Public, Private

Public officials have private lives. The public itself should respect that privacy.

Private activities are not necessarily created equal, however. Attendance at a child's spelling bee or soccer match is one thing. Attendance at a partisan fundraiser is another.

Tim Kaine's day job (governor of Virginia) and his night job (chairman of the Democratic National Committee) share a significant public component. The party chairmanship has implications for policy and for politics that would not exist if Kaine served as chairman of a Bugle Corps and Chowder Society. Kaine has said his duties as chairman create contacts with the potential to benefit the commonwealth -- which means the job involves the state's business, which means travels and meetings involving the DNC belong on the official schedule.

The governor says if people want to know where he was on a given day, he will tell them. We trust him. If he went to Kansas City to see the Royals lose, he would say so. If he went to Minneapolis to raise moola for Democratic candidates, he would say so.

But there are some things citizens and journalists should not have to ask.

Indeed, the just-ask-me approach encourages -- demands -- prying into the personal. Putting functions related to Kaine's chores as party chairman on the official schedule not only promotes transparency but allows the governor greater personal space.