Before Anyone Knew Who He Was...
I think the true character of a person is developed long before fame, before politics, when they are just a stranger to everyone around them. It's about the moments when we can act without thought, without hesitation, doing something that comes easily to us; but to another person, it's like giving a life-jacket on a sinking boat, simply because of timing.
The Kindness of a Stranger
The older I get, the more I realize that just because others have been generous with me, doesn't mean I should be stingy. Just because I have things like a home, insurance, a job... doesn't mean I should oppose things that would better someone else's life.
My taxes are used to educate other people's children; but I don't walk around saying "hey, parents, why should I have to pay for your children to attend school just because you couldn't plan/time your children well enough to afford the real costs of public school"...
It's called compassion. And that, to me, is the biggest difference between Republican and Democrat; and why my opinion swings one way more than the other.