OPINION:
“Hillary Clinton’s honesty problem may end up not being much of a problem at all,” writes Ben Wolfgang (“Hillary Clinton still backed by voters, with honesty issues aside,” Web, June 19). Indeed, that which was once regarded as imperative among most voters — character — is no longer a matter of paramount concern, even when it comes to the election of the president of the United States.
There was a time when character was regarded as a prerequisite for those aspiring to public office. This was eloquently expressed in President George Washington’s farewell address: “Of all the dispositions and habits which lead to political prosperity, religion and morality are indispensable supports.”
Few people would be inclined to do business with an operator of ill repute. Why is the character of the president deemed less important than, say, the local car dealer or the neighborhood grocer? If honesty issues are a pressing concern in the minds of most consumers, should character not play an even more important role in the election of the nation’s commander in chief?
BRIAN STUCKEY
Denver
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