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What characteristics make a good leader? What characteristicsmake a good leader?

Annie, 27, Illinois, Leans Democrat

Aaliyah, 23, Florida, Independent

Barrett, 39, Texas, Leans Democrat

For all the attention Liz Cheney, Mike Pence and Cassidy Hutchinson have received recently, their acts of political bravery standing up to Donald Trump and facing threats to their safety and future as a result are hardly defining features of our current political moment. Bravery and courage are not only leadership traits seldom seen by Americans but also qualities subject to debate: By refusing to go along with Mr. Trumps subversion of the election, was Mr. Pence brave or simply doing his job? Is Ms. Cheney courageous in her pursuit of Mr. Trump, or is she thumbing her nose at the many Wyoming Republicans who elected her and still embrace him?

In our latest Times Opinion focus group, which took place before the July Fourth weekend, a mix of 10 Democrats, independents and Republicans said they were hungry for leadership. They admired people they saw as patriots, like Ms. Cheney, President Volodymyr Zelensky of Ukraine and, in some cases, President Biden for making the hard call to withdraw American troops from Afghanistan. But what several of them wanted leaders willing to tell hard truths, go against the grain, stand up for something unpopular seemed to them qualities belonging to past leaders: Winston Churchill, the suffragists, Moses. Still, they saw glimmers in politicians like Pete Buttigieg, Katie Porter and Joe Manchin, though Mr. Manchin divided the group sharply.

We wanted to understand how Americans saw political bravery and courage and who they saw displaying it in an era when political posturing, attacks and stunts are so much more common. The conversation ultimately turned back toward ourselves, with a Democrat from California arguing that Americans get the politicians they deserve that, in other words, if politicians today arent brave and courageous, it might be because we arent brave and courageous, either.

Mr. Healy is the deputy Opinion editor. Mr. Rivera is an editorial assistant in Opinion.

Barrett 39, Texas, White, Consultant, Leans Democrat

Aaliyah 23, Florida, Asian, Tech, Independent

Tiffany 30, Georgia, Black, Clothing Designer, Leans Democrat

Angel 25, Ohio, Asian, Engineer, Leans Republican

David 56, Massachusetts, White, Adminstrative Support, Independent

Annie 27, Illinois, White, Consultant, Leans Democrat

Susan 64, New Jersey, White, Retired, Independent

Jeremiah 47, Arizona, Black, Truck Driver, Independent

Roger 51, California, Black, Real Estate Broker, Leans Democrat

Barry 57, California, White, Retired, Independent

Moderator, Kristen Soltis Anderson

Who do you think of as a good leader?

Roger, 51, California, Black, Real Estate Broker, Leans Democrat

First person that comes to mind is Barack Obama.

Annie, 27, Illinois, White, Consultant, Leans Democrat

Angela Merkel.

David, 56, Massachusetts, White, Adminstrative Support, Independent

Barack Obama and the coach of my beloved Celtics, Ime Udoka.

Angel, 25, Ohio, Asian, Engineer, Leans Republican

Elon Musk.

Tiffany, 30, Georgia, Black, Clothing Designer, Leans Democrat

LeBron James.

Barry, 57, California, White, Retired, Independent

George W. Bush.

Jeremiah, 47, Arizona, Black, Truck Driver, Independent

The mayor of Long Beach, Robert Garcia. Hes wonderful, and he's coming up quickly on the platform.

Aaliyah, 23, Florida, Asian, Tech, Independent

Bill Gates.

Moderator, Kristen Soltis Anderson

What characteristics make a good leader?

Jeremiah, 47, Arizona, Black, Truck Driver, Independent

Effective communication.

Annie, 27, Illinois, White, Consultant, Leans Democrat

Compassion, understanding, being a servant leader.

David, 56, Massachusetts, White, Adminstrative Support, Independent

Honesty.

Aaliyah, 23, Florida, Asian, Tech, Independent

Consistency.

Roger, 51, California, Black, Real Estate Broker, Leans Democrat

Clear direction.

Barrett, 39, Texas, White, Consultant, Leans Democrat

Straightforward, no sugarcoating.

Tiffany, 30, Georgia, Black, Clothing Designer, Leans Democrat

Not being afraid of doing what is right, no matter what everyone else thinks.

Moderator, Kristen Soltis Anderson

How do you define bravery? What does it mean to be brave?

