The Private Life of Politicians

OK, I know you lot aren't into your RL topics, but I thought I'd try it out, see how it goes...

For anyone keeping track of the British political scene, its impossible not to have seen the current troubles faced by the Government. One particular trouble is the revelations of John Prescott's, our Deputy Prime Minister, affair. The particulars of this case aren't what I'm asking about (although for anyone vaguely interested, link), but it got me thinking about the rights of privacy.

Is there a point where a politicians life becomes totally private? Or should those placed in a position of responsibility be expected to conduct their private lives with the same degree of integity as their public ones?

Thoughts, comments, insults, all welcome...

Or just ignore it if you want.

Prying into politicians' private lives is what people do when they have no real gripe with a politician's policies or behaviour in their job!!

I don't see why politicians should be held to higher moral standards than anyone else purely because their job is in the public domain!! If a politician wants to screw his/her secretary then as long as it is not detrimental to him/her doing their job, I truly could not care!! In fact, looking a politicians as a group, the less I hear of them fornicating the better!!

If their behaviour is illegal then that is different provided the crime is something more serious than a parking fine!!

Off topic, thanks for bringing some RL discussions to the forum although I must warn you that some peopel see robust debate as a crime on this forum so don't be surprised if the thread get bombarded with mod warning/cautions!!

The only issue I would have is if the Politician is using public funds to pay for their misadventures.

I have no issue with someone screwing around, as long as they are not using my tax money to do that.

Good point!!

Two things. When a supervisor is having sex with an employee, it definitely has adverse effects on office politics. Plus, I don't know about the laws in UK, but charges of sexual harrassment are common in the US. A smarter man would keep his mistress out of his workplace. Politicians are in the public eye, and therefore what would be commonplace gossip about you or me becomes front page news when they're involved. It comes with the territory. He appears to be seasoned enough to have known better.

What really surprises me is.. well, just look at him... I can't believe he gets any.

Personally, I do think people in public life should be held to certain standards. What he has done is wrong, regardless of station, but in his sort of case I think it does also reflect on his political position. I mean, if he was divorced or single then I guess there isn't anything wrong with him bonking his secretary- as long as he isn't doing it on company time, so to speak.

I just think it reflects badly, if he has been duplictious with his wife and family to this sort of extent then what does that say about his integrity as a politician? Now you might say that either there aren't any honest politicians or that they're all screwing their secretaries or both. However, in my idyllic little world I'd like to think that wasn't the case.

Personally, I think Charles Clarke's little scandal is far worse.

Out with Labour, I say.

Hmmm. I agree with GBM there that no matter what situation your in, bosses sleeping with employees is a recipe for disaster. On a more general note, I have no real concern with politicians having affairs assuming theres no question of it interfering with their jobs. However, I feel this is an almost unattainable situation.

On a humourous note, on the day this story broke in the UK, leaflets were being delivered in John Prescotts constituency, the front of which had a picture of John and wife on, accompanied by the caption "Home Pride".

As to the Charles Clarke story, I was tempted to turn this into a current labour woes thread, but thought it might be better kept on a broader topic to prevent it turning into a Brit only affair. I'm quite happy to start one though...

If politicians insist on calling the rest of us "normal", is it any wonder they are so abnormal or subnormal......
I don't know if that is a global thing.....
I just find it frustrating when politicos attempt to elevate themselves in that way and yet remain oh so sadly human with all the flaws and frailties that this entails....

In my mind, the real question is not whether a politico's personal life fits any particular template of "upright and moral", but whether the details of that personal life have undermined their credibility and authority in the eyes of the people and their peers. The day that the distinguished senator from Statesota gets up to second a motion and someone in the back does that whole *cough*PIVOT MAN*cough* thing, it's probably time to retire.

But do you think the effect of the story over shadowing the person is a result of the media frenzy that usually follow these things? Would these undermining details be so undermining, if the media didn't make such a big issue of them?

An affair brings into question the commitment and loyalty of an individual, but only in rare cases do I continue on to start questioning their ability to do their job. Maybe its just my jaded view of modern politics, that expects politicians to be dishonest.

Also, would you then say that a politician who has shown apptitude, and been good in their role, should resign following an affair?

Namyeknom:

But do you think the effect of the story over shadowing the person is a result of the media frenzy that usually follow these things? Would these undermining details be so undermining, if the media didn't make such a big issue of them?

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Absolutely, and not at all, in that order. However, pervasive and intrusive media are the price of a free press, and infinitely preferable to the alternative. Does that mean I like that aspect? Not at all. Does a desire to sow one's oats outside one's own fields necessarily imply anything about one's ability to legislate? Probably not. But, as you touched on, one of the bases stats for any politican is "trustworthiness", and most folks start leaning to the negative from day 1. On receiving confirmation of these suspicions in 60" HD and Dolby surround on eighteen channels, I fear most of the voting public is going to cease concerns about what good they may have left to do for the nation, and start haranguing the philanderer, because that's what they're being told they should do.

see above:

Also, would you then say that a politician who has shown apptitude, and been good in their role, should resign following an affair?

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Should? No. Would I? Probably.