‘The Character of Candidates’

Schneider displayed an uncanny ability to mix issues when addressing the subject of the “mortification” of Gary Hart and the tactics used by the Miami Herald.

Instead of tackling the issue of journalistic ethics, Schneider uses smoke to evade the issue. He uses two methods. He uses the logic of the public opinion poll and attacks on the present Administration and the current dealings in Congress over the Iran- contra investigation.

Using a 1985 survey, Schneider feebly attempts to show that Americans are concerned with the sexual behavior of our presidential candidates. The survey stated that most Americans considered adultery almost always wrong. There is no debate to this point other than possibly under what context was the question asked. Schneider uses this poll to rationalize the behavior of the press and specifically the Miami Herald, concluding that since this was a strongly held concern of those polled, this somehow gave the Miami newspaper the right to use any means necessary in order to scrutinize the potential candidate in question no matter what the ethical constraints are.

Schneider conveniently uses a public opinion poll in order to rationalize the action of his fellow reporters. It becomes easy to conclude that morality or ethics in the view of Schneider have no relevancy unless supported by some poll or survey. It is unfortunate that a writer sees morality with no maxims.

From this we are supposed to conclude that “we have higher standards of conduct for the press and for public officials.” I find this to be a strange conclusion. As a matter of fact I can’t remember the last time that any reporter, newspaper, or television commentator had to go through the wringer such as Gary Hart did. Maybe we should apply the same scrutiny we give public officials to our journalists. After all, are they not also in the public service also wielding almost identical power as an elected official?

“Candidates for President these days must sacrifice not only privacy, but dignity.” Schneider’s summation is an evident indictment of his lack of any understanding of ethics as we perceive them. Demanding that any man or woman must sacrifice their personal dignity to be of service to his or her fellow man is absurd and immoral. When a power such as the press demands this from any person they are in truth practicing human sacrifice through the use of the printed page or the television screen. When this happens not only the candidate but also society lies bleeding on the sacrificial alter.

JOHN J. DALPE

Westminster