Over the last several years, the question of the relevancy of past behavior — indeed, even current “private” behavior — for a person’s ability to fulfill the duties of public office has come up many times. Aside from Vietnam service and/or its lack in the current Presidential election, current reporting by The Oregonian about a U.S Representative’s past is probably the the most recent example of a big story concerning the relevancy of an act years in the past.
While relevancy is an issue that could be argued forever, and seems like it already has, what I find interesting is the lack of respect our own gut reactions have received. I know it’s not exactly correct to say “I know it when I see it,” isn’t that really how we judge the relevancy of past behavior, not by some set-in-stone moral code? Maybe it’s the final level of democracy…voting with your gut.
Link Courtesy of Romenesko