A president with character, please

Renew America ^ | June 1, 2007 | Ken Marotte

[AuntB]

With the GOP presidential primary having begun in earnest, media and grassroots alike are buzzing with excitement and anticipation. Presently, the field is a buffet; regardless of whether you oppose illegal immigration, foreign interventionism, or even conservatism, there's a candidate for you.

In evaluating the various candidates, Republicans often base their determinations upon the issues. And rightfully so. After all, before offering their full-fledged support, most conservatives want to hear about the horrors of abortion, the imperfections of Social Security, the right to own and bear arms.

But issues should constitute only part of our concern. Also at stake is the character, the moral fiber, of the candidates. What kind of a guy is Romney? How has Tancredo treated others in the past? What do personal friends think of Duncan Hunter? While these questions may come across as naïve, they are most relevant and important.

Do remember that the president is America in one man. As President Bush delivers double-negatives in China and unintelligible similes in Iraq, America loses face in the world. As President Clinton danced the horizontal mambo in the Oval Office, contempt for America rose. As unfair as it may sound, the president is America personified. And we need someone who fits that bill.

Two of the big three do not.

Consider John McCain. While the good senator served America courageously in Vietnam, his character as a politician has been none too impressive.

* During a fundraiser in 1998, McCain remarked about Clinton's daughter: "Why is Chelsea Clinton so ugly? Because her father is Janet Reno."

* Some time after returning from Vietnam, McCain divorced his wife, and a month later, married his current wife, who is 18 years his junior.

* During a recent, closed-door exchange with Sen. John Cornyn (R — TX) over the immigration bill, McCain yelled, "F*** you! I know more about this [issue] than anyone else in the room!" That comment, of course, in response to Cornyn's "chickensh*t argument."

Rudy Giuliani isn't too far behind. As Steve Benen writes in Washington Monthly, "Giuliani informed his second wife, Donna Hanover, of his intention to seek a separation in a 2000 press conference. The announcement was precipitated by a tabloid frenzy after Giuliani marched with then-mistress, Judith Nathan, in New York's St. Patrick's Day Parade..." According to Hanover, Nathan had been the latest in a long line of Giuliani's mistresses.

McCain and Giuliani are a disgrace to common morality and to America. No one is perfect, indeed. But perfection is not for man to attain; it is for man to pursue. All men — politicians, in particular — either live or feign virtue. Should the latter become the norm, these United States will wither quickly.

In this race for the presidency, we need experienced men. We need conservative men. We need intelligent men.

But we also need good men.

As Samuel Adams once wrote to friend James Warren, "Nothing is more essential to the establishment of manners in a State than that all persons employed in places of power and trust must be men of unexceptionable characters."

Find that man "of unexceptionable character" — be it Duncan Hunter, Mike Huckabee, Tom Tancredo, or whomever else — and offer him your unwavering support.

Our republic is at stake.

[Clintonfatigued]

That means no one who is like Bill Clinton, Jimmy Carter, or Lyndon Johnson.

Democrats seem to have a knack for failing on that front.

[AuntB]

JC Watts was just on CNN talking good about Hunter!

Also, this post, thanks, holyscroller.

DUNCAN HUNTER NEWS:

King County, (Seattle) Washington checking in. In a straw poll at our county convention today, The results were (#1) Fred Thompson, (#2) Rudy Guiliani, (#3) Mitt Romney, (#4) Woo Hoo! Duncan Hunter. McCain and all the others never even made a showing.

106 posted on 06/02/2007 10:33:18 PM PDT by holyscroller

[MNJohnnie]

Gee wonder what today’s Ultra purists around here would make of a President who signed 2 tax increases, a real Illegals Amnesty, ran away from a Muslim Terrorist threat, doubled the size of the Fed Govt in 8 years and spent Record Deficits?

That President was Ronald Reagan.

