Barbara Walters makes baffling ‘Most Fascinating’ decision: Gen. David Petraeus

Ever year, millions of Americans tune in to see some arbitrary decisions handed down by a newswoman in Barbara Walters as to who are the Most Fascinating People of any given year, and it’s always a controversial list. This time around was stunning to begin with in that we saw Hilary Clinton treated on the same level as Alana “Honey Boo Boo” Thompson, but perhaps even more shocking than all of this was the woman who Walters chose to place at the top of her list: Gen. David Petraeus. That’s right, the same man who was on top of the list, as well, back in 2010.

From our standpoint, the biggest issue in this placement is that Walters effectively opted here to select a man for her top honor who is really only being discussed this year courtesy of an extramarital affair. Can anyone else see the issue here? Sure, he was the head of the CIA while it happened, and the idea of the master of secrets having a secret is pretty stunning. Still, isn’t this a major step down from Steve Jobs back in 2011? Patraeus’ selection feels almost as though it adds nothing to Walters’ show, and it certainly is not an interesting choice given that, sad as it may be, affairs are hardly something that shocking to the general public.

In case you had not heard, some of the other people selected to the special included One Direction, “Family Guy” creator Seth MacFarlane, Olympian Gabby Douglas, and New Jersey Governor Chris Christie. With the exception of Honey Boo Boo, we would argue that almost any of these people would have been better choices for the top honor than the former General.

What do you think Petraeus’ selection, and is it trivializing to the other people on this list to have a man at the top best-known at the moment for an affair? We want to hear some of your thoughts below!