More on Failed Leadership and Character

My apologies for chattering today, but it's impossible not to be fascinated by some of the commentary about leadership in our nation as the campaign unfolds.

The following is from an article by Mitchell Bard at Huffington Post, on how smears of others' character is the ultimate resort of failed leaders (www.huffingtonpost.com/mitchell-bard/mccains-desperate-smears_b_132617.html):

If Americans want any hope of changing the culture of failed leadership that the United States has endured for the last eight years, they have to reject a candidate who has allowed himself to fall into the gutter, and who has displayed an acute lack of understanding of what is needed in a challenging time.

Absolutely true, it seems to me. When the only weapon in a "leader's" arsenal is to smear others, then that leader reveals a serious character flaw. Good leadership depends on a leader's strength of character--demonstrated character. The diversionary tactic of smearing the character of others to draw attention away from one's own lack of character only underscores the emptiness of the one going on the attack.

+ + + + +

Well, I can't stop. The more I read, the more I find. I highly recommend Baratunde Thurston's "Silence in the Face of Hate Makes McCain-Palin Unfit to Lead" on Huffington Post (www.huffingtonpost.com/baratunde-thurston/silence-in-the-face-of-ha_b_132660.html).

Excerpts:

Everything we need to know about John McCain and Sarah Palin is summed up by their reaction to these incidents [i.e., to the hate rhetoric spewed at their recent rallies]. Their positions on health care no longer matter. Their tax policies are irrelevant. Their talking points have been made moot. Not only do they bring out the worst in people, but they feed the worst in people. They are basing their campaign on painting Obama as a terrorist and monster. They are cultivating prejudice, racism, fear and ugliness.

America has been down this path before, and it is the exact opposite of what this country needs right now. . . .

We can be a better nation than this, and we deserve better leaders than these.

Amen. And if we don't stop it--we who stand by in silence as it's being done--then we'd better be preparing for the fire next time.