Why Do Politicians Fear Exposure on YouTube?

I mean, this sort of transparency can be good, no? It's only damaging if you say something stupid...or behave like an arrogant jackass:





Jim Geraghty:

Rep. Baron Hill (D., Ind.) cannot possibly be this big a jerk all the time. At a recent town hall, a young woman raised her hand and identified herself as a journalism student working on a school project who was told she could not videotape the event.

Student: Why can't I film this, isn't this my right?

Baron Hill: This is my town hall meeting, and I set the rules, and I've had these rules . . . (jeering) Let me repeat that one more time. This is my town hall meeting for you. And you're not going to tell me how to run my Congressional office. Now, the reason why I don't allow filming is that usually the films that are done end up on YouTube in a compromising position.

Here's a clue: You're in public office. By that very nature, you're constantly held to scrutiny. How about not saying or doing anything that embarrasses you? Don't put yourself in "compromising positions" and then blame others for exposing your behavior to a wider audience.

Cross-posted at Flopping Aces