The media and the personal lives of politicians: Open or closed door?

As a society, we're so not in touch with politics that the only time we know of a politician way about, is when his been caught having fun. Our politician's private life is more important to some of us than the constitution that governs our lives. For some reason, we seem to pay more attention to the media when the issue that is being discussed involves a politician being caught having an affair than when it involves politics.

We are imperfect beings having a loving experience; the result of our relationship will depends on how we balance our imperfection with our values. What we do in our private lives are our business. Yes, I understand why some people maybe concern with politicians private lives. To some degree, they do have a responsibility to comport themselves in a manner that shows leadership. After all, kids are forever using them as examples, their social image to some extent characterize the society they represent.

However, it's as equally unjustified for the media to project on the TV screen a politician's private life. If Malia fell while climbing up the presidential helicopter, I don't wish to know about this. If the 7 years old Sasha had a confrontation in school with her peer, the media shouldn't inform us about it. Those are private issues that should be dealt privately. If we the American people are the first to know about a private mater that involves the president daughter, they would be something morally wrong with this picture.

Therefore, from this outlook we can conclude that it's not the politician private life that our media is mostly concern with, but instead the issues surrounding the politician life which shares a direct relationship with how he governs the country. From this analysis derived this principle, “the value we place onto a politician private life has a direct relationship towards the way he governs his office”. I understand why a politician must behave in a manner that suit public opinion. However, any politician who must resign for reasons that does not affect the way in which he governs his office proved as a society we focus our attention on issues that doesn't contribute to progress.

Now, what has come in mind is perhaps an idea that is not clear to most but when we say “personal lives of politicians” to what degree of personal are we most concern with. If we're goring to debate this issue we must be clear as to where we stand, especially if we must limit broadcasting our politicians private lives.

Not too long ago, former president Bush senior's wife, Barbara Bush underwent an open heart surgery. An extremely risky procedure and considering her age, it was unlikely to have predicted a good outcome. The former president shared some tears over this, something that should not have been broadcast. This moment was a family matter and should have remained so, but somehow the media felt as though it was necessary to broadcast it. It is true that Barbara Bush is an important figure in American history but that doesn't permit us to broadcast Bush senior's personal moment. As a society, we would have been just as satisfied had we known she was OK without the media broadcasting the personal tears from a past presidential leader.

It is obvious to us all that the media will broadcast what ever issue they feel that would increase their rating. Well then, since the media has absolute power to broadcast whatever they wish is appropriate why then are we debating this issue? The question should be does the media have a moral responsibility not to broadcast issues that shares some level of sensitivity. That is to say, should the vice president mother, Catherine Eugenia who is presently being admitted to the University of Pennsylvania hospital be broadcast to us or is it a family matter that should remain private. In another word, Is it morally right for the media to broadcast to us her symptoms and the reason that led her to be hospitalized? That is the extent in which I argued the personal lives of politicians should be a close door.

Some issues are better left untold than said because truly they serve no purpose in politic. Politic is the process by which people form decisions but those decisions derived from information gathered. However, not every piece of information relates to politics. Sometimes, the information that the media use to broadcast are those pieces of information that shares no direct relationship with politic. For that reason, I'll say again, to what degree of personal lives of politicians are we most concern with as a society.

The fight to preserve free press is as important as our Civil Right, but the right for the media to invade our private lives is an attack on our Civil Right. So you see, we have to be careful how we approach this issue because by looking at it from a one dimensional view, we may missed out on some key factors. I believe that they maybe more dimensions than just three, therefore we should consider open our minds to uncertainties, which maybe part of the fourth dimension which entail a new way of looking at things.