Personally I have to say that I do not approve of the media digging into the depths of a persons private life. This has become common place, and anyone in the public eye is fair game. Of course if the Presidential candidate or Mayor is smoking crack or abusing small children then ok, I agree that the public should be made aware. . . but it has gone far beyond that and I think it sets a dangerous precedent in our society. If America continues to demand the perfect person as our leader what we will get is the perfect liar. None of us is able to stand up to the “moral majority’s” litmus test. We need to go back to the idea voiced by Jesus, “Let he without sin throw the first stone”. If we do that, there will be no rock in the air.
The third estate is a necessary evil(?) in a democratic society.
There must be someone to watch over the folks who are elected to office, but I do understand about some folks concerns about the dissolution of the line demarking public and private lives.
If we call all extramarital affairs out of bounds, what happens when a Senator starts dating the CEO of a major defense contractor? Is that public or private?
Given that Congress cannot provide oversight for itself (let alone the executive brach) someone has to uncover the “wrong” stuff. In the course of these matters though, some stuff that the public doesn’t want to know about (or shouldn’t be privvy to) will be exposed.
On the bright side, we don’t have televised ride-alongs on Chelsea’s dates yet.
You are now leaving a “Smiley-free zone”!
A public service message brought to you by G.R.O.S.S.
IMO the problem with the Media is the “spin” they put on things. I feel that people are generally lazy and they take in information (or misinformation) without bothering to verify it. While it is good to have companies that go out and uncover wrong-doing, it can be dangerous if the company has a bias or agenda.
And don’t get me started on local news! If we have an inch of rain over three days, do we REALLY need “Storm Watch 2000”? And if something really is a “New Discover Can Cause Your Family From Certain Death and Dismemberment”, why do they save this scary story (which always turns out to be crap) 'til late in the broadcast?
Okay. I’ve gotten MYSELF talking about local news. I’ll stop now.
As someone who worked in the media for several years, and who has worked with the media my entire adult life, let me just say in their defense – you’re damned if you do and damned if you don’t.
If reporters start looking into someone’s private life, they’re accused of invading privacy. Unless of course, you don’t happen to like that politician. Then it’s the public’s right to know.
What’s out of line? A conservative “pro family” politician who’s been having extramarital affairs? An anti-gay rights advocate who’s been in the closet? A campaign finance reformer who has a relationship with a lobbyist? A CEO who’s been doing insider trading? A union leader who lives a more affluent lifestyle than his salary would suggest?
How about the situation where a Gary Hart calls those who have been talking about his private life liars and actually challenges the media to follow him around, only to get caught with a bimbo? Or when a Thomas Eagleton turns out to have been treated for depression?
Maybe the best thing is for each of us to figure out what we personally want to know about our politicians and business leaders, then simply turn off the TV when the line is crossed.