Should a President's personal life have any...

[azawalli]

...bearing on his or her fitness for the job? Bill Clinton was pilloried for his affair with Monica and impeached for lying about it. Many people in European countries had the attitude of "so what?" when discussing his affair. I tend to agree; I feel that as long as consenting adults are involved, it's nobody's business but that of the people involved. I do draw the line on hypocrites who talk about "family values" who then go on to have extramarital affairs or politicians who are anti-gay and who then turn out to be closeted homosexuals. But, as far as I'm concerned, I don't care if the President does it with sheep as long as he's competent at the job. Agree or disagree?Richard C: To some degree you're right. To be fully consistent, I would have to allow the cases that I've excluded. Let's take the extreme case then: disregard what I said about "family values" candidates and so on, let's make it my position that the President's personal life is nobody's business but his or her own. Let's exclude the "sheep" part because sheep can't give consent. Would you agree?

[Ranger473]

Personal life goes to the character of the person. Thu I think it makes a great deal of bearing on the type of decisions the person makes. Would you hire a pyromaniac to guard your gas station?

[Hildulf]

I don't care what kind of sex the president is having as long as it isn't with myself, my wife, or my kids. I care about his policies, and official actions in office. Nothing else matters.

[Richard C]

If it didn't matter to some degree, then the hypocrites you describe would also receive a free pass. It cannot be exclusive to certain situations and not to others.

[kathy_is_a_nurse]

I must disagree. There are points in every presidency when the people must simply trust (or not) the President. At that point, we can only rely on his (her) moral character as proven by his actions. I recognize that all people are fallible...including Presidents. If they have faltered along the way, but proven that they have learned from their past mistakes and have changed their ways, then I'm OK with that. But if they continue to make those mistakes AND show no remorse in them, i.e., Clinton, then I have to question his character...and consequently, his ability to lead and earn my trust.

[mstrywmn]

It really all depends on what in his "personal life" he's hiding. For instance, an affair, no, that should be between him & his spouse but...mob ties, collussion, dishonesty or treason That's another matter.

[Eukodol]

First of all, it's a question of character. If you can't honor your oath to your wife, how can you be trusted to honor your oath to your country?Secondly, what the President does on his own time is his own business. FDR at least had his fling at his own private getaway and kept it very discreet. But when you're in the White House, you're on the clock and screwing around on my dime. If I did that sort of thing at my place of employment, they'd kick me to the curb faster than I could say "I did not have sexual relations with that woman!"And finally, your personal life is your own business, but if you have to lie about it to everyone including your own wife then you leave yourself open to blackmail. Not a good position for the leader of the free world to be in.

[Connie D]

I agree! we're only human. No body's perfect like what U said as long as he's competent and doing he's job is A O.K.