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THE QUESTION
Trustworthy Candidates
The percentage of voters who find Hillary Clinton or Barack Obama "honest and trustworthy" is declining as the campaign wears on. Why? From a moral standpoint, how important is this quality in a president?
Posted by
Sally Quinn and Jon Meacham on May 6, 2008 3:33 AM
FROM THE PANEL
Clinton, Obama, McCain: Human Beings, Not Moral Paragons
I cannot imagine any political process less suited to finding out whether a candidate is either honest or trustworthy than the American way of running for the presidency in an era when "character" is defined by shrinking sound bites and endless video loops on blogs.
Posted by Susan Jacoby, on May 12, 2008 12:10 PM
The Gary Hart Factor
Much of the apathy of the American voter can be laid at the feet of dishonest politicking. Many a non-voter has said to me "Why bother? They say what they think you want to hear during the campaign, and do what they like when they get in office."
Posted by Pamela K. Taylor, on May 12, 2008 8:35 AM
The Hopeful Hypocrisy of the American Voter
Here is a hopeful hypocrisy: while the virtue of truthfulness-honesty-trustworthiness has declined in the American populace, we the people judge candidates for office by this standard.
Posted by Willis E. Elliott, on May 12, 2008 6:42 AM
Are We Asking Too Much?
We would also appreciate some of the other virtues in him/her, mentioned in the dharmasastras, like compassion, purity, equanimity, fortitude, and hands off from untruth and greed
Posted by Rajan Zed, on May 12, 2008 12:18 AM
Politicians and the Cycle of Lying
Clearly we have reached a critical point in the cycle of lying, because Obama's appeal remains strong, and although he has been diverted into negative campaigning, his opponent has paid just as dearly, if not more so, in her negative ratings.
Posted by Deepak Chopra, on May 9, 2008 8:58 AM
Moral Character, Yes. But Whose Morals?
All politicians tell people what they want to hear, rather than what they need to hear.
Posted by Cal Thomas, on May 9, 2008 6:53 AM
Can Politics Serve Democracy?
In the election for London Mayor the electorate was faced with a tricky, certainly dishonest radical left-winger who'd been in power for 8 years and done all sorts of crazy things, and a solidly right-wing super-rich playboy, very smart and totally untrustworthy. Does that sort of choice add up to 'democracy'?
Posted by Nicholas T. Wright, on May 9, 2008 5:47 AM
Politics: Where Truth Comes to Die
I regret to say that I think the electorate, and not the candidates and elected officials, are most to blame for the wide-spread acceptance of the fact that it’s pretty much OK for people in public life to lie to us.
Posted by Susan Brooks Thistlethwaite, on May 8, 2008 9:59 AM
Integrity Matters
The more important question is, does integrity matter in a president? Having served one flawed president and known a number of others, I would, if I had to make a choice, far rather see character than competence.
Posted by Charles "Chuck" Colson, on May 7, 2008 5:54 AM
FEATURED COMMENTS
Paganplace: Could it be it has nothing to do with any actual perception of morals, but rather the corporate media's insistence upon finding any slighte...
Unamerican : I would attribute part of the cynicism of politicians to a contradictory set of expectations:
1) STAND FOR SOMETHING. This expectation work...
Aquarius: From a moral standpoint, "honest and trustworthy" is much more important than being versed in sociology, ethics, history, economics, enginee...
