Readers React: Why Hillary Clinton needs to prove her trustworthiness

To the editor: Doyle McManus reminds us why CNN anchor Anderson Cooper’s controversial question to Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Rodham Clinton — “Will you say anything to get elected?” — was fair. In candidates, authenticity is a surrogate for honesty and trustworthiness. (“Campaign 2016’s quixotic quest for ‘authenticity,’” Op-Ed, Nov. 1)

In a previous column, McManus got a Clinton spokeswoman to admit to him that the campaign doesn’t want to talk about truth, honesty or trustworthiness.

When Americans were lied to about the Gulf of Tonkin incident (President Lyndon Johnson) or Iraqi weapons of mass destruction (President George W. Bush), it led to quagmires that killed hundreds of thousands of people and the spending of trillions of dollars that could have gone toward healthcare, education, infrastructure and debt reduction.

As a lifelong Democrat, I believe the most important thing for the electorate to focus on is the substance of Cooper’s question. When presidents lie, people die.

Howard C. Mandel, Los Angeles

..

To the editor: The quest for authenticity springs from people’s natural desire to know if they like someone. Understanding that political candidates are packaged and polished for mass appeal, we value glimpses of the “real” person.

The glimpses themselves can be manufactured, of course, but the human impulse involved is strong.

Even in this hyper-partisan age, when issues and ideology should dominate, the more likable of next year’s presidential nominees will probably win, as has been the case since 1980.

Michael Smith, Cynthiana, Ky.

Follow the Opinion section on Twitter @latimesopinion and Facebook