The Whole Package

How many times have we heard a beautiful woman say of male suitors, “They only want me for my looks,” or a wealthy man say, “They only want me because I’m rich,” when speaking of the women pursuing him? (To be clear, these are only templates, you can reverse genders or plug in the orientations that suit you.)

Those comments hold, however, until each finds a suitable partner, who can accept them as a whole human being. In such cases, the man or woman may actually be grateful that their looks or their money helped attract the right candidate, who accepts their totality, including both their advantages and their flaws.

I believe that elections are no different. While it’s true that single issues or party affiliation may determine how some people vote on candidates, it’s my feeling that most voters are making choices about whole human beings and their personal qualities, not simply their stand on one issue or even bundles of issues. Why do blue states sometimes have red governors, or vice versa? Why was Republican Mitt Romney elected governor of liberal Massachusetts, or Roy Cooper, a Democrat, picked to run a red Southern state like North Carolina? Why did James Carville, a Democrat, marry Mary Matalin, a solid Republican?

Dick Cheney and his daughter Liz, both conservative Republicans, are holding their noses in almost a death grip to support Kamala Harris. No, Harris will never convert them into liberals, but the Cheneys are willing to see her as President, at least for the next four years. While they disagree with her, probably very sharply, on many issues, they, and a fair number of fellow Republicans, are admitting that she has the necessary presidential qualities that they don’t see in their own party’s candidate. They simply don’t want to run what appears to be a risk in voting for him, even though they might see that as a win on many of the issues they support.

The ability to entertain and activate an audience is a useful attribute for anyone running for office. But when people are seeking a marriage partner, a business partner, or, if you will, a political partner, the two things in common that they need to feel for their choice are trust and respect. It now seems pretty clear to many voters in whom they are going to place those things.