How important is a politician's private life to you in making a decision to vote for him/her? We know that politicians are often questionable behavior like adultery/alcohol abuse/money mismanagement etc. Do these things matter to you? Do they impact your vote? If it depends on the situation, what things matter and which don't?

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Politicians are people...people who have been forced to live "perfect lives" in order to remain in office. I think many people want someone representing them with similar values, but often that is mistaken for false perfection. Anyone under that pressure with added power is bound to end up in the confines of a scandal. Although this definately isn't a "poor politician" post - my position on personal lives of politicians is simple: I don't care unless you are offering blatent hypocrisy (such as being an advocate for the war on drugs, but then operating a cocaine drug ring). That isn't about being on drugs it's about overall integrety...are you going to stand up for what you believe in? I much favor a politician with a great voting record than someone who's life appears to be the "American Dream".

They do .. but the lies that cover up the affairs bother me more.

No wonder I follow American politics. Canadian politicians are too boring.

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To some degree their personal life is important to me. It would not be my only deciding factor. To me it would depend on the scandal itself and how they handled it. As in Edwards case, an affair would not necessarily stop me from voting for him. However, the cover-up and lies would.

No. I would have more of a concern with things like drug or alcohol abuse, as those can lead to poor memory/decision making/impact the ability to work. An affair - I don't care. It's not our business. And I fully support the politician lying about it when asked. It's a personal matter, and it would be hurtful to his/her family to reveal it. Why would they admit to that? Even therapists tell a person who has an affair to not confess it to the spouse if they want to end the affair and work on the marriage. What good are we doing to drag it all out in the open? The only exception is if the person is underage, if it was illegal (prostitution), or if it was coerced/sexual harassment.

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Personally, I think what Edwards did is a way more common scenario than we realize. To each his own, I guess. The part that bugs me and makes him lose credibility in my eyes is that he lied about it for months and months. And I believe the only reason he did admit it was because he was not being invited to speak at the Convention, and needed to explain that. Had it not been for the upcoming Convention, I believe he would still be in denial with the press....JMHO.

If it makes them hypocrites than yes. For example if they run on the platform of "family values" or "anti-gay" and then have an affair with a man or woman then they are hypocrites and I have no time for them.

I know it shouldn't but it does.

If someone will lie and cheat on someone that he has vow to love and honor till death do they part, why wouldn't he lie to everyone else.

If they don't want their "dirty laundry" out there for everyone to see and pick apart, then they shouldn't run for public office.

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It is the covering up that makes the bigger difference. If you do something wrong, admiting it and taking responsibility for it says a LOT more about your character than lying and hiding it.

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I guess I'm the only one who thinks that people shouldn't be asked questions like that to begin with. If people in any other business - from CEOs to auto mechanics - are asked that question, they will not lose their jobs if they answer or lie about it. It's no one's business. We hire these people to do a job. Their sex life is not my concern. UNLESS they are up there preaching against gay rights and then goes trolling for gay sex. That's hypocritical. But a standard affair - not our business.

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