It's A Question Of Character

So just exactly how much do you value character and integrity in a person?

Let's assume you're hiring someone for a position in your organization. You've narrowed the field down to two candidates. Both are qualified, although in your subjective opinion one - Candidate Q - is somewhat more qualified than the other. However, Candidate Q has some personal characteristics that give you pause; infidelity, multiple marriages, association with questionable characters, involvement with questionable causes, etc.

The other candidate - Candidate C - has a better track record in terms of character (charitable activities and contributions, a stable marriage, that sort of thing), but is, again in your subjective opinion, somewhat less qualified than Candidate C.

Which one do you choose? Do you pick the best person for the job, or do you subscribe to the theory that 'If you cheat on your wife, you'll cheat on your business partner?'

Obviously this is a poorly-disguised parallel to the question facing republican voters in the primaries. Romney has a squeaky-clean background in terms of marital fidelity. He also has a long-term record of charitable and religious commitment, including regular tithing. Say what you will about his politics, but I can't find anything questionable in his character.

Newt, on the other hand, has what could at best be described as a shaky track record in terms of marriage. There are also questions surrounding some of his past business associations. And there is the infamous video of him and pelosi together, advocating for global warming. But he is arguably better qualified, at least from a conservative perspective, for the position.

Just to muddy the waters a little further, flash back to the late 1990's. When Bill Clinton's womanizing came to light plenty of conservatives were saying "Character matters." If that was true then, it should be true now.

I'm torn. Newt is more acceptable to me from a policy standpoint, and I think he'd flat out destroy obama in a debate. But I don't trust Newt. I think he's primarily interested in what's good for Newt.

On the other hand, IMO Romney is just more of the same that we've suffered through for the last couple of decades, both R and D. I don't see anything in his policies that excites me, but there's nothing there that I strongly oppose, either. I think he could hold his own in a debate with obama. And I think he is a person of character and integrity, which I believe counts for something.

So back to the original question. How much do you value character and integrity in a person?

For me, personally, the answer is "Quite a bit."