Thursday, August 23, 2007

What You See is What You Get

Two of my daughters have expressed an interest in joining the Debate Team at our high school. The older of the two has already taken a debate class and the younger one is now enrolled in that class. Today they will meet with the teacher that sponsors the team and will decide if they want to pursue joining.

This has brought up some interesting subjects as my younger daughter has been relating the subjects that students are interested in debating. Some of those subjects include the shortened lunch hour, the open campus policy, and other school related issues. General subjects have included abortion, same-sex marriage, the war in Iraq, and current Presidential candidates.

Last night my daughter and I discussed Mitt Romney. She commented that people won't vote for him simply based on his religion. People claim that his religion will influence his decisions and that his private life will most defintely affect his ability to effectively serve in our country's highest office. I find this position so interesting because 8-10 years ago, these same people vehemently defended the then current president's right to do whatever he wanted in his private life (even when it included immoral activities in the Oval Office) and claimed that his private life had absolutely nothing to do with his public life or his ability to stand as head of our country. Hmmm. Interesting how people will flip-flop depending on how it suits them.

Does someone's private acts affect his/her public acts? Should we, as voters, be concerned with what a candidate does in his/her private time? I must answer: Absolutely. What we do in private, especially when we think no one is watching, shows who we are at our very core. Someone who conducts himself or herself differently in private than in public, is not an honest person and does not have integrity. Only when our behavior is consistent, privately and publicly, can we be considered to have integrity.

I do not want my elected officials to be one kind of person in private and a different kind of person in public. I much prefer people who are "what you see is what you get" kind of people, even if I disagree with them, because I know they are consistent and I know what to expect.

I remember girls in high school who would act like they were your best friend to your face and as soon as you turned your back, they'd shred you to bits. I much prefer people to be honest and upfront. I can agree to disagree, but it's difficult to know where I stand with someone who isn't honestly portraying himself/herself.

Wouldn't it be nice if all of our candidates for the upcoming Presidential election would just be honest? We could vote for who we feel best represents our views and know that "what we see is what we'll get."

9 comments:

Unknown said...

Rebecca, tell our daughter to go to Real Clear Politics: Columnist Jay Cost explains why he thinks Romney's Mormonism may never become a major issue in the '08 presidential race.

Great article.

Unknown said...

Ooops, I meant tell YOUR daughter. Wow, when you accidentally drop the "y" . . .

G. Parker said...

I think he's the best one going so far, and I think it's interesting how he's being compared to JFK in some ways, because he was the first Catholic president...good blog.

Rebecca Talley said...

Candace--your first comment made me giggle. Might have started a rumor . . . ;)

Gaynell--I think the comparisons to JFK are interesting as well. It'll be very interesting to see what happens after the primaries. Here in CO, by the time we get to primaries there isn't any point in voting because we already know who will be the candidate from each party and most of the others have already conceded.

Tristi Pinkston said...

I couldn't agree more, Rebecca.

Now, as far as you and Candace having children together, that one's a little odd . . .

Cindy Beck, author said...

Rebecca,
Wow, I'm with Tristi ... how did you and Candace manage the labor and delivery? :)

Good blog. I agree with you. It would be so nice if our politicians were of the "what you see is what you get" variety.

Josi said...

I'm with you--I want to know what I'm getting. For me, Romney is more like me than anyone else, I think the decisions he makes will best reflect my own values. In part because of his religion, and in part because of the life he has led. Best of luck to your daughters, what a great opportunity for them.

Unknown said...

Rebecca -- see what a slip of the typing fingers does -- creates it forever.

Loved the Writing Tip -- I've added to my blog too.

Carrie and Troy Keiser said...

Amen!