KB In Iowa wrote:

"…didn't affect his ability to govern. The firestorm did but not the act itself"

Precisely! You nailed my point. When a person in such a high position behaves irresponsibly and recklessly the ensuing "firestorm" created by those actions is what often does the harm, not the act itself. He was fully responsible for his actions and should have known an insecure, awestruck young woman would tell her girlfriends about what happened. Therefore, a thinking responsible decent man would have thought-out the consequences of his actions before he acted out his passion or crass fantasies. He lost the respect of many Americans and did lose the ability to govern because of his actions. He further ruined Mr. Gore's chances of becoming president.

The results of his actions were grave (our current situation) even though the act may have been deemed by most to be trivial.

Mr. Bill D:

I agree with the subjectiveness of the terms you mentioned. However, you know human-based values, especially emotive ones, are inherently subjective. Scientists and philosophers should most likely not futilely debate such subjectivity, but instead accept it at face value.