In recent years there has been a great deal of media attention focused on the private lives of politicians and world leaders, with particular attention paid to their personal relationships. There are those who suggest that this attention is unwarranted because only their professional abilities are important to their political role. This attitude fails to consider that the public have little insight into the day to day lives of world leaders and indeed few points of reference. Personal lives offer common ground. In democratic states, leaders are elected based on how the public perceive them and private lives can offer an insight into an individual's values. The personal aspects of a politician's life should continue to be reported if the electorate find it important.