In listening to some recent discussion of the personalities of political leaders I began to wonder just how many people there are out there who actually vote based on their perceptions of someone's persona?  I doubt anyone would admit to doing that -- what do we say?  We listen to the arguments . . . we look at someone's qualifications . . .  we are objective . . .

I know at least one honest person.  Just before the 2000 election, this grown man told me that he usually didn't bother to vote, but if he did, he would vote for Bush because "he has a kind face."  He identified with the "regular guy" thing W presented, effectively.  Others I know said W was a "down-to-earth" guy from Texas.  I tried to point out that he was a rich kid from Connecticut, and was educated mostly in Massachusetts and Connecticut . . . denied admission to Texas Law School, for example, he used a family money connection to go to (gasp!) Harvard . . . some of my "down home" friends used to say Harvard and Yale were, you know, preppy and liberal and Eastern . . . .what then?

I think many people, some guys at least, voted against Gore and/or Kerry rather than for Bush.  Bush does not come across as superior to the average guy (and at least in his speech is not) . . . Gore and Kerry did.  No?  Compare Kerry to yourself . . .  isn't he smarter, taller, richer and braver than you?  Don't you kinda resent the fact that his wife is rich?  Bush is rich too . . . but he did not come across that way . . . my hat off to Rove and Company for knowing how to get ten-buck-an-hour workers to think that this spoiled, rich kid who avoided military service, failed at business, and was briefly a governor in a state where the governor has little real power, was kinda, well, one of them.  Are you kidding?

This could go on, but let's leave W out of it and wonder about 2008.  McCain dumped his first wife (who waited patiently for him while he was in prison) and married a rich, younger woman (and quickly, too).  Does this put him in the "too rich for me" category, like Kerry?  Is McCain likeable?  Yes.  I met him once and he certainly is. . .  but would he appeal to Mr. Mechanic?  Maybe. 

Who has the average guy appeal on the Dem side?  Obama maybe?  More on him if he gets in . . . I'll just leave this by saying what the parties apparently need (I wish it were not so) is a candidate who really is smart but doesn't come across that way.  Someone who can raise money or has a lot of it, but who you think looks good driving a pickup truck.  I can't see Hillary doing that.  And they will all stay out of tanks . . .

The overall point, obviously, is that I think too many of us judge candidates for such a high position based on glimpses and impressions of things that do not matter, or are put in front of us in a giant con job effort.  Where do they get their money?  Who do they owe favors to?  What really are their stands on the issues? Are they smart enough?  Do they have any real managerial experience?  Will they "Hire" real experts to help run the administration?  Will they put the good of the country ahead of politics?  Forget all that -- it is easier to like or dislike somebody's "face" (or the one they put forward). . .

Write on.

--KZ