Susan, 64, New Jersey, White, Retired, Independent

You see a situation, have a solution, and you go and you do it. You pretty much do it without fear because you have a level of confidence that you know what youre doing.

Angel, 25, Ohio, Asian, Engineer, Leans Republican

Bravery is not being afraid to do something that you want to do. It does not necessarily have to be the right thing. Its just going for what you believe in, regardless of whos watching you.

Aaliyah, 23, Florida, Asian, Tech, Independent

Being someone whos able to confront things that other people arent able to confront.

Barrett, 39, Texas, White, Consultant, Leans Democrat

Being brave is being willing to stand up for someone else.

Jeremiah, 47, Arizona, Black, Truck Driver, Independent

I would include that you do what you do because you need to, you have to or you want to, regardless of those consequences.

Moderator, Patrick Healy

A show-of-hands question: Do you think American political leaders today are brave when it comes to making tough decisions? [Nobody raises a hand.]

David, 56, Massachusetts, White, Adminstrative Support, Independent

Do I think some politicians are brave? Yes. But overall, as a unit, I dont think politicians are very brave. I think theyre beholden to what or who theyre beholden to, regardless of whats best for their constituents.

Tiffany, 30, Georgia, Black, Clothing Designer, Leans Democrat

I dont think theyre brave. I just feel like there are a lot of things they should agree on that affect us no matter what. Its like our life is just a game to them.

Moderator, Patrick Healy

Is there an example of something, Tiffany, that you think they should be able to agree on that comes to mind?

Tiffany, 30, Georgia, Black, Clothing Designer, Leans Democrat

I mean, like, feeding kids in school for free. Why is that such a debate? I dont think there should be a debate. We should feed our kids at school.

Moderator, Patrick Healy

David made the point that some political leaders can be brave. Is there anyone who agrees with that, and does any politician come to mind?

Susan, 64, New Jersey, White, Retired, Independent

There are some political leaders who can be brave, but they are penalized, punished, demeaned and disgraced by their cohorts. Bravery is moot. If youre the only Republican and standing up for a Democratic proposal, youre sanctioned. Liz Cheney is a perfect example. She tried to stand up for what was right even though it was counter to what her party line was. And she was sanctioned because of it. That line that we all are afraid to cross doing whats right regardless of the cost stops a lot of people. But it also makes a lot of good people leave, which is another danger. If you want to affect change, you cant do it if you walk away.

Angel, 25, Ohio, Asian, Engineer, Leans Republican

Cheney stood up for what she believed in. And shes currently at a position where she has to face continued backlash from the politics environment. So I definitely think that shes brave.

Moderator, Kristen Soltis Anderson

Thats a good segue to our next question. Im going to give a couple of examples of actions, and with a show of hands, tell me if you consider those actions to be brave or not: If an elected leader holds a different point of view than most of the people in the state or district they represent, and they vote or act based on their principles rather than what the majority view is even if they know that it might be unpopular is that considered brave?

Is it brave if you vote or act in a way thatis based on your principles, even if it isunpopular with the people you represent? Is it brave if you vote or act ina way that is based on your principles, even if it is unpopularwith the people you represent? 6 people raised their hands.

Barrett, 39, Texas, Leans Democrat

Aaliyah, 23, Florida, Independent

Tiffany, 30, Georgia, Leans Democrat

Angel, 25, Ohio, Leans Republican

David, 56, Massachusetts, Independent

Annie, 27, Illinois, Leans Democrat

Susan, 64, New Jersey, Independent

Jeremiah, 47, Arizona, Independent

Roger, 51, California, Leans Democrat

Barry, 57, California, Independent

Moderator, Kristen Soltis Anderson

Annie, you did not put your hand up. Why?

Annie, 27, Illinois, White, Consultant, Leans Democrat

I think theres a difference between personal bravery and political bravery. For me, its not politically brave, because if its unpopular with your constituents, then that shouldnt be something that you vote for.

David, 56, Massachusetts, White, Adminstrative Support, Independent

If you stand for what you believe, even though the others in your group or the others in your party dont, then I think that shows some bravery.

Moderator, Kristen Soltis Anderson

See the rest here:
Opinion | From Biden to Cheney to Manchin, Are Politicians Brave Anymore? - The New York Times