Voters don't stop with policy when picking a candidate

Sioux City Journal (Iowa) ^ | 12/30/07

[ellery]

ETHNICITY

1. If elected, Barack Obama would be the first black president. Much attention has also been paid to his father's Muslim heritage. How much does a person's ethnicity matter?

Harold Renshaw, 69, Dakota Dunes: "I don't think that it should matter, but I think it does. I don't think that people will acknowledge that it does, but I think it is a factor."

Jeffrey Morgan, Sioux City native now living in Iowa City: "I think a person's ideas and philosophy matters more than their ethnicity. I mean, we are all a melting pot."

Jonathan Sterling, 40, Sioux City: "I don't think ethnic background has much to do with steering the country."

HAIR

2. John Edwards came under fire for paying $400 each for at least two haircuts. How much does a candidate's hair matter?

Brian Force, 33, Sioux City: "I don't think it matters. It is kind of silly."

Lisa Robinson, 39, Hinton: "Not at all. If I could afford to pay four hundred bucks for a haircut, I'd do it."

Lloyd Jenness, 50, Moville: "Somewhat -- I don't think anybody should be paying $400 for a haircut. I don't care who it is."

TROPHY WIFE

3. Fred Thompson's wife is roughly half his age, and about the same age as the kids from Thompson's first marriage. How much does the physical appearance of the presidential candidate's spouse matter?

Harold Renshaw, 69, Dakota Dunes: "I don't see that it matters. I guess I could be a good old boy and say, 'Go Fred.'"

Di Gray, 45, Sioux City: "Not at all, but more power to him, really. If he can get a woman half his age to be interested in him, God love him."

DIVORCE

4. Rudy Giuliani has been married three times. How much does a candidate's marital history matter?

Di Gray, 45, Sioux City: "I think when you get up to those numbers it starts to matter. I think it indicates character and commitment issues."

Dan Schiefen, 50, Sioux City native now living in Cedar Rapids: "It is a consideration. If he has a hard time keeping his personal life in balance, how is that going to affect his marital priorities, when he has no time for marriage (with a busy presidential schedule)."

Janet Harcum, 56, Hinton: "It makes me think (Giuliani) has not as much staying power as I would like to see. I've been married to my husband for 35 years. A candidate who has that kind of staying power will probably be also one who, under pressure, in those situations where our national security is at risk, that they would have the staying power to see it through."

AGE

5. Ronald Reagan at 69 was the oldest president elected. If elected, John McCain, at 70, would become the oldest president we've elected. How much does age matter?

Jennifer McReynolds, 37, Sioux City: "It matters to me quite a bit. I feel the older candidates don't reflect my generation's views, which would be Generation X."

Jonathan Sterling, 40, Sioux City: "Age does have a tendency to color a person's opinion. It may be time for some of the older folks step out, to try and let some of the younger folks try to run the country."

Denny Stone, 57, Sioux City: "It doesn't matter to me a bit. It's what's in the head that matters."

FAITH

6. Mitt Romney is a member of the Mormon faith and recently gave a speech about how his religion intercedes with his values and his politics. How important is a presidential candidate's faith?

Di Gray, 45, Sioux City: "I don't think denomination is important, but faith is. A person who has a sense of something bigger, I think, is important."

Dan Schiefen, 50, Sioux City native now living in Cedar Rapids: "As long as (a president) keeps religion and politics in proper perspective, I don't have a problem. I don't need to be saved by anybody, and his job is to be a leader, not a savior."

Denny Stone, 57, Sioux City: "I think it is very important. Our country was founded on faith and God."

GENDER

7. America has never elected a woman president, and Hillary Clinton is seeking to be the first. How much does a candidate's gender matter to you?

Lloyd Jenness, 50, Moville: "It matters a little bit. I'm not sure if I or this generation would want to be the guinea pigs for a woman president. It all depends on what she stands for."

Jennifer McReynolds, 37, Sioux City: "Because I'm a woman, I'd like to see a woman take office, but (gender) shouldn't matter."

Janet Harcum, 56, Hinton: "Many other countries have had premiers, prime ministers who have been women and who have successfully led those countries through very difficult times. I think the time might be right for us as a nation to look to a woman candidate."

