Essayist: Politicians deserve protection from a prying press. No one wants his or her private life spread across the pages of the newspapers. Furthermore, the press' s continual focus on politicians' private lives dissuades talented people from pursuing a career in politics and turns reporters into character cops who walk their beats looking for minute and inconsequential personality flaws in public servants. It is time to put a halt to this trivial journalism. Each of the following, if true, strengthens the essayist's argument EXCEPT: ["Much writing on politicians'private lives consists of rumors circulated by opposing candidates.", "Politicians' personality flaws often ultimately affect their performance on the job.", 'In recent elections, the best local politicians have refused to run for national office because of the intrusiveness of press coverage.', "The press is unusually inaccurate when it reports on people's private lives."]