No matter what name we give it or how we judge it, a candidate's character is central to political reporting because it is central to a citizen's decision in voting.
Sentiment: NEGATIVE
You often see politicians who try to put on a different persona; they think they should be more jolly or serious. Invariably, the persona they choose is worse than their own.
Politicians around the world are very different, but they all have one thing in common: The first thing they respond to is public opinion.
Too many of the career politicians, the established politicians in Washington on both sides of the aisle, are representing their party more than the people. And no matter what the media says, the ballot box will determine what people truly believe.
When you cover politics, you realize that knowing how to talk about character matters more and more. The way we hold ideas is more important than the ideas.
Most people get their politics, obviously, from TV shows about senators or movies about them or... all the day-to-day press and the talk shows.
I don't think voters give a hoot about the character of their political advisors, except to the extent that character reflects on the candidates.
I just think, you know, when we talk about a politician, I think a person has to be themselves. Let the voters see the real you.
While I hold my own political views, it's important not to get too wrapped up in individual candidates and personalities, but instead to focus on the real issues.
I think that the American people are curious about who a candidate is, what their background is, who their family is, what their faith experience has been, their education, their work experience. All of those are factors that voters look at because they want to take a measure of the individual.
Character is destiny, and politicians usually get the scandals they deserve, with a sense of inevitability about them.