A question for the Escapist community

[TheRussian]

a) Seems like a valid point
b) Seems merely a technicality
c) Don't really have an opinion

 

[cookyy2k]

Hmm..I would Vote for your President..I'm hoping for an Openly gay president here in America myself. I only agree with reason A that your friend gave as his only Valid point.

Why are you hoping for an openly gay president in America? I'd say it shouldn't matter one bit what the president's sexuality, race, gender or anything is as long as he is the best person for the job. I really don't get (note I'm from the UK, so I don't get a lot about the presidential campaign etc.) why it was such a big deal what colour Obama was, be it positive (African-American community going on about it) or negative (all the rubbish about his birth certificate/nationality). Although as stated due to being from the UK I only see snippets of information on the topic.

 

[Caffiene]

Point A might be relevant, if the particular reason they did alternate service indicates they have a fundamental problem with duties they would be required to perform... For example, if they did alternate service because they have a phobia of soldiers, that might not be a great quality for the Commander-In-Chief to have. If it was for physical reasons, or because of a rational objection, then theres no reason for it to be relevant.

Points B and C have no rational basis that I can think of.

As others have implied by calling him a bigot, it would seem that your friend is confusing requirements for President with qualities that he personally wants in a President. What he personally wants in a president is (I assume, without knowing Finland's election system) what his vote is used for, its not grounds for disqualifying a candidate.

 

[Blow_Pop]

Personally someone should be elected for any country based on the merits of how well they can do their job. Sex, sexuality, relationship status none of it matters. It won't affect how qualified you are to do the job if you are gay, straight, black, white, purple, etc...The only time I find religion comes into play is if *ahemsomeofamerica'scantidatesahem* you are so overtly religious that you feel everyone should following the law to a more religious context than it is written. As long as he is qualified then why does the fact he is gay, have a partner, and did alternate service have anything to do with it? He at least did some service. Regardless of his reasons on why he didn't do military service he at least did his service like he was suppose to.

 

[Del Spaig]

My own personal view is that politicians should be judged by their politics and by how they do their job, not based on their personal lives or similar unrelated stuff.

Unless I missed my guess, this is what the OP is actually asking about. Of course his friend is a moron, that's obvious. Whether or not to consider a candidate's personal lives when choosing who to vote is kind of an interesting question.

I'll use Newt Gingrich as an example, because he's topical for me. Brief summary for those who are (understandably) not paying attention to the American Republican Presidential Primaries: Newt Gingrich is a candidate, he's pretty conservative, and has been taking a lot of flak recently for the rather miserable way he's treated his wives (all three of them).

The question as applied here would be: does that equal unsuitability as a President (or other, similar leader)? It's not like he's going to be marrying the country and then sleeping with Iran on the side or something. But on the flip side, there is quite a bit of hypocrisy involved in doing that sort of thing while running your campaign partially on "family values".

Also, something else to keep in mind - we've had some fairly awesome Presidents who were also not terribly faithful to their spouses. Hell, JFK wasn't even bothering to hide it most of the time. Newt isn't really as personable as Kennedy, but does -that- matter?

 

[kyle_silver]

Well..I am hoping for an Openly gay president so that America can finally come out of the dark-ages. As being gay is still close to becoming illegal..We cannot get married except in a few states, like a handful really.. If you wish to continue this, we could always move to a PM?

 

[The .50 Caliber Cow]

I think a gay president would be awesome for Finland. Vote on merit, not on sexual preference!

[sub][sub]Moo! [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f9iIgQN5uZE&feature=related][/sub][/sub]

 

[GrimTuesday]

Your friend is a fucking idiot, none of these things should really have any bareing on whether or not a person is fit to lead. I don't get why there is some issue with his not serving in the military, its not like serving in the military makes one a good leader or even a worthwhile human being. If my opinion were asked, I would say that one's credentials are won by what they have done over the course of their political career.