What do you think?

[rob62521]

What do you think? Do you feel politicians should be held to a high moral standard? I'm querying this in light of Weiner's resignation. This little speech said he took the blame, but I wonder if he would have resigned if his fellow dems wouldn't have pushed for it. Do you think one can be immoral in one's personal life and be moral in the professional one?

[disneysteve]

Originally Posted by rob62521

Do you think one can be immoral in one's personal life and be moral in the professional one?

No, I don't. You can't live two separate lives like that. Especially when you are a public figure, I think your private life isn't so private. If you want it to be private, then don't take a job in the public spotlight.

You need to live by one set of values, whatever they may be.

[JoshuaHeckathorn]

I totally agree with DS, and I'm glad that Weiner resigned. Politicians should be held to a high moral standard IMO. Frankly, it's scary to think how many of our country's leaders are actually just like him behind closed doors though.

[Mr Nice Guy]

Agreed with DS Josh.

If our country is not grounded in some sort of set of moral actions, they can be changed and manipulated at will. Politicians should reflect these.

[maat55]

I consider the act of serving this nation as a congressman to be a great honor. They who do not have the strength to represent this country with honor have no business in office. Weiner is a disgrace to himself, his family and our country. An honorable man would not have done those things, an honorable man would have admitted his mistakes and stepped down immediately.

[creditcardfree]

I do think they should be held to a high standard. If his actions had taken place and known to the public prior to holding office, I don't think he would have been elected.

[GrimJack]

Originally Posted by JoshuaHeckathorn

I totally agree with DS, and I'm glad that Weiner resigned. Politicians should be held to a high moral standard IMO. Frankly, it's scary to think how many of our country's leaders are actually just like him behind closed doors though.

Heck, not even behind closed doors - Vitter admitted to some really 'interesting' dates with prostitutes and he is still a US Senator. Sometimes, it seems that some sins are forgivable.

[GrimJack]

Originally Posted by maat55

I consider the act of serving this nation as a congressman to be a great honor. They who do not have the strength to represent this country with honor have no business in office. Weiner is a disgrace to himself, his family and our country. An honorable man would not have done those things, an honorable man would have admitted his mistakes and stepped down immediately.

Do you go on about Vitter? Was he an 'honorable' man? Is he an honorable man? Is he not a disgrace to himself, his family and his country?

Weiner is an idiot; a pretty boy who got old and could not handle it - even a hot wife could not assuage his ego.

[maat55]

Originally Posted by GrimJack

Do you go on about Vitter? Was he an 'honorable' man? Is he an honorable man? Is he not a disgrace to himself, his family and his country?

Weiner is an idiot; a pretty boy who got old and could not handle it - even a hot wife could not assuage his ego.

My opinion includes everyone who represents this country, republican or democrat, liberal or conservative(especially conservatives).

[cschin4]

I have mixed feelings about this. Yes, there are moral standards. However, some morality seems more explosive than another. And, people make mistakes in their personal lives. If you only want to elect people who never made a mistake in their personal life then i can't think of too many people who have lived absolutely perfect lives. And, there are multiple sins one can commit. With our youtube lives though, every private move is now caught on tape.
Funny though how some sins are now no big deal. I have professional friends who are unmarried, live with boyfriends, whatever. 20 yrs ago, wouldn't that have been a scandal? Would we have called their morals into question? I think doing something wrong is wrong. Howevever, i also think indulging in the feeding frenzy to shove someone under the bus and discard of them as human debris is also wrong.
And, you have to look at the new set standard. The President of the United States had immoral sexual relations in the Oval office, while on duty. He did not resign. If that is the benchmark or new measure, then why should Wiener resign? And, how many politicians have stayed in office after a scandal versus how many resigned? It would be interesting to know.

[kork13]

I'm also sort of split. I absolutely agree that public figures (individuals who are expected to represent their constituents) must maintain high moral standards. To do anything less disgraces the people who trusted the person enough to elect them to office, and shames the greater population (nation, in this case) as well. If one of these individuals violates those standards that are expected, have the integrity to quietly step down and go about your life. And as to the second question, the measure of a man is how he acts in private, and no public facade can change the man. Immoral in private, immoral in public (even if hidden).

At the same time, I simply have no interest in knowing about peoples' failed moral choices, much less have them become headline news for weeks on end. Keep your private lives private. America (and the media in particular) is too sensational for my liking, and I simply want to go about my life without knowing the intricate details of every politician, starlet, or athlete. I bluntly refute the idea that seeking public positions means you must sacrifice the privacy of your affairs. Those who keep them private can keep them private--they don't advertise their every choice, indiscretion, or success. They simply do what it is their responsibility to do, without the public eye peering into the glass house of their lives.

[krantcents]

I don't think it is a question of morality! It is his judgment in question. A Congressman sending questionable pictures that are unwanted to strangers is stupid.

[disneysteve]

I also think there is a fundamental difference between actions/activities that are morally questionable and outright illegal. While cheating on your spouse is a problem and represents poor judgement, it isn't generally illegal. Sending nude photos of yourself to underage girls, however, or driving while intoxicated or paying a prostitute for sex are all illegal. If you are guilty of a criminal act, whether actually convicted or just by your own admission, you shouldn't get to keep your job as a public servant.

[rob62521]

I agree Disney Steve. It's unfortunate that he was so unhappy that he had to cheat, but that should be between them. But the other...sending photos and even contacting under age folks, now that's not private.

Although I would not want my errors in the media, I also have not run for public office where my life is an open book. Instead of owning up to his mistake right away, he made excuses, which makes me think he cannot even really take responsibility for his actions unless he is forced to, which is what his fellow demos basically pushed him to.

[sylviaB]

Politicians should be held to a high moral standard IMO. Frankly, it's scary to think how many of our country's leaders are actually just like him behind closed doors though.

[wincrasher]

I don't think Weiner should have resigned because of sending the pics. He was flirting with girls that were flirting with him. He wasn't cheating on his wife. Most of the pic sending pre-dated his marriage. Why would someone send this stuff to a conservative blogger? Why would one of his "victims" hire Gloria Alred?

I do think he should have resigned because he lied about it. Politicians lie all the time - mostly about policy issues, so it is a fine line. He should have just owned up to it, shrugged it off as sillyness and moved on. Bill Clinton should have done the same thing and people would have just forgiven him. But this siege mentality must take over these guys - politics is a viscous business.

I find it more troubling when politicians hold themselves up as the moral compass of the nation, that their party has cornered the market on "family values" and then are invariably caught with their pants around their ankles. That kind of hypocrisy is disgusting in my view. Don't be telling people how to live their lives, and worse, changing the law to that effect and then behind closed door engaging in the various activities you rail against.

Also troubling is this supposed "moral" outrage. To many there only seems to be a sexual morality. The end of the world is here because somebody cheated on their wife! The world will end if the gays can get married. Where's the moral outrage over the un-checked greed in the banking sector? What's moral about children living in poverty? Where's the moral outrage about starting a war on false pretenses? Where's the punishment for these things?