Some civility is still needed in society

With little better to do, I reluctantly watched Mike Wallace interview presidential candidate Mitt Romney Sunday on 60 Minutes. I know little about Romney other than he's Mormon and has attracted some attention among the group of GOP hopefuls.

But I found myself troubled when Wallace asked Romney and his wife if they had engaged in premarital sex which is against a strict church rule for Mormons. To his credit, Romney told Wallace that was none of his business.

There was a day not long ago when such a question would have been met with righteous indignation throughout the country. Wallace would have been strongly criticized for asking what I feel is an inappropriate question for anyone, even those who seek elected office.

But like it or not, our society has changed. What was once highly unacceptable no longer phases us. There was barely a scant mention of the question in news stories that followed the interview.

We've lost our sense of civility. And that applies especially to members of the national media. The more outrageous, the better. I truly wish Romney had reacted differently. He had a perfect opportunity to blast not just Wallace but the entire movement among television talking heads. He should have demanded an apology from Wallace for putting his wife in such an embarrassing position. It would have shown some backbone. But Romney did what is expected of a presidential candidate. He reacted presidential.

We demand much of those seeking elective office. By making that plunge, these candidates know they abandon much of their privacy, but surely there is some invisible fine line that should not be crossed. Maybe I'm wrong.

Can you imagine a Russian interviewer asking the same question in that country. I suspect we would never hear from that interviewer again. And believe me, no one else would repeat that mistake.

Mike Wallace is not the problem. It's the culture that spawns Wallace and others. We allow them - by watching and supporting their programs - to cross any line. That applies to the Rosie O'Donnells of the world and so many others.

Even if he's asking for my vote, Mitt Romney's premarital sex life is not my business. But until we express our outrage to those asking the questions, little will change.