Your Opinion: Criteria for assessing candidates

Dear Editor:

After watching the numerous Republican primary candidate debates, I guess I still marvel at the moderator's and the media's fascination and attempts to destroy the candidates based on their personal history.

I guess it's okay if you possess the arrogance of one who's self esteem has been inflated to create the perfect ego. I, for one, am not perfect and to my knowledge no one in history has been except Jesus Christ.

Others however, like Bob Boldt and most liberal Democrats, think all Republicans should be flawless and yet attempt to excuse any and all questionable behavior by their ilk. Boldt has achieved a new low for even him with reference to Mr. Gingrich as scum.

Considering our country's present economic status and respect on the world stage, I sincerely hope the citizens of this great nation would first and foremost look at a person's qualifications and experience.

I would guess, most if not all the readers of the News Tribune have submitted an application and/or resume for a job. I wonder how many applications have asked anything about how many marriages and/or affairs you've had or what your religious convictions are.

I wonder how many resumes Boldt has submitted that he voluntarily included that type of personal information so the employer could use that in his decision making process. Based on Boldt's letter published Dec. 13, I'm sure he wouldn't mind as I'm guessing he's close to perfect and has nothing to hide.

I think your readers should consider one's qualifications, abilities and accomplishments first for the job of president just as they would for any employee.

Remember, although we now have a president who is acting like a king; he's really our employee just as are all elected public servants.

Granted, everyone has to also consider one's demeanor, which is always subjectively analyzed by a job interview. The debates should qualify as an interview. I feel Gingrich's demeanor on stage is what has the left in a panic. The left is terrified to think how Mr. teleprompter would do in a debate against Gingrich.

I would hope all your readers would read the comprehensive resume of Newt Gingrich on http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Newt_Gingrich#Speaker_ of_the_House and use that and his performance in the debates as the primary source of information on Gingrich's resume of qualifications and demonstrated abilities to be president of these United States.