Charisma
As I mentioned in a comment on Claire’s post, Jesse Jackson and Robert Kennedy, Jr. are the most charismatic people I have ever met. I hate to admit this, but I was so mesmerized by Jackson that he probably could have convinced me to cease sports writing and join the Rainbow Coalition right then and there. Although I eventually came back to earth, I was nonetheless thoroughly charmed.
In part because of this experience, I am personally suspicious of charismatic politicians. I admire their confidence, and, when their policy orientation appeals to me, I love to see them succeed. (Go Chris Christie!) But on general principle, I am wary of personal magnetism.
The only time I have ever felt comforted by a politician because of his charisma was on 9/11. Like most everyone in New York City that day, I suppose, I was certain that the world was falling apart. When not checking in on friends and family, I was glued to the television, thankful for the steady confidence and competence of Mayor Rudy Giuliani.
I was at sea, emotionally and mentally, but I believed that if anyone could help us, Giuliani could. He answered all questions from the press directly. He didn’t hedge. He strung words together in artful ways despite being deeply exhausted. (For an inside look at his traumatic 9/11, you can learn about it tonight.)
Giuliani has flaws, both political and personal, but on that harrowing day, his charisma buoyed a jittery city.
Charisma helps politicians get elected and, in many cases, helps them “get stuff done” as they cajole and arm-twist for legislation or reform. But bad policies can come in charismatic packages. Freddie Mercury had charisma. I don’t think he was a conservative. FDR was perhaps the most charismatic president in recent history, but do we really want to go through that again?
More troubling, if we prize charisma too greatly, we may miss out on hidden gems. I never thought George W. Bush was a terribly magnetic public speaker, yet he was certainly competent. Like many, I expect that future events will prove him a prescient and brave leader.
My colleague Diane Ellis bristles at people who skewer Sarah Palin for her lack of extemporaneous speaking skill (a key subset of charisma, I would say). I’m not Palin’s biggest fan, but that particular criticism doesn’t resonate with me, either.
Diane wrote recently:
In 2008, I was very sensitive to people writing [Palin] off as "dumb" simply because she's not great at off the cuff responses. I similarly struggle orally articulating quick responses under pressure because I need a few moments to consider the question and gather my thoughts on the matter. I'd hate for people to judge me as stupid simply because I lack the verbal skills of a used car salesman.
So, what do you think? Who are the used car salesmen and who are the bold leaders with the speaking “gift” from God*? Does it matter? If so, how much?
*the word charisma comes from Greek kharisma meaning "favor, divine gift."
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Aug '10
Re: Charisma
Ursula Hennessey:
In part because of this experience, I am personally suspicious of charismatic politicians... Charisma helps politicians get elected and, in many cases, helps them “get stuff done” as they cajole and arm-twist for legislation or reform.
FDR was perhaps the most charismatic president in recent history, but do we really want to go through that again?
I think we are going through it again. I see Obama as FDR 2.0 (with Bush as his Hooverlike predecessor -- much maligned for supposedly too much free-market policy when in reality his economic policies were rather statist).
Oh, and Wilson apparently had charisma, too -- else how could the American people just roll over and accept all of Wilson's degrading and nutty intrusions into their lives -- "patriotism squads", reading their mail, etc?
I hope to be proven wrong, of course, but I'm still worried about eventually slipping into Great Depression 2.0 because of political charisma.
Edited on Sep 6, 2010 at 9:28amJul '10
Re: Charisma
I consider Sarah Palin to be anti-charismatic.
By which I mean that the gap between the idea of who she is - conservative, family-values anti-corruption crusader, etc. - and the reality of who she is - inarticulate, intellectually-lazy, unoriginal in thought and word - creates a tangible charisma vacuum.
I cannot think of a single public figure since Reagan and Thatcher who is genuinely charismatic, though Tony Blair, when addressing the global terrorist threat, is certainly courageous and rousing.
As for the rest of the "charismatics" - Jesse Jackson, Bill Clinton, Barack Obama - they have prospered by heeding the advice of Jean Giraudoux:
"The secret of success is sincerity. Once you can fake that, you've got it made."
Aug '10
Re: Charisma
It's always tempting to impute
Unlikely virtues to the cute.
- Ogden Nash
I'm always more suspicious of politicians when they have charisma.
Palin's charisma, much as I appreciate it in some ways, troubles me in others. Is it right for a politician to be so danged cute? Not that she wants to get away with evil stuff, to my mind, but with her charm, she could. And we all feel temptation...
I'm reassured when politicians are wooden, awkward -- I wish more politicians were like this. I think they'd get away with a lot less. In their time, Mussolini and Hitler were perceived as extremely charismatic -- women swooned -- (hard to see it now, maybe, but it happened).
Swooning's not a good sign.
