To say that it is no one's business if a politician is cheating on his wife or beating his dog or is an alcoholic is to say that the man's character doesn't matter — that his word, or his ability, doesn't matter either, in some cases.

If the voting public knows these flaws in an officeholder or candidate and still elects them, that's fine. As long as it is an informed choice by the public.

If a popular radio talk-show host is addicted to prescription drugs — that may be interesting gossip, but it doesn't hurt us much, if at all.

But if a governor is flying off to foreign lands for trysts with his mistress — and not telling anyone where he's going and is out of reach — well, that is a whole other matter.

I can feel sorry for these fellows on a personal level — he without sin cast the first stone and all that. But not on a professional or public level.

And it leaves me wondering, "What were they thinking?" And whether once broken, if they deserve another chance at the public's trust.

Deseret News political editor Bob Bernick Jr. may be reached by e-mail at bbjr@desnews.com.