When is Slut Shaming or Outing Appropriate

[qwlauren35]

82. I'll weigh in here.

I talk about my abortions freely. I think it's important to remove the stigma of abortion.

As far as I am concerned, EVERYTHING/ALL INFORMATION about a political person is fair game. Previous employment, medical history, ALL OF IT.

I feel that way about male politicians and female politicians. We ask for tax records, we ask for medical reports. We expect our politicians to provide them, and make a big stink if they do not.

I would not be happy about how the information is obtained - I think HIPAA should not be violated. With that said, I expect a politician to disclose this information. So, if it comes out some other way, I question why they didn't disclose it, and what else they may be hiding.

Now, this isn't, for me, the issue of hypocrisy. It's disclosure. It's honesty. It's the reality of being a politician. I personally think you should walk the talk, but that's just my personal integrity (which I have learned not to expect of politicians). But when it comes to politics, it's all fair game. Politics is ugly, and you should know it going in.

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I would add. About abortion. Someone having an abortion should not be a stigma. It's legal. It's only HER CONSTITUENTS that may have a problem with it, and that's HER problem.

"Outing" is a funny thing. Everybody has dirty laundry. Everybody is hiding something that they think they would be judged on. And people DO judge. Revealing something told in confidence is a mean thing... not illegal unless you're a medical professional, but mean. So, judging the person doing the "outing" is reasonable. Spreading gossip is such a normal part of American society, it's ridiculous. The National Enquirer pays big money for this kind of thing, it is small wonder - if you're famous, it's going to get out. Given this reality, I think all public figures need to be prepared for it, and should have a strategy for diffusing it, WHEN it happens. 'cause it's going to happen.

You have put a label on the type of information that was shared. "Slut shaming". Suggesting that if it's THAT type of information, it should be off-limits. I disagree. I don't think any information about a politician should be off-limits. Be it sexual, medical, financial, none of it. And if their constituents have a problem with the information, deal with it. But no crying "unfair, unfair".

I stick up for no politician that can't be as squeaky clean as Obama. None.