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Which carries the greatest influence on your preference for a political candidate: Your perception of the quality of character of a candidate, or the specifics of his or her political position on critical issues?
Dissident Dan said:Voting based on "character" is pretty riduculous, except in rare cases of serious lapses of ethics.
Gokul43201 said:BobG, will you pick a crazy, moronic, thieving scoundrel because he shares more common political opinions with you ?
Clearly, you and I have different bars for what we would consider "acceptable risk-to-returns".
(Edit : Removed a response to Dagenais' post.)
Gokul43201 said:I'm sure that a third of this country will accuse Bush of 'serious lapses of ethics' and another third will accuse Kerry of the same.
Ivan Seeking said:When exactly do the politics of a candidate outweigh the issues of character? How "bad" is acceptable? When does a person cross the line? Would you prefer Carter or Nixon for president this November - were that the choice.
Ivan Seeking said:When exactly do the politics of a candidate outweigh the issues of character? How "bad" is acceptable? When does a person cross the line? Would you prefer Carter or Nixon for president this November - were that the choice.
Ivan Seeking said:are you saying that the person still matters more than the issues?
So you either come up with a smooth statement that means nothing and stick with it like glue, or you waffle.
I don't think the average American cares about character, and because of that, the politicians make no effort to have character. But I do care about character. Because of that, I notice things others don't and care about things others don't.Dissident Dan said:Voting based on "character" is pretty riduculous, except in rare cases of serious lapses of ethics. "Character" is just product that they package and sell to the electorate. Stances on issues are what are important for elected officials, and reveal more about actual character than image does.
There are many factors that can influence a person's voting decisions, including political party affiliation, personal values and beliefs, the candidate's policies and platform, and current events or issues.
Political advertisements can have varying levels of impact on voting behavior, but they are generally considered to have less influence than other factors such as party affiliation and personal values. However, they can still play a role in shaping a voter's perception of a candidate or issue.
Yes, a person's demographic background, including factors such as age, race, gender, and socioeconomic status, can play a role in how they vote. These factors may influence a person's values and beliefs, as well as their access to information and resources, which can impact their voting decisions.
Yes, a person's upbringing can play a role in their voting behavior. Children often adopt their parents' political beliefs and values, which can shape their voting decisions later in life. However, individuals can also develop their own political beliefs and values as they grow and learn more about the world.
The media can have a significant impact on a person's voting decisions. The way a candidate or issue is portrayed in the media can shape public opinion and influence how people view and vote on them. However, the media is just one of many factors that can influence a person's voting behavior.