Information

[Queen Mum]

I'm having a hard time deciding where I stand with these issues.

For the most part I think that when a person has an affair that it is between him and his spouse. It is hard enough to find out that your spouse has been unfaithful to you - but to have it a public embarrassment has to be even worse.

So I think - that's between the two of them.

On the other hand (Isn't there always another hand?)

We put our trust in our public officials. We elect them because we believe in them and trust them to do the right thing.

If they can't be trusted to uphold their marriage vows how can we trust them to do what is right for our city, state and country?

But is it right to hold them to a higher standard than the rest of the population?

[CherryTat]

I'm having a hard time deciding where I stand with these issues.

For the most part I think that when a person has an affair that it is between him and his spouse. It is hard enough to find out that your spouse has been unfaithful to you - but to have it a public embarrassment has to be even worse.

So I think - that's between the two of them.

On the other hand (Isn't there always another hand?)

We put our trust in our public officials. We elect them because we believe in them and trust them to do the right thing.

If they can't be trusted to uphold their marriage vows how can we trust them to do what is right for our city, state and country?

But is it right to hold them to a higher standard than the rest of the population?

Personally I don't think it's right to hold them to a higher standard then the rest of the population. They are people like the rest of us. When they do make mistakes like that, I don't think the media should have the right to do what they do. Because they had an affair doesn't mean they are incapable of making good decisions otherwise. They think with their brains when politics is concerned But that is the world that we live in, and it's not going to change anytime soon unfortunately. I hate how the media exploits everything and turns it into a circus.

Just my two cents

[killarney_rose]

I agree with everything you have written. I think what I've seen happen in my lifetime is not that morals have become more lax it is how we as a population react to those morals being broken.

If we take what Representative Weiner did, it's not illegal. It's the appearance of impropriety. Was it any different then with any other man or woman in the position of power. No! Should he step down. I think it is up to him. In my eyes I think if he is an honorable man he would. But, that's only my opinion. I thought President Clinton and Teddy Kennedy should have, too. I feel the same way with how some of the professional sports figures handle their personal lives. I think they should step down. Baseball canned Johnny Bench. Now why have some of the other figures not been held to the same standard. My problem with this is how it appears to children who place these people on a pedestal. Most people rise to the expectations of others in a group.

We recently went through an eminent domain process. Without getting into details we dealt with exactly the same thing. It was how the law was interpreted. The law was not broken in any shape form or fashion. In the end the local government gave way.

I'm editing this to include...I do not care what someone does in the public eye behind closed doors as long as it isn't illegal, but be smart enough not to let it get into the public domain. And I think when it does the press goes to far. I get real tired of it being crammed down my throat.

[AnnOminous]

My concern is how their behavior opens them up to blackmail. They could be blackmailed to vote a certain way on an issue.

[glo85cam]

My concern is how their behavior opens them up to blackmail. They could be blackmailed to vote a certain way on an issue.

Very true!


And some of them do such stupid things that cause them to get caught and then lie about it. I want someone smarter than that in charge of running my country.

[handerful]

Should we hold them at a higher standard? No. We need to hold everyone at higher standard. Everyone has become too relaxed about social media. I do believe that poor decision making in someone's personal life does spill over into their professional life. If an employer (in this case consitueients) are privy to some poor decisions someone has made, those decisions should be taken into consideration in whether a person should continue to hold their job.


"Scandals" like this is nothing new. We are just becoming more aware of it because it is so easy to spread information.


Politicians, like celebrities, just put themselves out there for the public to scruitinize life decisions they make.

[killarney_rose]

Should we hold them at a higher standard? No. We need to hold everyone at higher standard. Everyone has become too relaxed about social media. I do believe that poor decision making in someone's personal life does spill over into their professional life. If an employer (in this case consitueients) are privy to some poor decisions someone has made, those decisions should be taken into consideration in whether a person should continue to hold their job.


"Scandals" like this is nothing new. We are just becoming more aware of it because it is so easy to spread information.


Politicians, like celebrities, just put themselves out there for the public to scruitinize life decisions they make.

Exactly! Everyone in public life just like us has right to 'a reasonable expectation of privacy.' But if one starts to throw the dirty laundry so to speak in the trash and put it in the street it can and may become public. Teach yourself to think before you hit the "send" or "submit" button. We all have had to learn to do this in social media.

[Ayla]

I do think we hold politicians to a higher level to a certain degree, and I'm okay with that. That person has chosen to run for a public office, in a position of trust, and asked us to place our faith and trust in him/her (unlike Hollywood celebrities, who haven't really asked a thing except that we watch their movies or tv shows). I don't think it is necessarily unexpected that we lost trust when they prove to be unfaithful and yes, untrustworthy. They have placed themselves in a position demanding higher scrutiny by seeking that position. If they aren't ready for it, they shouldn't run for office.

