Everyone makes decisions about what they like and dislike. Clearly we only eat foods that we like, listen to music that we like, go places that we like, and hang out with people that we like. If you don't like something or someone, of course, you aren't going to want to have anything to do with it. That makes sense. But, it only makes sense when you are evaluating those things which you can truly determine whether or not you like them. You have to be able to have some sort of tangible data on which to base your decision. That's why I do not understand this likability factor that some people use when determining who they will choose as President of the United States.
For years, pollsters have asked voters to share how well they "like" certain candidates. They will compare their favorable ratings to their unfavorable ratings. They will ask them things like, "Which candidate would you rather have a beer with?" Or, "Which candidate would you want to hang out and watch a ball game with?" And people actually answer these questions as though there is a possibility that they might have a beer or watch football with one of the candidates and that is somehow a determining factor in why they would trust them to be in charge of the world's largest free market economy. Huh?
I just don't get people who say simplistic things like, "I really like the President. He seems like such a good husband and father." By all accounts, he does appear to be a good husband and a good father. I'm sure that is very good for his wife and his daughters. His daughters deserve a good and decent father, and his wife deserves a loving husband. What I don't understand is how these very same people made hideous comments about George Bush when he was in office. By all accounts, he was a good and decent father and a very good husband. Yet, that didn't seem to matter to the Bush haters. And what about Clinton? He seemed like a good dad......but, the husband part is a pretty iffy.........still, he was very popular, very popular! Wink! Wink! Historians documented that Pol Pot was a loving husband and father. However, as communist leader of the Khmer Rouge his regime slaughtered millions of innocent Cambodians. Go figure!
Another favorite of mine, "He seems so sincere when he is speaking." Uh....okay. You do know that he is reading a speech that someone else wrote off of a telepromter? Right? In other words, he is really good at reading someone else's words. Have you ever noticed how bumbly he gets when he goes off prompter? It is during those times that we get the gaffes, "I have been to 57 states and have one more to go." Or the offensive remarks like the one on Leno early in his Presidency when he said that he bowled like someone in the Special Olympics. Maybe he was hanging out with Bill Maher the night before, and he just couldn't get all those hateful jokes about Sarah Palin's special needs child out of his head.......whatever. Or the more recent reveal of his true heart.....The "You didn't build that!" comment that showed business owners the true nature of the beast. You see, he is sincerely good at trying to get you to believe what he wants you to believe, most of the time.
I don't understand how it can be about "liking" one or the other. How can you like someone that you don't even know? Someone that you will never know let alone even meet! And even if you do get the rare opportunity to meet one or the other of the candidates, for how long? Ten seconds? Ten minutes? Is that long enough to determine if you like them or not? So the candidate has a great smile, is good looking, has a way with words. So did Ted Bundy! That's how he got so many women to feel comfortable enough to let him get close enough to them so he could brutally murder them! Appearances are deceiving!
Qualifications are more important than likability. How qualified someone is to do a job matters so much more. Especially if you are not going to be spending a large amout time in close contact with this person. Let's say I'm looking to hire somone to paint my house. I have two guys applying for the job. One guy is a great painter. He has his own really successful painting business. As a matter of fact he has made quite a bit of money painting houses. However, he seems kind of awkward and doesn't seem to have that snazzy likability factor that would make me want to hang out with him. But, he says he will get the job done and for less money than what I expected to pay. The other guy however, has a great smile and is really cool. He has been running a government operated painting business for the last three years. The business is in debt and he hasn't gotten the number of houses painted that he promised he would paint. The houses he has painted don't look that hot, but he smiles and says it's the fault of the guy who ran the business before him. He gives me a quote that has all these hidden taxes in it. But he's so likable! Who should I hire? The guy who can paint my house without making a mess of it! Duh! Keep in mind we are not going to be hanging out and drinking beer together. I am hiring the guy to do a job. I want someone who can get the job done!
So you may think you like the guy, but you don't even know the guy. You like the image. Just like a mirage, it isn't real. The closer you get the faster it disappears. Look at the facts. Is he getting the job done? Unemployment 8.3%, economic growth 1.5%, gas prices up, inflation skyrocketing, consumer confidence down, national debt, deficit spending........the list could go on and on and on........There are so many bad things going on right now, it is hard to find something to like, let alone someone to like.
I know what I'd like; I'd like someone who could get this country working again. Someone who is qualified!
That's what I'd like!
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