Home > So, what do you think? > Archives > 2008 > September > 10
Wednesday, September 10, 2008
How do you choose a president?
I’m not trying to send any more bullets flying than there already are in this political season, but I’d like to hear from you about what goes into your thinking when choosing a president.
I know some people focus heavily on key issues. A candidate’s position on abortion, for example, can be a deal breaker for voters on either side of the debate. Others want to compare experience, voting records and other tangibles when making their decision.
I have a feeling though that a lot of people look at those facts, then try to get some sense of what kind of person the candidate is. “Who would you rather have a beer with?” has been a popular question asked in recent elections.
I find myself drifting more and more into that camp. It’s not that issues aren’t important to me … they certainly are. But more and more, I think candidates tend to position themselves according to what they think will have the broader appeal. Maybe not on moral issues, but certainly on questions like offshore drilling.
I don’t mind those changes of heart. They happen to every single one of us at some time or another. In political campaigns, of course, they’re called flip-flops and they’re exaggerated to become the biggest sins a candidate can commit. In reality, I just want to know if the guy (or gal) is changing horses because it’s the right thing to do … or because some special interest group is calling in a favor.
That might sound shallow to some people, but I have to think it has a little more substance to it than lipstick or the number of houses someone remembers owning.
So, how are you going to decide whom to vote for?
