Reply #7: Everyone [View All]

[mamalone]

wants to be able to entrust themselves to their leader.

One can agree with a candidate who shares similar viewpoints, and one can support the rise to power of such a person in the hopes that their future behavior will hold true to those shared views. But if that candidate's integrity or judgment is questionable then those shared philosophies and strategies are meaningless. I think the right, and in particular the religious right has found this out to their chagrin over the past 7 years.

If a candidate emerges who shows integrity and grace under fire... who has shown wisdom and clarity of judgment even when the right course is unpopular, people of all philosophies will clamor to support such a person. In the final analysis, we all know that our own judgment is frequently flawed. No matter how passionately we hold to our beliefs we all have error. If we see someone who consistently does the right thing, makes the right choice and acts with integrity, compassion and wisdom we can trust that the choices he makes are going to be correct... at least correct more often than the average person's! In short we can trust them to lead us.

I don't agree with everything Obama says and does, but I trust that he is correct more often than most folks. I see him come up with innovative solutions to novel problems. He may not enact all of my personal pet policies, but I think he has the "stuff" to take the country to a better place. I think that's what a Republican or conservative might see in him as well... and why they might choose to vote for him despite some conflicting policy positions.