Rick Warren's Advice on Choosing a President

by Marcia Segelstein

Writing in the October issue of “Ladies Home Journal,” Pastor Rick Warren, author of “The Purpose Driven Life,” describes what he thinks people should look for when making their choice for President in November.

Character is the cornerstone. “The foundation of leadership is not competence or charisma, but character. Charismatic people are often assumed to be the best leaders, but it’s a trait that can be used for good or evil…Without character, charisma becomes a menace, used to manipulate situations for selfish reasons. Whether leading in business, education, politics or family, character always trumps charisma. What we desperately need in our leaders today is strong character.”

He then goes on to describe six qualities he believes a president should possess. Here’s a brief summary.

Compassion: “Great leaders genuinely care for and love the people they lead more than they love leading itself.”

Contemplation: “Great leaders build deep spiritual, emotional and intellectual reserves through prayer, quiet, reading and thinking about their responsibilities. They balance time spent in the public eye with time alone.”

Cheerfulness: “Notable leaders keep on believing in what’s right when everyone else wants to give in or give up. They believe in overcoming evil with good.”

Concentration: “Our next president needs to examine the three or four most critical issues facing America, not an exhaustive agenda of secondary problems.”

Courage: “Attacking tough issues takes great courage because the solutions aren’t always popular. Without courage, leaders are just slaves to shifting public opinion.”

Clear Conscience: “Personal integrity is vital because leadership is always built on trust.”