WAY past time the Ultras grow the heck up. NO candidate is going to be 100% pure and perfect. The ONLY reason you all con yourselves into thinking such a creature exists is because you all have not actually seen your idols try to managing actually being in the Presidency.

So let us all FINALLY grow up around here and quit this perpetual whining for some mythical perfect candidate to ride in on his white horse and “save us”.

Give the standards being demanded by the Always Whining Wing of the “conservative” movement these days, not even REAGAN would qualify as a Conservative!!!!!

[upchuck]

McCain and Giuliani are a disgrace to common morality and to America.

Amen brother, amen.

All men — politicians, in particular — either live or feign virtue. Should the latter become the norm, these United States will wither quickly.

Become the norm? It already is and the country is poorer for it.

[gcruse]

A candidate who IS a character, Fred Thompson, is a close as we have for now. Political character is damned near oxymoronic.

[AuntB]

So let us all FINALLY grow up around here and quit this perpetual whining for some mythical perfect candidate to ride in on his white horse and “save us”.

Well, dang, I'm usually pretty good at ignoring your posts. But just like an errant bug, there you are. We're capable of saving ourselves from the likes of you, Johnny and your wonderful rino in the white house. So, who are you supporting???

[RightWhale]

LBJ was a character. Many Presidents have been characters. Few indeed were personally bland even though a couple have been very reserved in public.

[353FMG]

“But we also need good men.”

And with “good” we do not necessarily need someone who prays publicly. But most of all we need someone who puts AMERICA’S INTERESTS FIRST AND FOREMOST.

[misterrob]

* During a fundraiser in 1998, McCain remarked about Clinton’s daughter: “Why is Chelsea Clinton so ugly? Because her father is Janet Reno.”

HA HA HA HA

That’s really funny. Screw off to anyone who says that reveals poor character.

[mimaw]

I happen to think we have a president with character now. Do we agree with everything he does, no but I don’t question his love for this country or his desire to protect the American people from our greatest threat.

[farmer18th]

When Reagan came into office, federal income tax was what--up to 70%? I believe he lowered that to 28%, (or was it 15%?) The size of the government grew because he had to contend with a Democratic congress. The Muslim radicals who held our hostages promptly returned them to Reagan, because they knew exactly what he was capable of.

How does slanting Reagan's record prove your point?

Oh, I know, maybe you don't have character and you're a little sensitive about that. How could anyone possibly object to Sam Adam's advice? How could anyone possibly object to the notion that an American president should be true to his wife, and true to his convictions, and not swear his head off at colleagues?

[farmer18th]

I would believe you except for the blanket amnesty issue. He has a huge character flaw on that one.

[South40]

What do personal friends think of Duncan Hunter?

He's a great American and he's the best man currently running.

[freespirited]

WAY past time the Ultras grow the heck up. NO candidate is going to be 100% pure and perfect. The ONLY reason you all con yourselves into thinking such a creature exists is because you all have not actually seen your idols try to managing actually being in the Presidency.

So let us all FINALLY grow up around here and quit this perpetual whining for some mythical perfect candidate to ride in on his white horse and “save us”.

I agree completely. Arent you just in awe of people like this guy who apparently have never done anything stupid/embarrassing/etc in their lives that in retrospect they wish they hadnt.

I am.

[BARLF]

Bump to that.

[farmer18th]

The problem with McCain is that he's a Mussolini--that temper and invective is easily turned on his own, if they don't walk lock-step with him all the way.

McCain is a wimp. All he managed to do in the war was get captured, and that's exactly what he's trying to do with the U.S. Constitution--put it in a prison camp.

[jaime1959]

I’ll take a man with character who can also express himself coherently above a junior high school level.

[Extremely Extreme Extremist]

WAY past time the Ultras grow the heck up.

Way past time for you to take your meds.

[Paperdoll]

Thanks for the post, AuntB.

I just sent another $100 to the one consistent conservative I am convinced fills the bill, Duncan Hunter.
http://www.gohunter08.