Do you think Character is the single most important attribute in a leader?

Question

Hey $ so You would ask.

Answer 1

It's hard to pick the top defining attribute. So many define a person at their core. Honesty and integrity define character. Character define the person. Shallow answer to a deep question.........Yes.

Answer 2

I could give it a cheap shot and say, "George W. Bush is a 'character', but that hasn't helped him any." That aside, the fact is that on the Great Curve some people are saints and some are total turkeys and most of us fall in the middle range. Then there are 'good' leaders, and 'evil' leaders....both of which generally have 'strong' character. If you asked should a 'good' leader be decent and hardworking, be wise as Solomon, as forceful as either of the Roosevelts and as personable as Bill Clinton you'd have a better question. Add to the above a person a real understanding of history, a vision of the future, an education with depth, an upbringing that fostered ethical conduct, a respect for the Constitution, sympathy for the wage earner, the emotional stamina Lincoln and the physical stamina of a tri-athlete. Now you're looking at a 'leader' that we can have positive expectations for. All of these things bear on how a person will perform because all of these things and more equal 'character'. Test youself for leadership...how do you rate? Be honest!

Answer 3

Character is an important characteristic but NOT the most important. Some of the most bizarre and unconventional characters in our past have been some of our greatest leaders. People like Washington, Grant, Patton, Eisenhower, Douglas MacArthur, Kennedy, etc. But the one characteristics they all shared was trust. They had the full trust and support of the people they served. Something this current president lost a very long time ago.

Answer 4

depends on his values, what his charsacter will be...I define character (in as far as a politician) as honest and desiring to improve his country...with not so much a desre to improve the living conditions for all Americans, though that's important....but to be honest with the Constitution....One person will describe character quite a bit differently than another....just keep in mind that any person wanting to be president has a history of being a politician....and just because you are better than 90% of other politicians...it's not saying a lot....there are a lot of people that would make a better president than any running today, but they don't have the ego to drive them to grab power...I say there are none running that are perfect...and they do not deserve a blank check if elected

Answer 5

No. The most important attribute of a political leader is their position on the issues.

There's a popular example of this that describes (without naming) the character of Hitler, FDR, and Churchill, and asks which of them you'd prefer as a leader. Hitler didn't cheat on the people he dated, while FDR and Churchill did. Hitler didn't drink or smoke, while FDR and Churchill did. But clearly Churchill was a better leader than Hitler. (I won't comment on FDR.)

Answer 6

Used to. Until seeing who America chooses for the office of President. Now, it appears that whomever has the most money and can switch positions the fastest is chosen as the leader of this country.

People always answer yes to this type of question. Yet those same people defend their political party politicians, who display a blatant lack of character, tooth and nail.

Answer 7

Yes, for without character, you cannot trust a person as a leader. If you cannot trust a person in office, how can you expect them to run a country in a beneficial manner?

Answer 8

It's a very important consideration for President.

(for Congress it might be a bit of a liability)

I believe it is 2nd to common sense.

Answer 9

Yes

Answer 10

If you mean by "character" slick right-wing rhetoric (pro-Pentagon, corporate whores, pro-life dictatorialism, propogandist media) then no. Remember that it was "character" that enabled George Jr. to steal the 2000 election.