[MOM2SNOX]

Oh my.. I could write an entire article on this but I will remain silent. :?

[CherryTat]

Part of my problem with all this stuff is this- this kind of thing has been going on forever. It is only because of the media that we know about this stuff now. Before radio and tv, do you think affairs and the like did not happen? Ignorance was bliss.

[LyndaKay]

Sexting....to a 17 yr. old.....really? Weiner deserves the roast he's getting in the press.

[Nikki_E]

I'm just tired of hearing about it all.

[wahoo_mom]

My concern is how their behavior opens them up to blackmail. They could be blackmailed to vote a certain way on an issue.

Exactly!

Also, I don't think they are being held to a higher standard. How many of us here are involved in education? Wouldn't your career be over if there was even a whisper of this type of behavior?

And another problem I have with this is trust. There has to be a certain level of trust (albeit very little) with politicians. He vehemently lied about this repeatedly. What else will he lie about?

[kittymomma]

He should be removed from his position. If it had been a teacher that did this-- he would have been fired. Now, did Weiner send it to children? NO, when a teacher posts something on a FB --that isn't even as bad--maybe with a drink or something--they can lose their job.


Maybe it isn't "illegal" but he is married--so it is illegal--in an adulterous manner. He is a public figure--he influences many--he should have to step down--just like a teacher would have to.

[meteechtap]

Should we hold them at a higher standard? No. We need to hold everyone at higher standard. Everyone has become too relaxed about social media. I do believe that poor decision making in someone's personal life does spill over into their professional life. If an employer (in this case consitueients) are privy to some poor decisions someone has made, those decisions should be taken into consideration in whether a person should continue to hold their job.


"Scandals" like this is nothing new. We are just becoming more aware of it because it is so easy to spread information.


Politicians, like celebrities, just put themselves out there for the public to scruitinize life decisions they make.

Exactly! Everyone in public life just like us has right to 'a reasonable expectation of privacy.' But if one starts to throw the dirty laundry so to speak in the trash and put it in the street it can and may become public. Teach yourself to think before you hit the "send" or "submit" button. We all have had to learn to do this in social media.

Amen, Kim!! I sure wish He would of "really thought" before going mobile!!!

[writerlady]

I'm having a hard time deciding where I stand with these issues.

Personally I don't think it's right to hold them to a higher standard then the rest of the population. They are people like the rest of us. When they do make mistakes like that, I don't think the media should have the right to do what they do. Because they had an affair doesn't mean they are incapable of making good decisions otherwise. They think with their brains when politics is concerned But that is the world that we live in, and it's not going to change anytime soon unfortunately. I hate how the media exploits everything and turns it into a circus.

Just my two cents

I totally agree with you! The only thing that bothers me is the lying. If it comes so easily - especially under oath - what else are they lying about... just saying.

[handerful]

A lot of what I am hearing the the media is feed on in this case is not the act, but how he handled it in the days following the incident. He claimed that his account was hacked, and that opened up another can of worms (er.. weiners?) in regards to national security.

[milmomma]

I'm gonna be evil I guess. I do think people with power, aka politician's should be held with a higher standard. They represent us as states, counties, nation. In my life, the military is held to a higher standard. We have more strict laws. If you are an officer and drink and drive you can be kicked out of the Army. They don't joke around. But celebrities do it all the time and just pay off the judge/lawyers/etc. I'm sorry but the country has gotten way to slack with our morals. Where did the integrity, loyalty, and honesty go? I know that you can that the soldiers signed the dotted line and chose this, but the politician's decided to do that job and live a life in the public eye. I don't really want a liar to represent me, I don't want a cheating Commander to represent my husband and his soldiers. People make mistakes but thats why there are consequences. What happen to respecting your vows? Marriage is hard work, and people should work hard on making their marriage work before looking around. After all you chose to marry that person. Call me crazy, but I'm old fashion.

[TraciL]

I'm gonna be evil I guess. I do think people with power, aka politician's should be held with a higher standard. They represent us as states, counties, nation. In my life, the military is held to a higher standard. We have more strict laws. If you are an officer and drink and drive you can be kicked out of the Army. They don't joke around. But celebrities do it all the time and just pay off the judge/lawyers/etc. I'm sorry but the country has gotten way to slack with our morals. Where did the integrity, loyalty, and honesty go? I know that you can that the soldiers signed the dotted line and chose this, but the politician's decided to do that job and live a life in the public eye. I don't really want a liar to represent me, I don't want a cheating Commander to represent my husband and his soldiers. People make mistakes but thats why there are consequences. What happen to respecting your vows? Marriage is hard work, and people should work hard on making their marriage work before looking around. After all you chose to marry that person. Call me crazy, but I'm old fashion.

I agree with you! The politicians are the people I "trust" to make the best decisions possible. How can I "trust" them when they lie?

I hate liars.