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| Should a politician's private misconduct cost them your vote for public office? | Should a politician's private misconduct cost them your vote for public office? |
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| Disgraced New York governor Eliot Spitzer made a surprise entrance into the race for New York City comptroller this past Sunday. His big debut was a veritable circus in Union Square the next day, attended by dozens of reporters and New Yorkers who came to gawk, heckle and opine on the latest scandalous politician to enter a city-wide race. | Disgraced New York governor Eliot Spitzer made a surprise entrance into the race for New York City comptroller this past Sunday. His big debut was a veritable circus in Union Square the next day, attended by dozens of reporters and New Yorkers who came to gawk, heckle and opine on the latest scandalous politician to enter a city-wide race. |
| Spitzer resigned the governorship back in 2008 after becoming embroiled in a prostitution scandal. As our polling expert Harry Enten points out, his approval ratings beforehand weren't much to brag about either. But when the Guardian spoke to voters and observers in Union Square who had come to witness the Eliot Spitzer show, most seemed willing to forgive the former governor his past transgressions, so long as it didn't interfere with his duties to the public. | Spitzer resigned the governorship back in 2008 after becoming embroiled in a prostitution scandal. As our polling expert Harry Enten points out, his approval ratings beforehand weren't much to brag about either. But when the Guardian spoke to voters and observers in Union Square who had come to witness the Eliot Spitzer show, most seemed willing to forgive the former governor his past transgressions, so long as it didn't interfere with his duties to the public. |
| "I think what legislators and elected officials do in their public life is more important than what they did in their private life," said John Phillips, a 27-year-old New York City voter. "What they do with their office when they're in power is most important." Phillips implied that he was willing to look past Spitzer's prostitution scandal, but did clarify that he would be voting for Scott Stringer, the current frontrunner in the comptroller race. | "I think what legislators and elected officials do in their public life is more important than what they did in their private life," said John Phillips, a 27-year-old New York City voter. "What they do with their office when they're in power is most important." Phillips implied that he was willing to look past Spitzer's prostitution scandal, but did clarify that he would be voting for Scott Stringer, the current frontrunner in the comptroller race. |
| "I live in Switzerland, and we don't care about our politician's personal lives," said Courtney Binkert, a US expat. "They have to be intelligent and have good policies." | "I live in Switzerland, and we don't care about our politician's personal lives," said Courtney Binkert, a US expat. "They have to be intelligent and have good policies." |
| What about unfavorable personality traits, like Spitzer's infamous bouts of rage? "He's a capable, smart guy, though I don't agree with everything he stood for," said Bruce Antelman, who had heard Spitzer would be in the area and said he would consider voting for him in the fall. | What about unfavorable personality traits, like Spitzer's infamous bouts of rage? "He's a capable, smart guy, though I don't agree with everything he stood for," said Bruce Antelman, who had heard Spitzer would be in the area and said he would consider voting for him in the fall. |
| Not everyone present was so quick to forgive. "I'm one of those people who believe that character matters. He would have lost credibility to me," said one woman, who could not vote in New York City but had come to see Spitzer in the flesh. | Not everyone present was so quick to forgive. "I'm one of those people who believe that character matters. He would have lost credibility to me," said one woman, who could not vote in New York City but had come to see Spitzer in the flesh. |
| In light of Spitzer and Anthony Weiner's attempted comebacks, we want to open up the discussion to voters outside of New York. | In light of Spitzer and Anthony Weiner's attempted comebacks, we want to open up the discussion to voters outside of New York. |
| How much do you take a politician's character and personal life into consideration when casting your ballot? Has a politician's personal misconduct cost him or her your vote? If a politician was forced to resign over a personal scandal (a la Weiner and Spitzer) do you think they should be able to run again? Lastly, list the kinds of behavior you consider beyond forgiveness, and would disqualify a politician from ever getting your vote. | How much do you take a politician's character and personal life into consideration when casting your ballot? Has a politician's personal misconduct cost him or her your vote? If a politician was forced to resign over a personal scandal (a la Weiner and Spitzer) do you think they should be able to run again? Lastly, list the kinds of behavior you consider beyond forgiveness, and would disqualify a politician from ever getting your vote. |
| And American politicians certainly don't have a monopoly on personal scandals. If you've lived in Italy under Silvio Berlusconi, are a French citizen with strong opinions of Dominique Strauss-Kahn, or vote in another country whose elected officials have a history of bad behavior, we'd love to hear your thoughts. | And American politicians certainly don't have a monopoly on personal scandals. If you've lived in Italy under Silvio Berlusconi, are a French citizen with strong opinions of Dominique Strauss-Kahn, or vote in another country whose elected officials have a history of bad behavior, we'd love to hear your thoughts. |
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