Sunday, August 12, 2012

Do you care what they do in private?

I've always thought the press should stay out of peoples' private lives. But does it matter what legislators do in private, if they tout "morals" in public?

The local press have had a field day with a group of legislators who decided to swing by a topless bar on an out-of-state vacation (note: no state funds were used on this trip.)

More hilarious was a local columnist who noted that members of this same bunch were the beating-our-chests moralistic crowd,  one of whom had even sponsored legislation to allow local governments to restrict "strip acts." (As long as out-of-state governments allowed him access?)

What do you think?

I must note my own unintentional bias here, having been a (clothed) waitress in a topless bar for a stint in college.

Meanwhile, we are MELTING here. Perhaps we need a topless resolution. Wait, women are already legally allowed to go around topless in Oregon.

12 comments:

Debra She Who Seeks said...

I think hypocrisy is always fair media game in politics. If some politician wants to throw stones, he'd better not live in a glass house. But if someone is not being a hypocrite, then their private life on that same issue should be out of bounds.

Legally, women can go topless in Canada too, but it's very rare. Maybe you see a few bare breasts at the annual Pride Parade but otherwise it's not too common.

Birdie said...

If a politician supports a particular agenda then he/she should be above reproach in that area. For the most part, the old adage, "Thou doth protest too much" is at play. Look at Jimmy Swaggart.

RE: Deb's comment. I didn't know it was legal for women to go topless! Cool. I just may have a way out of my hot flashes.

Lynn said...

What??? I would defend their right to do whatever on a trip not paid for by taxpayers if they hadn't done that moralizing like that.

You can go topless in Oregon? So - you could just walk down the street with just your bottom covered???

Elephant's Child said...

I don't mind in the slightest what they do in private (so long as all parties can give informed consent) but I resent hypocracy. Bitterly.

Granny Annie said...

Jimmy crack corn and I DON'T CARE! Between reality TV and the media scouting for tasty tidbits of trash, we have turned into a nation of spies. We bypass critical issues in favor of sensationalism.

wigsf3 said...

A politicos private life is just as private as yours or mine. The press has no right to acknowledge it.

Rock Chef said...

Private should be private unless it reveals some sort of double standard which is not acceptable in public life. The case you point out is one of these, IMO.

I am pretty open minded about most things - so long as everyone has a good time and gets what they want out of life (without hurting anyone else in the process) that is OK with me.

Riot Kitty said...

To wit: yes, nudity is legally protected here as free speech. So is carrying a gun. So you could literally walk down the street wearing nothing but a pistol.

LL Cool Joe said...

Oh I'm a Bible Bashing Baptist so it's better if I just keep my mouth shut. :D

Claire said...

Heh. I love the sound of Oregon!

Anil P said...

Agree with the 'private is their call' unless their acts even if in private contrasts/contradicts greatly with their public stance in matters of gravity.

Then it might be left to the discretion of the announcer.

wigsf3 said...

That's hot.