I think even charisma that is the gift of God should be kept out of politics and saved for the pulpit. (I don't even want too much charisma in a pastor, either, unless I'm dead sure that charisma really does come from God.) That's why Huckabee gives me the extreme heebie-jeebies... He seems like the sort who might be convinced that his own charisma comes straight from God...
Shiver.
Edited on Sep 6, 2010 at 1:05pmJun '10
Re: Charisma
I'm not sure swooning is a good gauge of charisma, I mean look at Tiger Woods. There seems to have been plenty of swooning going on around him, and what did it get him, besides a hundred million dollar divorce suit that is. And then there is the Camelot couple themselves, Jack, Jacquie, and Marilyn, now that's not only charisma but great bone structure, and if that doesn't get your Cuban missle crisis going I don't know what would.
May '10
Re: Charisma
As I've argued elsewhere, Republicans will need to achieve their objectives at a breakneck pace to counteract the damage that Democrats have done to our country. That sort of effectiveness requires charismatic leaders. Yes, charisma can be abused, but that's no different than any other skill or advantage.
There are many types of charisma. There's the charisma of Steyn, who is spontaneously brilliant and combative, intimidating to people with weaker arguments. There's the charisma of Walt Disney and Reagan (and Bill Clinton), who were unfailingly warm and patient, putting people immediately at ease. There's the charisma of people like George Patton, who was a man of action, decisive and determined. And then there's the charisma of great orators.
Each of us is more attracted to some types of charisma than others. But I think what we're all looking for is charisma combined with humility and honesty.
Honest politicians, like Fred Thompson, speak their minds regardless of the political climate. They don't just talk policy, but also talk about the rationale and experiences that guided them toward such policy. They don't talk in sound bites.
Humility is harder to recognize.
Aug '10
Re: Charisma
Yeah, but do you remember the ugly mugs of Hitler and Mussolini? No way ladies swooned over them because of great bone structure. It had to be charisma.
Aaron Miller: As I've argued elsewhere, Republicans will need to achieve their objectives at a breakneck pace to counteract the damage that Democrats have done to our country. That sort of effectiveness requires charismatic leaders. Yes, charisma can be abused, but that's no different than any other skill or advantage.
....But I think what we're all looking for is charisma combined with humility and honesty...
Humility is harder to recognize.
Yeah. I know you're right. We need charisma, even if I don't like it. And honesty and especially humility are they guards against charismatic hubris. Now if only real humility were easier to recognize...
Jul '10
Re: Charisma
Here in Canada, we went through charisma with Pierre Elliott Trudeau, who wrecked the country.
Many years later, we have Stephen Harper, who looks and acts with all the charisma of a competent banker... thank gracious.
Kenneth, your Palin rant is so very ridiculous.
Jul '10
Re: Charisma
heathermc: Here in Canada, we went through charisma with Pierre Elliott Trudeau, who wrecked the country.
Many years later, we have Stephen Harper, who looks and acts with all the charisma of a competent banker... thank gracious.
Kenneth, your Palin rant is so very ridiculous. · Sep 6 at 12:38pm
Ah, ah, ah. Not enough to dismiss my premise as a "ridiculous rant" That's not argument, it's just contradiction:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=teMlv3ripSM
I expect better than that of you.
I would go so far as to say, quite sincerely, that you have shown far more intellectual heft in a dozen posts here than Palin has in her two-year-long vanity road show.
So now go ahead and tell me that Palin is smarter than you.
She is!
Is not!
Is so!
Edited on Sep 6, 2010 at 3:26pmRe: Charisma
My own one and only encounter with the Rev. Jesse Jackson? A couple of decades ago, after a few games of squash, a fellow Reagan speechwriter and I headed into the health club steam room. A moment later, the door swung open and a big man strode energetically in. "I'm Jesse Jackson," he said, working his way around the room, shaking hands with each of the four or five sweat-covered men. "I'm Jesse Jackson, how do you do? Hi, hello. I'm Jesse Jackson." Charisma? Zero. The Rev. Jackson took his seat and began to do what all of us were doing. He began to sweat.
When the temperature is 120 degrees, Ursula, and he's clad only in a towel, the Rev. Jesse Jackson--and I truly hate to disappoint you here--is nobody special, believe me.
Jul '10
Re: Charisma
Peter Robinson: My own one and only encounter with the Rev. Jesse Jackson? A couple of decades ago, after a few games of squash, a fellow Reagan speechwriter and I headed into the health club steam room. A moment later, the door swung open and a big man strode energetically in. "I'm Jesse Jackson," he said, working his way around the room, shaking hands with each of the four or five sweat-covered men. "I'm Jesse Jackson, how do you do? Hi, hello. I'm Jesse Jackson." Charisma? Zero. The Rev. Jackson took his seat and began to do what all of us were doing. He began to sweat.
