When you support a politician, let's say Rand Paul, are you able to see his flaws?

All too much. Over the years I have learned NOT to support ANY politician on a personal level. I believe they are all liars, all unethical, all flawed, and if someone appears unflawed it generally means they haven't been caught yet.

Once I get past that, I support the ones who stand behind the issues that are important to me, based on their order of importance. I am rarely surprised when the smear-news comes out, but it doesn't change my position on the issues - it's just disappointing to me if that's the reason support for that candidate falls off. It doesn't make the other guy a better person, it just means that (in my view) the wrong side will get supported for the wrong reason.\

Edit - interesting how many people are jumping on this Rand Paul thing. I don't think you meant this question to be about a specific person, did you?

I've been doing a certain amount of research on Rand Paul and right now all I'm really seeing that I don't like is his opposition to homosexual marriage. But then again, I don't live in Kentucky.

I do believe he's become more willing and open on the issue though. I do however know this, he IS a Constitutional Libertarian. Were he to campaign for President, he would simply explain that gay marriage is NOT a Federal issue. It is a state issue. Heterosexual Marriage isn't even defined in the Constitution. Why should gay marriage be any different. It IS and should remain a state issue.

Furthermore, his voting record is solid. The man has introduced bills to the Senate to legalize hemp, he's filibustered the NDAA as well as the Patriot Act, he voted against both. Introduced a bill to Senate to abolish the TSA, to audit the Fed, and would eventually dismantle the Fed if he were given the chance.

He truly IS the best man for the job. His father was AMAZING, I wish to God it had been Ron Paul and Gary Johnson as VP in the 2012 election, but the GOP criticized Ron as they are doing with Rand because he isn't their puppet. Like his father, he actually DOES care.

Obviously he's going to have flaws, everyone does. But right now, we need a FISCALLY CONSERVATIVE candidate. Not some spendthrift, not a war monger. Not anybody the GOP is going to put up there.

Are you asking us if we'll get into lemming-like worship mode like the radical left does with Obama? No. Because Rand Paul is not a radical. Only radicals feel the need to become a mindless drone in a collective ruled by very few.

But to address your question more directly, I think the type of people who'd support Rand Paul don't just accept what is given to them unthinkingly and unquestioningly. They tend to question things and make their own choices.

When anyone supports any public or private figure, they get the same sort of tunnel vision a person in love gets. The flaws are seen, but minimalized. Obama supporters do it, Clinton supporters do it, Paul supporters do it. Human nature is no joke.

I am encouraged by Rand Paul. I think he is trying to do what he was elected to do by the people of Kentucky. But he isn't perfect. Most of my indecision about him is due to my contempt for the cult of his father that is now trying to latch on to him as the new messiah.

When was the last time you honestly thought about any of Obama's choices? Especially in regards to fast and furious or the murders in Benghazi.

Yes.

I usually have to end up supporting and voting for the lesser of two evils.

If Rand Paul had run for president I would have supported him.

@Ron Paul is the father of Ran Paul.

That is part of the problem in this country you can take a good leader who would do a good job, but his marriage fell apart so he has something we can not use. We need to start asking ourselves is this a flaw that will it really affect his ability to lead if not then the flaw is just human.

Paul Rand or Paul Ron?

Whack-job extremist Rand Paul has very few redeeming virtues as an elected "representative" in any capacity. Flaws are the NORM for "Senator" Paul, so one would have to reverse your query and try to look for anything sane or truly representative of the American people or the nation's needs.

Yes I can see his flaws.

But to every Liberal in existence, Obama is the most perfect individual in History and does not have any flaws because he is a living God.