And the biggest someone is the president. It is the way careers and reputations are made. Conversely, when a president refuses to fall, his very survival can become a challenge. And it gets them angry. They think they nailed him, but he is unnailable.
Some journalists believe their hard line is rooted in idealism.
Greater respect, she explains, means higher expectations. The public thinks Washington is awash in sex and lies, that they all do it, that it isn't a big deal. But we see it as a bigger deal. For many, the biggest deal is Clinton's candor problem. We want to provide leadership, to pull along the best, most serious readers.