When the temperature is 120 degrees, Ursula, and he's clad only in a towel, the Rev. Jesse Jackson--and I truly hate to disappoint you here--is nobody special, believe me. · Sep 6 at 3:38pm
Well, I hope you at least got some speech-writing tips. Jesse has got that magic rhyme and rhythm thing.
I've always liked his "It's not the flames in the brains, it's the planes and the trains" speech.
Or at least I think it was that one.
May '10
Re: Charisma
In the age of television, charisma counts for a lot and can be used legitimately to influence public opinion as long as it doesn't become a substitute for real leadership and competence.
Charisma has had a bad rap in recent times because of abuses by religious leaders, politicians and celebrities.
As you say, Ursula... charisma can be very reassuring and sometimes that is all that is needed to bring a bit of calm to a potentially volatile situation.
Mussolini and Hitler's charisma, I suspect, mostly came from their ability to draw in a crowd with words.
It's been a while since I've read Max Weber's essay on this topic. Might be worth a look.
Re: Charisma
Peter Robinson:
When the temperature is 120 degrees, Ursula, and he's clad only in a towel, the Rev. Jesse Jackson--and I truly hate to disappoint you here--is nobody special, believe me. · Sep 6 at 3:38pm
Aha! You have presented us all with the answer, Mr. Robinson! All political debates, from this moment forward, must have a dress code of *only* a single white towel. (Well, maybe two for female candidates.) That will certainly push humility and honesty to the forefront for us all to see, or not see. No wonder you are the brain behind Ricochet...
Jul '10
Re: Charisma
Palin is a very good politician. That is different from being 'intellectual.' She is buzzing around the US helping out various conservative type politicians, and she seems to be picking winners.
And... she cut the municipal budget back in Wasilla. Do you know how difficult that is?
It is probable that she isn't interested in the details of the decline and fall of the Roman Empire, BUT by gosh she knows how to politick. And since she seems to love the USA (unlike Obama; Trudeau really didn't approve of Canada either), and supports the same ideas as I do, well, Palin is MAGNIFICENT.
May '10
Re: Charisma
Palin was my governor. Heathermc has it right; Kenneth has it exactly backwards. I've said it before, the McCain campaign served her ill in the roll out. In addition, her own discomforts in the early hostile (and edited!) interviews, combined with an elite just aching to see such an attractive woman fulfill all of their prejudices, really doomed her. Nonetheless, she's bounced back and done an amazing job for the GOP.
Jul '10
Re: Charisma
heathermc: Palin is a very good politician. That is different from being 'intellectual.' She is buzzing around the US helping out various conservative type politicians, and she seems to be picking winners.
And... she cut the municipal budget back in Wasilla. Do you know how difficult that is?
It is probable that she isn't interested in the details of the decline and fall of the Roman Empire, BUT by gosh she knows how to politick. And since she seems to love the USA (unlike Obama; Trudeau really didn't approve of Canada either), and supports the same ideas as I do, well, Palin is MAGNIFICENT. · Sep 6 at 4:11pm
Whatever happened to Margaret Trudeau? Now there was a First Lady a nation could be proud of.
And I loved Pierre's wide floral ties with that Prince of Wales knot the size of a Big Mac.
Unfortunately, groovy and good governance seemed not to be a good mix.
Jul '10
Re: Charisma
What exactly has she done for the GOP, other than show up to deliver the same incoherent, hackneyed speech at Tea Party events organized by others?
And bestowing her endorsement on, for the most part, clear front-runners?
Aug '10
Re: Charisma
The best extemporaneous speakers among national GOPers are Newt Gingrich and Mike Huckabee. Offhand I cannot think of a close third that I've seen.
Re: Charisma
There's charisma and then there's charisma! Reagan and Clinton had both, in abundance. I met Bill Clinton once and was zapped by 6000 volts of synthetic charm -- synthetic because all we did, really, was shake hands. And that's appropriate -- a president's charisma is mostly the distant, guy-on-the-rope-line kind. I ate dinner once with Jeanne Kirkpatrick and was jolted by charm, too. But a different kind.
Palin's got enormous amounts of charm and charisma, I think. And those are crucial presidential skills. But they're not the only crucial presidential skills.
May '10
Re: Charisma
Clear front-runners like Joe Miller, you mean?
Kenneth, you are choosing to ignore significant accomplishments in the service of, well, I don't know what. That's your problem. So you hate Palin. Oh well. Apparently, nothing I or anyone else here says will change that, so attempting dialogue doesn't seem to have much point.
May '10
Re: Charisma
Oh now Caryn don't be like that. I think even Kenneth would agree that debating Palin is one of those "shiny objects" that Peggy Noonan has advised we avoid for now.
Sarah is not my nominee, but if she's running for president against Obama in 2012, she'll have my vote. I'm almost guaranteed to like her VP pick.