Is a Politician's Public Image more Important than his Ideas?

A politician's public image is more important than his or her ideas.
Describe a specific situation in which a politician's ideas might be more important than his or her public image. Discuss what you think determines when a politician's public image might be more important than his or her ideas and when it might not.
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When politicians are voted into office, they are expected to move forward an agenda benefiting their constituency. They make numerous promises on the campaign trail and promote a type of government working for the best interests of the people. A politician's ideas continue to be important once sitting in office but his public image often becomes the most crucial factor in being re-elected. However, ideas become more important than public image in the case that a politician wants to create radical change and introduce news ways of thinking in the public consciousness.

Politicians are most effective in office (as opposed to out of office) with their considerable amount of power. To stay in office, they must maintain an image palatable to average Americans. This is generally seen as a traditional family man with who believes in God. For example, candidates tarred by a sex scandal or rumored to not hold Judeo-Christian beliefs will have a difficult time voted into office. As a result, many politicians need to pay extra attention to how they present themselves in public. Their ability to work effectively with opposing parties or propose creative ways for resolving problems often do not carry as much weight as the image of politicians' "moral" standing within the community.

Of course, ideas play some importance in one's electability and a politician's government philosophies get scrutinized by the press and academics. However, most Americans do not really care too much for the implications of ideas. They are satisfied making judgments based on 30-second sound bites. Rather, they want someone in office who they could see themselves having a beer with. For example, several presidents in the last few decades have been chosen not for their ideas and brain power but for their likeability among a common crowd. Presidents Ronald Reagan and G.W. Bush have been judged by most to be intellectually inferior to their election opponents; however, they ended up victorious due their palatable public image.

Most politicians go into politics with the intention of staying in power --i.e., being re-elected. In this case, image becomes paramount. However, there are others who enter politics mostly to promote their ideals. Third-party presidential candidates are examples of politicians who perhaps care more about their message than their image and electability. These candidates tend to be a bit radical and espouse ideas not in line with most American people. However, their ideas enter the public consciousness and in some cases can affect status quo down the line. Ross Perot is an example of a third-party presidential candidate whose ideas surrounding small government became influential with Tea Party politicians leading the polls today.


Indeed, whether a politician's image is more important than his ideas depend on the goals of the politician. If the politician wishes to maintain power, he must be cognizant of the image he displays in public and make himself likeable to regular Americans. Ideas become more important than image in the case where a politician hopes to make profound change in government. While he may not be successful in running for office, his ideas receive an amount of publicity that may create changes in the status quo.