Taking political accountability too far?

US newspapers revealed this week that Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama, failed to pay parking tickets worth $375 while he was a student at Harvard law school. He paid the tickets two weeks before he officially launched his presidential campaign.

Now its front page news in every newspaper in America. Is it only me, or is this taking accountability a bit too far. Imagine South African newspapers had to publish such detailed allegations about politicians. There will be no space for stories on crime.