I used to think we ought to respect the president just because of the office he held, but I no longer think that way. Elected officials need to earn our respect, and many of the recent presidents have not succeeded in doing that. When you and I were kids I think it was easier for a president to do illegal or immoral things on the side and get by with it. Now it's harder for an elected official to do bad things in secret and not have it end up all over the internet.