CHRISTMAS

8. Mike Huckabee received a lot of his attention for his Christmas television ads. Other candidates then followed suit. Do you care how a candidate views the holiday season?

Lloyd Jenness, 50, Moville: "Yes, I do. Christmas is special to a lot of people and Christmas shouldn't be a forum for politics.

Jeffrey Morgan, Sioux City native now living in Iowa City: "Depending on how inclusive they are, if they are including everybody or if it is just geared to a select percentage. Using the Huckabee example, he came under fire from a lot of Hebrew people because it was aimed solely and wholly at Christians, whereas Jewish people celebrate Hanukah. Some people think it is just as worthwhile a holiday as Christmas."

Jonathan Sterling, 40, Sioux City: "How you keep Christmas is your own business, but it shouldn't impact what you do in your public office."

[ansel12]

“Fred Thompson’s wife is roughly half his age”
“Mitt Romney is a member of the Mormon faith “

---

Fred Thompson is 82 and the powerful Mormon figure and (ex)Bishop within the Mormons is just an everyday member of some religion and never used to get $150.00 facials.

[Candor7]

I think the time might be right for us as a nation to look to a woman candidate.>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

John McCain sex change PING!

[CindyDawg]

How did they get the three answers?

[WFTR]

3. Fred Thompson's wife is roughly half his age, and about the same age as the kids from Thompson's first marriage. How much does the physical appearance of the presidential candidate's spouse matter?

I'm not supporting Mr. Thompson, but if he's elected, I hope his marriage starts a trend of attractive, younger women marrying older guys. Maybe I'd finally have a chance for someone fun.

Again, I don't support Mr. Thompson, but even I think this question is a little out of bounds.

Bill

[aj7360]

Again, I don't support Mr. Thompson, but even I think this question is a little out of bounds.

I think that the point of the article was to illustrate that many voters pick a candidate for reasons unrelated to politics.

In fact, I think a major portion of the electorate does this.

[Timeout]

Around the beginning of this year I saw a national poll asking what was THE MOST IMPORTANT FACTOR he/she was looking for in a candidate.
I now wish I'd kept a link because the results amazed me:

Republicans, by about 80%, chose "national security".

Dems, by something like 87%, chose "charisma". (!)

-------------------------------------------------------

Last night I saw a "man on the street" segment on FOX. The guy with the microphone had apparently asked people what they wished for in 2008.

The first woman answered:

"Bring the troops home, end the war, stop terrorism"

I was gobsmacked. We've all heard the Dems whining that they "aren't as good as Republicans at boiling their message down to 10 words or less". Well, this woman just did it...in just 9 words she stated the total unseriousness of the Dems' approach to this election. (And I bet she would have chosen "charisma" in the first poll!).

[armymarinedad]

To a thinking person every one of these is an issue. They all tell you something about the candidate. There was a time when Americans tried to send the very best to Washington to govern. We wanted people who would make decisions that would be best for America in the long run, not what made us happy today. Our current politicians reflect America more than we would like to admit.

[2ndDivisionVet]

"Fred Thompson's wife is roughly half his age, and about the same age as the kids from Thompson's first marriage. How much does the physical appearance of the presidential candidate's spouse matter?"

Mrs. Jeri Kehn Thompson is 41 years old, Senator Fred Thompson is 65. Now I'm no math major, but is 41 half of 65?

[Caipirabob]

Republicans, by about 80%, chose "national security".

Dems, by something like 87%, chose "charisma". (!)

Sounds consistent. Republicans lean towards matters of policy and democrats lean towards how the candidate will "make them feel" when they lie to them. Kind of sad for the rats, IMHO. They don't think about how the world will be impacted beyond themselves and their perspective of it.

[Bernard]

"Bring the troops home, end the war, stop terrorism"

Too bad they stopped at that sound bite. I'd love to hear the logic behind that plan, in that order.

[Timeout]

Wouldn’t it be great if FOX had the sense to show that clip at the next debate and ask the candidates to analyze it?!

[Candor7]

How did they get the three answers?>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

It was an audience exit survey from the Oprah Winfrey Show?