Why Character Matters and Why Presidents Must Have It

Character counts and it is urgently needed in our upcoming presidential election. Why? It is vital that we elect a President who can bring us together as a nation and build a more moral government. If voters accomplish this, we will teach our country, our future leaders, and the world how to behave.

I spent my career teaching high school students that actions have consequences. If they acted inappropriately, as adolescents often do, I asked them to take responsibility. I encouraged them to treat others with respect and dignity. I tried to create an inclusive, safe environment within a diverse population. As they got closer to graduation, I counselled them on the importance of speaking truthfully, professionally, and intelligently as they left our humble hallways to take their place in the world.

Character defines the moral and ethical choices we make as citizens. Our children are watching to see what this behavior looks like. Our country’s political leaders, especially our President, must exhibit positive traits. We need a leader who follows behaviors that we want others to imitate. This includes taking responsibility for their actions, and listening to, and learning from, opposing points of view.

There is an argument that character is not important in politics because previous presidents had personality flaws. One needs to look no further than the extramarital affairs of former presidents Bill Clinton and John Kennedy. Listen to the Watergate tapes and you’ll learn…