How much privacy are the candidates and their families entitled to?

Question

We've seen it before, and I'm sure we'll see it again: attacks using a candidate's family. Cindy McCain's tax returns. Chelsea Clinton's opinions on her dad's affairs. Michelle Obama's comments on race and patriotism. Cheney's g*y daughter. The Bush daughters getting caught drinking. And now Palin's daughter's pregnancy. The candidates themselves always say that they respect the privacy of the family and that their children are off limits. Then their surrogates and aides feed the fires. Last night I was watching CNN and there were several HOURS of the "Palin pregnancy scandal!" On a CNN online blog somebody remarked that they have a right to know EVERYTHING about a candidate and their family. Well, where do we draw the line? I saw Obama talking to his kids during the convention, is it okay to start interviewing their teachers to find out if they chew gum in class? How much privacy should the families themselves be entitled to? What makes a private family matter acceptable to be made into a national headline?

Answer 1

Good question, but each person has their own right to ask.  I for one think some things should be answered, especially when a candidate states they are for "Family Values" and they understand the hardship Americans are feeling in these economic times.  

That makes me question why we can't see Cindy McCain's IRS filings.  Or why McCain can't tell you how many houses he has?  How can someone who owns 6 or 7 homes understand what middle class America is feeling when they are living almost paycheck to paycheck just to keep their 1 home.  

How can you tell me you care about family values, but then news of your daughter come out being pregnant, forcing Sarah to admit after the media found out, not before hand, pictures of this young lady drinking alcohol many different times, pictures of her using gang signs.  Pictures of the babys father passed out drunk in a girls bedroom.  Pictures of bristol making out with another girl.  And a myspace page saying the babys father never wants to have kids.  

When I see all this, I have to sit back and ask - what values are you talking about?  Are you telling the truth or just playing politics.  

  

Answer 2

Welcome to the grey area.  In a perfect world we wouldn't go near the families and would stay on the issues.  However, we live in a world were the fringe (most of the people on here included) of each party truly hates the other party now and would lie, cheat, steal and maybe even kill for their party.  And they don't see it that way when dealing with the other party.  That is why you have republican on here condemning democrats for going after Palin's daughter while they were going after Obama's brother, wife and pastor last week.  And you have democrats that were condemning republicans for going after Obama's family now going after Palin's family.  Once you believe you have the moral superiority you can justify anything.  Both sides see their side as being justified and think the other side is crossing the line.

Answer 3

We would hope that in a perfect world, the candidates families and the candidates private lives would not be open for discussion. However, in the real world, everything and anything might come up in the media's current tactics of "throw all the S**t on the wall and see what sticks."

In this case, the private life of the candidate is especially interesting because of her strong views on abstinence only education (i.e., guess that didn't work at home, what makes her think it will work in our schools?). We want to know how the beliefs of politicians play out as those beliefs affect their decision making both professionally and personally.

Answer 4

personally, I wish that family would be left out of it.

but if you're not prepared to have the magnifying glass on you, then don't agree to run for VP... honestly.

i think that they are entitled to as much privacy as we the people end up giving them... WE did not thrust their families into the spotlight...

They are...and they could have avoided it, if they wanted.

Answer 5

Candidates have themselves to blame when they make public announcements about these "private matters."   It was Palin who outed her daughter not the press.

Answer 6

The big issue with the pregnancy, is that it goes against everything Palin has stood for.  Therefore it is important to note that what she believes in...well doesn't work, right there in her own family.  How can this not be important?

Answer 7

Kids should be off limits completely unless they are actively engaged in the politics of the campaign.  

Answer 8

Adult children of any political candidate is open to discussion.

Minor children of anyone should be where the line is drawn...be it politicians, celebrities or just me and you. It is simply none of our business and is invasive and damaging.  

Answer 9

in this day and age privacy is becoming a bigger issue period. people that are in no way involved with the media or social spot light are being dragged out from under their rocks and through the muck becuz of situations out of their control.

i am of a reserved opinion, and really dont care what you do in your private life as long as you do your job. however i agree certain things should be known, but i think a lot of a person's character is revealed by how they do their job. especially when they are passing social policies like health care, abortion, g*y marriage etc., we need to really know strait up what they believe and are of the opinion of, becuz no matter what the majority of the people want their personal view pt is going to overshadow that.

i really do think you should leave the family and especially the kids out of this.... that is until they open their mouths to the media... then they are fair game. if you make yourself a media icon for whatever reason may you have done so, however the media or your enemy choose to reveal you or take your meaning is your own d**n fault. but if you havent said one d**n thing to a reporter or given out public speeches or said **** to anyone, its a really cheap shot on anyones part to take apart someone's life who was minding their own business. i have no pity for michelle who opened her mouth. sorry. that is just my opinion.

you could dig up all the dirt you want on anyone you want. i think its how they have dealt with it and come out the other side, not that they have been in some questionable places that should really matter. i think ultimately people who have been in the S****y situations have experiences we dont and are enriched in some ways. grant it if they havent learned anything from it, that should definitely be made apparent.

corruption and breaking the law are inexcusable.  

Answer 10

Candidates should be put thru the ringer. After all were putting our life's in there hands. As far as family the all children should be off limits

Answer 11

Following the lead of the United States Patriot Act none nobody has the right to privacy anymore.

Answer 12

They have no right to privacy...when you put your life out there and you want to be in the light then it's YOUR choice...just like when people decide to be an actor or actress and get all pist when someone takes pics of them..well get over it! You decided to take the job so don't b*tch!

Answer 13

sad isn't it? Candidates receive celerity status and everyone wants to know their business. It is really quite unfair. People claim that Sarah Palins family was hiding the pregnancy. People in the town they live in knew, the rest of us did not and neither did we care. Now it is just ammo for liberal to use against her. conservatives would do the same thing if they found dirt on Michelle Obama for instance. It is a circus. Most of us don't really care and we know most issues regarding the families have nothing to do with how our country will be run if the person in question is elected.  

Answer 14

Socrates, I believe, once had a dissertation on this according to Plato. Essentially he concluded that when a person enters public life, their life becomes public. Short of barging into their homes unannounced, virtually every aspect of their life is fodder for the public media and the consequential public attention.

Answer 15

It should be proportionate to the amount said families are pimped out.  If they are campaigning for the spouse (a la Bill Clinton, Michelle Obama) they should be fair game.