Zeev's Turnips Talk Politics (ZTTP)

[Math Junkie]

jwperk, the following is not against you specifically, but your post provided an opportunity to express some thoughts I have on the Clinton scandal.

I don't see how the profit motive of the media had that much to do with the exposure of Clinton's sex life. I believe that PBS covered it, and in any case, if the President gets sued while in office that is not something the media can responsibly ignore.

The motives that mattered, IMO, were those of Paula Jones in filing the lawsuit in the first place, and those of Clinton's political enemies who aided her efforts, as illustrated in this 1998 article:

http://www.salon.com/news/1998/04/cov_02news.html

I have to say that this business of suing because someone makes an unwanted sexual advance is just going too far. As I recall he didn't force himself on her after she said no, nor cause any adverse impact to her career.

I don't think any legitimate public purpose is served by expecting government officials to be better than the rest of us in the conduct of their private lives. However, one benefit of the scandal is that it has served notice to future politicians that they need to be careful not to perjure themselves.