You know there are a lot of clichés out there like “don’t judge a book by its cover,” or a very apropos quote by Stephen Covey, the author, “Public behavior is merely private character writ large.”

I have been thinking about those types of “character” issues because of the Adam Kokesh interview last night. See, I’m a libertarian. And his overall ideals fit in exactly with mine. And he really talked a good game last night. His handler and coach must be really proud. I was impressed.

And then I look at what is underneath the glossy, slick, and oh-so-properly presented Candidate For Office and I cannot reconcile the two.

We all have a past. Good decisions and bad litter our histories like grains of sand on a smooth clean floor. You can’t walk across that floor without seeing the evidence or feeling that grit between your toes. Nobody is perfect. But there are different underlying reasons for the bad decisions that make a difference in the character of our person. I may make a bad financial decision and end up in the poor house. But I won’t make a bad decision that purposefully hurts another person. It’s not in my character.

Adam Kokesh’s character is lacking. He is comfortable with declaring himself a former Marine Sergeant. Yes, at one time, he was that rank. But when he left, he was a lower rank. What if a Staff Sergeant was busted down to a Private? Is it morally right and relevant to say he was a SSG in the Army and to use that highest rank achieved as a selling point when ultimately, he or she did something egregious enough to garner a demotion? That is a reflection of character. Misdirection, sleight-of-hand, details left out.

So then we come back to what I was thinking about…does that lack of character, or maybe excess of a certain type of character bode well or ill for an elected officer? Do you judge a candidate by the issues and talking points alone, or do you look at the overall candidate, including the evidence of past and present character flaws, and try to decide if that candidate is worthy of your vote?

Unfortunately, last night there was not enough time to dig deeper into what many of us consider serious issues and activities that Kokesh chose to engage in. We are not in his district and won’t be voting for him, so in the end, I guess it doesn’t matter, but it is a serious thought exercise.