How Do You Judge A Canidate's Character

[corporatewhore]

I judge by looking at their records and see what they have supported their past achievents and to some degree hearing them speak .Like i think DK has a pretty good character he has stood up against freetrade the PATRIOT ACT and IWR even with enormous pressure because they werent the right thing for america. he saved munylight from an enronlike take over and when i have heard him speak he touches on everything important like lifting the rest of the world up with america.Idont mind that he has been twice divorced.CAn we please stop saying kerry is a bad man because he slept w/people come on hes a bad man for voting for NAFTA!!!

[JVS]

1. All except image

[Mass_Liberal]

2. Past accomplishments

and record. Image is more about image to the people, not the media.

[quinnox]

3. A sex scandal is an automatic plus first of all

Other than that I look at votes and policy positions.

[JVS]

4. sure it's a plus

:eyes:

[MrSlayer]

5. Previous Actions.

[YouMustBeKiddingMe]

6. Accomplishments, records, and whether their words match their actions

[NashVegas]

7. Hamilton, Burr, & Jefferson

Sometime ago I picked up this book which makes a comparative study on these three men and compares their deeds to their words. Only got through the first couple chapters but it's obvious from the outset the author was sympathetic towards Burr, who he says never made much of a public relations case to counter the charges against him, but actually behaved more honorably than either of the other two.

Some day I'll go back and finish it.

The point: public image is the one that most people vote on regardless of anything.

[uconnyc]

8. All of the above

It's not just one thing it is their entire body of work. I respect Clinton for his accomplishments and his intelect but I think the guy is a scumbag to be honest.

[quaker bill]

9. Personally I could give a flip about sex scandals

Between consenting adults. In this regard I am quite liberal. But that will not be the point.

My point of view in this regard is not commonly held. Sure, among liberal democrats I can find many who would agree on this. That gets you to somewhere around 30 percent of the vote on a good day.

To win the election, we need to sell that 6 percent or so of folks in the middle. They do not hang out here.

While I would love to live in a democracy where principled stands on important issues made all of the difference, I do not.

Sex scandals are colorful and attention grabbing. This is why Madison Avenue uses sex to sell us everything.

The honesty of one's personal relationships is a meaningful indicator of character. Those folks in the middle will be influenced should this story pan out.

I don't care for it, I would prefer it to be another way, but it isn't.

[corporatewhore]

14. I know that mainstream usa thinkso but i cant believe that DUers are like

he had sex! hes a bad man when it should be he voted for nafta! hes a bad man ;)

[tobius]

10. keeping promises, consistent on issues.

Haven't heard any one say he is a bad man.

[arewethereyet]

11. same way I measure anyone's character

do they act honorably.

[leyton]

12. I do think an affair reflects poorly on the candidate.

While I take into consideration one's accomplishments, I also look strongly at their personal life, because I think that is a major part of character. So if Kerry turns out to have had an affair during his marriage, then I will look on him with that much less respect, but it doesn't make me think he'll be less of a President for it.

EDIT: And I don't have a problem with those who think having an affair is a reason not to vote for a politician. When it hits the headlines that Clinton had an affair or Kerry had an affair, I think it lessens the value of marriage (which I think is important) just a little bit more, and politicians know that they are in the public eye. Of course, there is the double standard - Bush can get paid for not being in the national guard, but Clinton can't have an affair? That I don't like.

[HoosierClarkie]

13. The real truth is in their children.

[AP]

15. By whether what they say about themselves is both GOOD and TRUE.

[Tinoire]

16. How progressive he is & how well his rethoric lines up with his record.

I do not buy used cars based on the salesman's smile nor shall I vote on a Presidency based on a politician's rethoric.

You voted for the war (or would have)? You voted for NAFTA (or believe in it)? You're for the occupation? You're f(*^ing OUT.

[Leilani]

17. Past Accomplishments

And also, how do they handle adversity?

As a parent, I think John & Elizabeth Edwards must have been devastated by their son's death. I have heard Edwards speak about this, & it seems to have been an event that drives him & changed his life. I admire him for his courage.

John Kerry didn't have to go to Vietnam, but he did. While under fire, he turned his boat around to save a man's life. I guess none of us know how we would deal with a similar situation, but he didn't have time to think about it, & he instinctively did the right thing, & I admire his courage.

Wes Clark, while under fire in Vietnam, continued to lead his troops after taking 4 bullets resulting in serious injury. The guy who saved his life, knocked him down, but Wes got up & continued to do his job until the battle was over. The wounds required extensive rehabilitation. Most guys would have left the service after that, & gone to make lots of money, yet he stayed in the Army, in a belief that he was helping his country. I admire his courage.