Do we care why our candidates WANT to be president?

[Sabine]

Please don''t flame me for this, but I''ve only grown to care about politics recently, and I''m still doing a lot of catching up. I''ve never actually watched a debate...

But, do we ever ask our candidates why in the world they would actually want this job?

I only ask because I''ve been working with students to prepare them for both job interviews and college interviews, and that is one of the most telling questions that interviewers ask. But I don''t know if I''d be swayed by what the candidate would want to get out of the job as much as by what we can get out of the candidate.

 

[SarahLovesJS]

No flaming Sabine, I think it is great that you''re getting involved now! Better late than never, right? I am the only kid I know that was watching the debates at 5..I was weird.

Haha, but anyway. I think it''s an important question that rarely if at all gets asked. I''d like to know the answer at least from both candidates.

We should see if it was asked in the Saddleback forum (sp) I am not sure it was.

 

[HollyS]

Good question. Yes, it matters to me WHY my candidate wants to be president. 'Cause this is one tough job; and no one in their right mind would really 'want' to be ultimately responsible for his country and much of the free world . . . would they?

McCain, from what I can see, truly believes it is a job of service to the country he loves. I don't get the impression from him that he thinks the presidency is the pinnacle of his resume.

I won't presume to speak for Mr. Obama.

 

[luckystar112]

Date: 9/24/2008 2:02:40 PM
Author: HollyS
Good question. Yes, it matters to me WHY my candidate wants to be president. ''Cause this is one tough job; and no one in their right mind would really ''want'' to be ultimately responsible for his country and much of the free world . . . would they?

McCain, from what I can see, truly believes it is a job of service to the country he loves. I don''t get the impression from him that he thinks the presidency is the pinnacle of his resume.

I won''t presume to speak for Mr. Obama.

Ditto. Everything.

 

[Sabine]

I get the feeling from Obama, or at least I did at first, that he wanted the job because he honestly felt he could make a positive change. That''s one of the reasons I like him. But I don''t necessarily know why he would be able to do this (and I think most from both sides will agree that we do need some sort of positive change, regardless of what that is) better than everyone else.

 

[Inanna]

In 2002, John McCain wrote in his memoir "Worth Fighting For" why he ran for president in 2000:

I didn’t decide to run for president to start a national crusade for the political reforms I believed in or to run a campaign as if it were some grand act of patriotism. In truth, I wanted to be president because it had become my ambition to be president... In truth, I’d had the ambition for a long time

That is perhaps one of the most honest answers a person could ask for, in my opinion. It also greatly concerns me about his 2008 candidacy. Realistically I know personal ambition is always a factor, but I also hope (maybe I''m naive) that it isn''t the primary factor for most candidates.

 

[MoonWater]

Date: 9/24/2008 2:59:40 PM
Author: Inanna
In 2002, John McCain wrote in his memoir ''Worth Fighting For'' why he ran for president in 2000:

I didn’t decide to run for president to start a national crusade for the political reforms I believed in or to run a campaign as if it were some grand act of patriotism. In truth, I wanted to be president because it had become my ambition to be president... In truth, I’d had the ambition for a long time

That is perhaps one of the most honest answers a person could ask for, in my opinion. It also greatly concerns me about his 2008 candidacy. Realistically I know personal ambition is always a factor, but I also hope (maybe I''m naive) that it isn''t the primary factor for most candidates.

Oh wow. Great of him to be honest but I didn''t expect that response.

 

[luckystar112]

Date: 9/24/2008 5:04:40 PM
Author: MoonWater

Date: 9/24/2008 2:59:40 PM
Author: Inanna
In 2002, John McCain wrote in his memoir ''Worth Fighting For'' why he ran for president in 2000:

I didn’t decide to run for president to start a national crusade for the political reforms I believed in or to run a campaign as if it were some grand act of patriotism. In truth, I wanted to be president because it had become my ambition to be president... In truth, I’d had the ambition for a long time

That is perhaps one of the most honest answers a person could ask for, in my opinion. It also greatly concerns me about his 2008 candidacy. Realistically I know personal ambition is always a factor, but I also hope (maybe I''m naive) that it isn''t the primary factor for most candidates.

Oh wow. Great of him to be honest but I didn''t expect that response.

haha...I''ll admit, did NOT expect that either. I tip my hat to you, Inanna.
Now let''s see if Obama fesses up anytime soon.