Politicians Are Humans Too

My acting teacher Richard Seyd has said more than once that "everyone has an interesting life story" - and this is true. The most seemingly boring person working the most droll of jobs has a unique and compelling life story. The key is to look below what they project to the world - that's the mask they wear to keep themselves safe. It's a mask we all wear, be it our silly sense of humor, biting sarcasm, quick temper, or cool demeanor.

That's why politicians are almost universally despised as liars and cheats. They are wearing a mask on top of a mask - and its painfully obvious to everyone. Even as a strong supporter of one presidential candidate I often asked myself if there was "any there there"?

Well Newsweek has done a bang-up job of reporting and they've answered the question. For once we get to see a more human, sensitive, flawed aspect of the presidential candidates. It's the sort of rich portrayal I'm used to hearing on This American Life or B-Side Radio. They published...

a seven-part in-depth look behind the scenes of the campaign, consisting of exclusive behind-the-scenes reporting from the McCain and Obama camps assembled by a special team of reporters who were granted year-long access on the condition that none of their findings appear until after Election Day.

Definitely worth a read.