lies to make himself look good. He turns a blind eye to all his negatives and hopes no one else notices. His private life is the true person beneath the suit (the person leading whatever it is he's leading) so we should pay SPECIAL attention to what he does in his private time. For all we know, he could be worshipping pagan gods and performing human sacrifices. Unlikely, but I would rather his privacy be a little abused than to just let that one go out of probability.

Once he's a private citizen, with little/no effect on us, I couldnt give two . I dont approve of it, but it's not harming anyone and I can't stop him anyway.

[MaximiIian]

No, it shouldn't have any reflection on said statesman's reputation as a public official.

Additionally- I don't view polyamory as a character flaw. So, that particularly common example of "extramarital affair" isn't something that should be considered bad, even in just their private life.

[Kiljaden]

I don't really care at all to be honest. So what if John Edwards wanted some action? So what if a guy uses his position of fame to get some poon? People do it all the time. Politicians are already corrupt maniacal beasts with no moral compass as it is, I should think that getting some action would calm them down a bit, allow them to think more clearly

Before : AMG I DON'T CARE, SHUT UP AND I'LL SIGN THE BILL GODDAMNIT!

After : Wait wait wait wait, what the hell are you trying to get me to sign? GTFO MY OFFICE BIZNATCH

100% accurate to real life.

[Thanatos]

And then you have the people who always try to pry into the private affairs of people. Look at Sarkozy and that reporter.

[finsternis]

It doesn't matter if the public cares, it could matter if his wife and the divorce judge cares...

And the addiction ones can be used for blackmail even if people don't care about it.

What is blackmail? You tell someone that you are going to tell the world that he did something. However, if the world doesn't care about it, then why would the blackmailed person care? Is person A tells person B that he is going to tell the world about action C, but the world doesn't mind action C, then person B is just going to say "what ever,tell the world". No blackmail happens.

And then you have the people who always try to pry into the private affairs of people. Look at Sarkozy and that reporter.

Again, if the world doesn't care, then reporters are not going to make a scandal about something that is not going to be a scandal (since people will read it and say "hmm, ok" and keep walking).

[kev-o]

It doesn't matter if the public cares, it could matter if his wife and the divorce judge cares...

Well if the politician uses his constituents' money to pay for a prostitute who charges $4,500 an hour then I'm sure they have a legit reason to care.

[Steel of Fury]

Public figures are human, and they can act as such as long as they do their job and don't get caught.

[Kiljaden]

Steel of Fury: ....and don't embezzle public funds.

Kiljaden: I agree.

[Rich86]

I think it's a difficult one.


On the one hand, a politician is still human - and we should not really be too harsh if they end up doing things the rest of us (in some cases) do, such as have an affair. Also, there surely should not be a problem as long as they are not doing anything which will damage their ability to do their job.... would you care if the leader of your country was, for arguments sake married but having an affair with another woman? Or perhaps even another man? :hmmm: I feel a lot of people would express outrage at this, but would they still be so eager to call for the man (or woman) to resign if say, they had done a brilliant job of running the country and everyone had more money in their pockets, worked less, lived more etc etc etc....? I don't think they would.

In contrast however, a leader should set a good example. What kind of example does it set for people if you're off shagging your secetary whilst your wife does all the nicey-nicey PR stuff for you such as turning up for pointless ceremonies and smiling a lot. It's also dishonest surely to present an image of being a 'family person' to the public when in reality you're anything but. Whilst politicians are entitled to their own lives, they must surely accept that if they want this position of power then naturally there is going to be an intrusion into their private lives and they are going to have to be 'squeaky clean' if they want to survive in the political world. Also I do strongly feel that if we have a politician for example, who is cheating on his wife with another man - that sort of information he will most likely NOT want to be made public and so, he makes himself an EXCELLENT target for anyone seeking to blackmail a politician into voting a certain way, or endorsing a certain proposal etc........

I can see it both ways I guess

[Kiljaden]

Well Rich, I'm of the opinion that all politicians are liars and cheats and even con-artists anyway. And I definitely do NOT look to them as a "good example" or role model. Oftentimes politicans are an example of what I DON'T want to be

[Rich86]

I agree Kiljaden - but in theory at least we would hope that politicians would be the best and brightest and would be a bastion of hope and good morality etc etc........nobody would want to be ruled by a thief or a liar, or by someone who will look out for his own needs before that of everyone else.

It's a shame really that as you say, most politicians do seem to be liars and cheats