In answer to a question raised at the Valdai International Discussion Club in Sochi, Russia on Thursday the President of Russia Vladimir Putin said that Donald Trump the President of the United States should be respected because he is President.  “Mr Trump has been elected by the people of America, and at least because of this he should be respected, even if we disagree with his position.  This is a sad negative element of the US political system, one can argue, but one should not show disrespect, not even to him personally, but also to the people who voted for him.”

If we are follow this logic then, anyone who is elected should be automatically respected regardless of what they do or say.  They can even be very bad at the job, but should still be respected.  It is this type of crass logic that allows an open door to excusing the behaviour of the rich and powerful like Harvey Weinstein.  Respect should be earned by one’s actions, not by the office one holds!