Letters to the Editor
Scientician
Published Letters: 525 Editor's Choice: 1
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Prox:
[Read the article: "The guys from the Politico brought my mom flowers"]
[Read more letters about this article: Here]Also, I am guilty of applying these standards to journalists who don't work for these organizations. No, CBC would not have a journalist at that event as a Canadian broadcaster. I doubt NPR did either quite frankly. The point I'm trying to make is that this is such a clear violation of journalistic norms that any organization that has codified its ethical standards in any detailed form will forbid this.
I couldn't find any ethical standards documents at Newsweek or the Politico (Which is not surprising I guess). I don't really know who was at this event and I really would like to so I could keep some track of their coverage of the campaign.
Personally I think journalists should be regulated somewhat analogous to how doctors or engineers self-regulate. They should elect their own bodies that write the ethical rules and any member of the public should be able to complain about violations of same. But without being a member in good standing of this organization, you cannot call yourself a "journalist." Though you would still have free speech rights to publish or speak on TV if anyone will pay you to do so.
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Glenn:
[Read the article: Who cares if Eliot Spitzer hires prostitutes?]
[Read more letters about this article: Here]Or anyone really, what about the conflict of interest Spitzer creates by giving a variety of people a blackmail ace on him?
I'm perfectly willing to see prostitution legalized and regulated, but until that happens I do think citizens have some right to be upset with powerful politicians being beholden to those running illegal businesses, which historically are mafia controlled more often than not.
That to me is the biggest difference between Spitzer's behaviour and Bill Clinton's. Monica was not likely to blackmail Bill for powerful favours. Spitzer's ability to prosecute mobsters might have been compromised by their awareness of him being a client of theirs.
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Rosenkavalier:
[Read the article: Who cares if Eliot Spitzer hires prostitutes?]
[Read more letters about this article: Here]Sex scandals are overblown all the time, but the moral outrage seems to be equal between all sides.
No, this isn't accurate. There is moral outrage on both sides but it is not equal.
As much as I can claim to speak for "the left" or whatever side one deems to have opposed Vitter and expressed concern over his patronage of prostitutes, the prime reason was his hypocrisy in running as a "family values" type and his many condemnations of Bill Clinton.
Vitter had to resign by his own standards not by ours. Also though, he too exposed himself to being blackmailed or otherwise unduly influenced.
With Craig, the only reason to want his resignation is his frequent anti-gay voting record and statements. That said, what he actually did should not be illegal or cause for arrest.
Exposed glaring hypocrisy is resignation worthy material. If these right wing moralizers like Vitter, Craig and Foley would shut up about private sexuality and stick to law, I'd be a lot less inclined to question their private lives.