Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Native Son on October 13, 2012 at 9:49am

Character does matter, but it isn't the be-all and end-all.  In politics, a fair number of the Founders were definitely not saints, and some of the stuff they considered perfectly acceptable political and personal activity makes the Daley machine look positively charitable and benign.

Permalink Reply by Jacob Bauer on October 13, 2012 at 12:32pm

Why is the dog on the menu thing a matter of character? Dog is a fine meal.

Permalink Reply by LShieldes on October 13, 2012 at 12:35pm

How much fat content do they have in the meat? I would think it would be a tough meat to get right like a lot of game.

Permalink Reply by Liam S. on October 13, 2012 at 12:52pm

It is pretty gamey, but makes a good stew. 

Permalink Reply by terry sperling on October 13, 2012 at 1:57pm

Four Americans murdered in Libya and the president talks about Big Bird.

Nuff said.

Permalink Reply by StaggerLee on October 13, 2012 at 6:38pm

Character certainly plays a role in politics. We want our leaders to be squeaky clean. Unfortunately, with today’s technological snooping ability, few who would probably be outstanding leaders are able to cover their tracks well enough to throw their hats into the ring or even care to try! If you look at many of our historical figures, you’ll find they were a pretty promiscuous bunch; Adams and others had their slave children and Ben Franklin was nothing less than a randy old goat! Fast forward to Bill Cigar Clinton and Herman Hands Cain and we see investigative career killing dirt crosses the isle. My point is that if we were able to hold the leaders of yesterday to the same bar we can today, thanks to record keeping and technology, there probably wouldn’t be a United States at all. So yes, character is important but in politicians and leaders, it is only one piece of the puzzle. Unfortunately we view it as a make-or-break issue. I’m not too sure that is working too well for us.

Permalink Reply by savagejoerude on October 14, 2012 at 10:04am

Neither Adams' owned slaves. I believe you are referring to Jefferson...

Permalink Reply by StaggerLee on October 14, 2012 at 2:24pm

You are absolutely right. Thanks for correcting me on that.

Permalink Reply by Will Gentile on October 14, 2012 at 7:16am

I realize this OP is open to all in TGD, however, I can only answer this through the spectrum of a Christian. For a Christian, the only answer must be clearly, Yes, Character does matter. I think Scripture is clear enough and has set forth the characteristic of leadership for civil and religious leaders by making it clear that sound character and a pure moral life are essential prerequisites. The reason for such requirements was identified by Jesus in Matthew 7:16-20 and Luke 6:43-44: bad roots will always produce bad fruits.

I like how Samuel Adams said:

He who is void of virtuous attachments in private life is, or very soon will be, void of all regard of his country. There is seldom an instance of a man guilty of betraying his country who had not before lost the feeling of moral obligations in his private connections… Private and public vices are in reality… connected… Nothing is more essential to the establishment of manners in a State than that all persons employed in places of power and trust be men of [exceptional] character. The public cannot be too curious concerning the characters of public men.

And how in 1801 Noah Webster explained why a high level of morality was necessary in the Presidency:

All history is a witness of the truth of the principle that good morals are essential to the faithful and upright discharge of public functions. The moral character of a man is an entire and indivisible thing—it cannot be pure in one part and defiled in another. A man may indeed be addicted, for a time, to one vice and not to another; but it is a solemn truth that any considerable breach in the moral sense facilitates the admission of every species of vice. The love of virtue first yields to the strongest temptation; but when the rampart [resistance] is broken down, it is rendered more accessible to every successive assailant… Corruption of morals is rapid enough in any country without a bounty [an encouragement] from government. And… the Chief Magistrate of the United States [the President] should be the last man to accelerate its progress.

Christians Americans have long understood what the Bible taught: the quality of government in any country depends more on the quality and characteristics of leaders rather than laws. Signer of the Constitution and Supreme Court Justice William Paterson was one of many Founders who reminded citizens of this truth by citing Proverbs 29:2—

“…When the righteous rule, the people rejoice; when the wicked rule, the people mourn.”

For a Christian, there can be no other position: character does count, and morality—both private and public—is essential in our leaders.

Permalink Reply by Will on October 14, 2012 at 7:35am

If that's true... what do you know about the character of the candidates?  Got something on Romney here; what do we know about the character of the others?

Permalink Reply by JonEdanger on October 14, 2012 at 7:45am

What is there in BHO's college transcripts that is so damaging that he won't release them? Is there a major character flaw revealed?

Permalink Reply by LShieldes on October 14, 2012 at 9:25am

Or tax returns?

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