Maybe I'm unusual for an American, but generally speaking, I couldn't care what a politician does in his/her personal life. I do care what they do officially,

Maybe I'm unusual for an American, but generally speaking, I couldn't care what a politician does in his/her personal life. I do care what they do officially, as office-holders, and it's a problem when the press or public obsessing over the personal things detracts from government and policy. When it's a case of personal conduct itself diverting the official from his/her job (Rob Ford, Marion Berry), the person should resolve it quickly or leave office. If it's something that would otherwise be irrelevant (Clinton, Hollande), then it is a fault of the media and they ought to be pressured to change their focus to real public issues. As for why this differs from France to the Anglo-American world, I suspect that a historian or sociologist would trace it to catholic vs. protestant culture. Whatever the ultimate roots, the public's fascination with sex scandals (and sanctimony about "role models", etc.) provides a means for the press or political opposition to distract the public from real social problems (along with celebrities, idiotic TV shows, sports etc.), and for this reason it will continue being exploited as long as they can benefit from it.