Have we, as a country, gone too far by delving too deeply into our politicians' personal lives?

Question

Obviously, if there is suspected criminal activity, we have the right to know that. But was there any need for the American public to know, for instance, that JFK was unfaithful to his wife? That Newt Gingrich was unfaithful to his and left her while she was dying of cancer?

Is this information pertinent?

You can claim it speaks to their character, but someone's relationship with his or her spouse is very personal and very individual. For all we know, Jackie O had numerous affairs. For all we know, Gingrich's wife had seventeen abortions without telling him and then he found out. I'm not saying that's true... but we don't know what precipitated these actions.

Is it too much? Have we overstepped the bounds of what it is within our right to know about our politicians?

Answer 1

I don't delve into politicians' personal lives any more than I want them delving into mine. If we could just stay out of each other's bedrooms, it would be a vast improvement.

Political experience, voting records, education...These are the things we should be paying attention to, and it is all we need to judge their character by.

Answer 2

I think sometimes we know too much.

I'd say that with newt we deserved to know- he was telling people how families should be and campaining on a 'moral' platform.
obviously we can tell he's dishonest and not walking the walk.

we didn't know about Kennedy until after he died. even the press protected him when they knew he was cheating. back in his day people protected the president. there are men who were in DC during his presidency and never knew he was cheating until after he died.
he was a good president and his cheating didn't change that

let have the policy that it doesn't get mentioned until they bring it up- if they say they have great family values (and define what those values are) we should be able to investigate these claims, if they say they'd never cheat lets see if they have cheated before, ect

Answer 3

Good question...and I wonder if you would apply that reasoning to managers hitting on subordinates in government workplaces. Do you agree with laws and Federal Regulations regarding sexual harassment, or is that still a "personal life" description?

Answer 4

No, such information is not pertinent; it has nothing to do with whether or not they can do their jobs and how well they do their jobs.
It simply means that most people now are voyeuristic.

Answer 5

Frankly I thnk we are not nearly tough enough on our politicians. They behave as criminals and we just yawn & keep voting for them.

Answer 6

How do you think i feel. Us brits end up doing whatever your politicians tell us

Answer 7

yes