Originally posted by inimalist
like I pointed out above, there are ways to do it even in the current system, so long as the people running the news program/channel are interested in producing good media, rather than competing for ratings or being afraid to go after politicians
It's sad when the most involved discussion I've seen about this and the real issues it raises is on an internet discussion forum on a movie-themed website. Although. In, you might be getting a tad reactionary here, because there is informed discussion in the news that doesn't sensationalize matters for the sake of ratings. It's just a bit harder to find.
I came home today and my mom was watching "E" or whatever it's called (the gossip show) and Weiner got the main headlines. My mom's not dumb, but she'll listen to that fluff in the background while doing other things and scoff instead of burdening her day with becoming invested in more heavy political matters. It's a time issue, politics isn't something she can afford to be interested in. So I feel like "sex sells" isn't entirely the story, nor is "people don't care." It's just the fact that easily-digested stories are going to be consumed by more people due to the necessities of our lives. So the fluff does sell better, just not exclusively for lopsidedly banal reasons.
Inimalist, that's a whole lot of words we can boil down to none of our business and who gives a shit? It was certainly stupid of him and perhaps in poor taste, but not illegal or contrary to his role as a congressman.
It's just amazing to me that any one sees stupid, irrelevant shit like this and then wonders why the amazingly innocent-seeming Mr. Boner was appointed as majority leader.
Nothing wrong with Bill Clinton getting a hummer in the oval office, nothing wrong with John Edwards cheating on his cancer-ridden wife, nothing wrong with Mr. Weiner getting his weiner on. Yeah, Mr. Edwards using campaign funds was wrong, but it's too bad that his perspective on the poor was more important to the effort than the hollow outrage over pinning him. As long as people keep in min that any sex scandle has more to do with a politician's position on unpopular issues than it does with where they stick their dick, some honest perspective can be maintained.
That having been said, I can't wait for a female politician sex scandal. You know, some soccer mom getting pounded from behind while doing a line and getting punched in the kidneys and shooting a wolf from a helicopter.
We all know they've happened, we just aren't evolved enough to accept that women get bored with marriage too.
Originally posted by Lestov16
Honestly, does it matter? If not for his position, this "scandal" wouldn't be relevant, and it's not like it affects his professional life. Hell, it's not even illegal
See, I find that interesting because unlike liberal scandals, most conservative sex scandals actually do involve criminal activity. Typically bribery, extortion, rape, child pornography, child rape, and distribution of child pornography.
They don't even report the really creepy ones like Don Haidl on the national news.
Originally posted by lil bitchiness
Think of the children!! Won't someone please think of the children!
Hah, exactly. Everyone has to be a role model.
I could care less about the "omg sexting!" part of it, and only think Weiners slime for admitting he didn't even know the ages of the women involved. Not to mention he's a married man.. Yeah, it's not having sex, but still..
Originally posted by The Dark Cloud
Another politician caught being a pervert. Wonderful. Wooopeeee. Ha ha, More. More. More.WTF ever.
Actually inimalist, you make a very good point about the distraction thing. People would rather gobble up shit like this than have to deal with what really matters.
There is nothing new with that happening.
Originally posted by cdtmBut you should be concerned about the House Oversight committee and its resources potentially being used for a politically motivated expose where no wrongdoing has occurred. It kind of smells of the whole Jack Ryan thing where the media and Obama's operatives did the same improper thing to a Republican (see, I can be fair).
Hah, exactly. Everyone has to be a role model.I could care less about the "omg sexting!" part of it, and only think Weiners slime for admitting he didn't even know the ages of the women involved. Not to mention he's a married man.. Yeah, it's not having sex, but still..
Originally posted by skekUng
That having been said, I can't wait for a female politician sex scandal. You know, some soccer mom getting pounded from behind while doing a line and getting punched in the kidneys and shooting a wolf from a helicopter.
If Palin can do all that at the same time, she's got my vote.
Female sex scandal?
Ok-
Helen Chenoweth, Congresswoman (R-Id.). Admitted to a six-year adulterous affair with a married associate. In 1995, Chenoweth had denied the affair when asked about it by The Spokane Spokesman-Review, but now she claims a pardon from a higher authority: "I've asked for God's forgiveness, and I've received it," she revealed.
Sue Myrick, Congresswoman (R-NC), describes herself as a "devout Christian." Committed adultery with a married man.
Jean Schmidt, OH-2, though not herself implicated, employed a campaign manager (Joe Braun) in her 2005 election who once wrote an article condemning gay men for running sex ad profiles, and who was then accused of running his own sex profile on Collarme, an S&M sex site. The profile called for "submissives" to wear only a collar and handcuffs and to have hot wax dripped on them.
Originally posted by Darth Jello
Jean Schmidt, OH-2, though not herself implicated, employed a campaign manager (Joe Braun) in her 2005 election who once wrote an article condemning gay men for running sex ad profiles, and who was then accused of running his own sex profile on Collarme, an S&M sex site. The profile called for "submissives" to wear only a collar and handcuffs and to have hot wax dripped on them.
From his own perspective, though, that's not hypocritical. Hetero lovin' is acceptable, even the kinky stuff.
Now, if he's married, that'd be a different story.