OBAMA, HILLARY, and Character

                                         NO ONE IS PERFECT

Ok lets get it straight from the start. I relish the fact that the probability of throwing the bums out of office in the up coming presidential election is quite high. Good for my side and I firmly believe good for all of our sides.

But hold on, you might say, aren't all politicians graduates of the same school when push comes to shove? To win don't you have to pander, manipulate, flip flop, attack even when you well know what you are attacking is often petty, half truthful, exaggerated and sometimes out right untrue?

Yes, you have a point. But while there is no perfection there is, I think, a continuum of less good character to exceptional character than might guide the careful voter to choose those leaders who truly represent the best interests of the country.

So what do you mean by character? The on line dictionary defines character as:

"

I would add the additional character trait of authenticity to the list. "The quality of being authentic: genuineness, realness, truthfulness, validity. "

Ok - I'll go along with you. Now what has this to do with Obama, Hillary, and the presidential race?

Everything, I answer. Fortunately we have two reasonably good choices this year instead of the usual cynical one expressed as: I will choose the best of the two bad choices.

So what shall we be looking for?

Easy. The rigor of the daily grind for all candidates exposes them to constant scrutiny. Pressure makes incessant demands for the candidates to be on the top of their game virtually all of the time. But given the fact that no one is perfect character flaws will inevitably be exposed.

Cases in point:

Hillary and her tears. Depending on ones point of view her tears thought to be exceedingly helpful in turning the women's vote in her unexpected win in the New Hampshire primary - is either validation of her authenticity or of her excellence in manipulation.

Obama and his smirking. There was a point just preceding the counting of the New Hampshire votes when Obama - being interviewed - showed unmistakable signs of what Bob Herbert in an article in the New York Times 01/12/08 refers to as signs of  brashness and cockiness."

So big deal? No one as you have said before is perfect.

Yes but this is exactly the point. We are collectively vote into office for at least four years a person who will have direct influence over our individual and collective lives. And given the fact that most of us were fooled by the appearance of  good character from our current leaders it is crucial that we learn from our past poor judgment.

 So - what are you advising?

Not to get caught up in a tidal wave of either positive or negative adulation or derision for either of these two candidates or any others as well. When high stakes are on the line and intense emotions are let loose there is a tendency for herd mentality to galvanize and polarize attributing perfection to one candidate and its opposite to another.

The winner will ultimately be chosen on the basis of the collective judgment of all those who vote for who they believe has the best character. We need to be as objective as possible as to who merits this most crucial attribution.