In 1791, Alexander Hamilton commenced a sexual affair with Maria Reynolds while serving as secretary of the Treasury. Hamilton paid Reynold’s husband more than $1,000 in blackmail to continue sleeping with his wife without his intervention. When a muckraker exposed the affair, Hamilton sought to use the media of the day, publishing a pamphlet to defend himself.
Alexander Hamilton, Herman Cain, Arnold Schwarzenegger…the list goes on. To the casual observer it seems politics are a breeding ground for the sexually promiscuous, but in light of media culture today it is obvious that our elected officials are simply under a great deal of scrutiny. In today’s world, Abraham Lincoln would never be elected. Politics relies much on personality traits and the ability to look good in front of a camera more so than political credentials.
How much privacy should politicians get? Is it fair not to vote for someone who is highly qualified for a position, but cannot seem to refrain from hanky-panky? From an individual perspective, I’m highly sympathetic. It’s hard enough to deal with the family issues of sex scandals, and when the media’s grilling you about each excruciating detail it is even more humiliating.
On the other hand, we have a right to know whom we are voting for. Character matters, and if a politician betrays their family and spouse, can we trust them with our tax dollars and votes?
What do you think: If a politician is engaging in any activity that does not directly affect his office and therefore is not public in nature, does the public really have the right to know?
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