Now that the gears of the political machine have shifted once again — from election to installation — it’s worth paying close attention to the language of public perception and opinion. I’m especially cognizant, here, of the PR gymnastics our new Speaker of the House, Rep. Nancy Pelosi, is training for. In a recent news article about her celebration party in D.C., one of Pelosi’s PR strategists noted how important it will be to frame her public image as a loving, East Coast grandmother before her political opposition is able to frame her as a radical, California feminist. How strange, I thought, that she couldn’t possibly be framed positively as both.
So, too, with Sen. Barack Obama, who’s quietly waging his own PR battle over his choice to be honest and transparent, in his first book, about his drug use as a young person. Some criticize his former indiscretion. Others praise his openness.
So all this got me to wondering, once again, how it is that faithful Christians are to wade through this barrage of PR strategy? On what bases are we to select our elected leaders, given the manipulation of their public images, both for and against?
What values do you look for in your elected leadership?
What kind of character do you look for?
What issues are the most important to you as a person of faith?
