Tired people tell the truth.
Quite a few people bemoan the length of our presidential primaries and other election campaigns these days – I don’t. For a brief period, people can maintain an act or deliver what you want to hear, but eventually, when they become exhausted from the rigors of a long campaign and the monotony of answering the same old questions, they will reveal their true feelings or beliefs. In addition, when you are speaking to a niche audience with a particular ideology or playing to the base, it takes a strong personality to say what you believe they need to hear rather than what they want to hear. Whether you agree with him or not, Ron Paul (who has no chance of winning) has been consistent on this front while the others adjust their rhetoric to fit the moment and forget their own checkered past. The good news is that when people get tired and consistently challenged, they usually end up telling the truth. This past week, Rick Santorum served as an example.
I used to believe that people prefer leaders who are honest and true to their beliefs rather than someone who is media savvy and ideologically malleable when it suits them. This is why most politicians aren’t typically held in high esteem. We frequently witness them lying or changing their positions on various issues. They also have this uncanny ability to distance themselves from their own track record with minimal remorse or regret. They also use faulty explanations to rationalize why they did what they did. You can almost hear the consultants whispering in their ears, telling them what to say and how to act. I like the fact that at least they must keep this up for a prolonged period and under intensive scrutiny when running for high office. I want my candidates from both parties to be tired and a bit cranky. At least you know where they truly stand. Then you can make an informed decision.
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