I prefer the French approach myself. If a politician's private life influences his political decisions, that aspect of it's fair game. If, however, it has no bearing on the politician's positions, journalists should keep their slimy hands off it.

Case in point: François Mitterrand. He had a mistress for years, which only came out when she attended his funeral, together with their illegitimate daughter.

So: Is McCain a foaming-at-the-mouth, psychotic whackjob with ties to various political nutjobs? Fair question - if there is any solid evidence. Who's shaggin whom? Is the mistress a member of an intelligence agency or a lobbyist? No? Then what's the big deal (unless it exposes someone as a hypocrite)?

At least, that's my take on the privacy issue.