When I was younger I was told over and over and over that I was "charismatic." And once word got out, I was asked to speak everywhere. I turned no one down.
I even gave the Easter Sunrise Sermon at age 16 for my YMCA.
So I know a little something about speechmaking, about charisma and about what it means.
The person who gives the best speech is not necessarily the best candidate
I think now that one of the reasons I was so charismatic is I believed in what I was saying. And somehow my conviction or my belief combined with my intensity so that I usually knocked it out of the park for people.
Years later when I published a successful book and was asked to speak to the American Association of Univerity Women, the President of that group came up to me afterwards. "I didn't care what you were saying. You got a rhythm going and I just went with it," she confided. She was looking at me like I walked on water. But I felt uncomfortable. I wanted her to care about what I was saying. And clearly, she didn't. So what had been gained?
We are more animal than we generally acknowlege and charisma is connected to that animal realm in ways I still do not understand.
But I know charisma and a good speech aren't any reason to vote for someone.
You vote for someone I have learned because of their record, because of who their enemies are, because of their deeds and their actions. You vote for someone who you believe can act effectively with others to get things done. You vote for someone you believe can accomplish the things you believe need accomplishing.
As for the trust issues. Some of the biggest crooks in history have been the most sincere public speakers. Crooks and liars often fool us.
So I ask you:
Do you know the voting record of the candidate you endorse? Do you also when they didn't vote and why? Take away all the palaver, all the ballywhooed crapola and this is the bottom line.
Do you know how they behave under fire?
Do you know who their enemies are and why?
Do you believe your candidate can rise to the test in an emergency?
I can answer all these questions. I am not smitten by a nice turn of phrase or a sincere face. I know what my candidate Hillary Clinton will do.
Do you?