Political Figures You Disagree With But You Know Are Good, Well-Meaning People

[Free Bird]

I did this some time ago, but there have been a lot of new users since then. I liked the discussion, so I brought it back.

Who do you disagree with politically, but you also know that they genuinely think they're doing the right thing?

[Santander]

Obama

[🦀🎂🦀🎂]

As I always say, the vast majority of politicians think they are doing good things, even the typical corrupt ones.

[Attorney General, LGC Speaker, and Former PPT Dwarven Dragon]

Scott Walker, Ben Carson (if he counts as a political figure), Pat Toomey, Donna Edwards, Barack Obama, Paul Ryan, Al Franken, Barbara Boxer, Bernie Sanders, Richard Blumenthal

[Boston Bread]

Canada:
Brian Jean
Michael Chong
John Brossard (CPC MP for my parent's riding)
Peter Braid (CPC MP until 2015 for my university's riding)

I generally have a hard time categorizing right-wing politicians in the US as "good" or "well-meaning" so I'll leave it at that.

[Goldwater]

I tend to assume that most people I happen to disagree with are still well meaning.

[Clark Kent]

Obama

[SATW]

I think most politicians are well-meaning, but Joe Biden truly personifies the type of person who really tries to do the best he can.

[Mr. Smith]

If they're Mormon and not Mike Lee, this usually goes.

[ElectionsGuy]

Pretty much everyone except the two major party nominees and the Senate majority/minority leaders.

But especially: Bernie Sanders, Joe Biden, Paul Ryan.

[Maxwell]

There are probably a lot - but I think the biggest name in my mind is Bob Dole.

[White Trash]

John McCain. Neocons tend to be horrible people by and large (Cheney, Rubio, Graham), but McCain seems like he is at least partially human deep down.

[TJ in Oregon]

John McCain. Neocons tend to be horrible people by and large (Cheney, Rubio, Graham), but McCain seems like he is at least partially human deep down.

I'm surprised at the designation of Graham as horrible given the way him and McCain have handled the events of the 2016 Republican Presidential contest. Graham, whatever else he may be, comes across as completely sincere in his concerns.

[White Trash]

John McCain. Neocons tend to be horrible people by and large (Cheney, Rubio, Graham), but McCain seems like he is at least partially human deep down.

I'm surprised at the designation of Graham as horrible given the way him and McCain have handled the events of the 2016 Republican Presidential contest. Graham, whatever else he may be, comes across as completely sincere in his concerns.

This is entirely anecdotal, but when I worked for the Governor's office, the more experienced staffers told me that Graham was a pretty slick operator. That the public image we have of him is a facade. Apparently he had some rather nasty encounters with Governor Edwards during the election. But like I said, it's anecdotal.

[nicholas.slaydon]

John McCain, Rand Paul, Ron Paul, H.W. Bush, Lindsey Graham.

[Murica!]

Politicians are inherently not "good well meaning" people.

[RINO Tom]

Biden and Obama come to mind.  Of someone to my right, I'd say Paul Ryan.

[DavidB.]

Politicians are inherently not "good well meaning" people.

Anyway... Obama. Herzog. Former Dutch Labour leader Job Cohen. Sadiq Khan.

[Kingpoleon]

Graham, McCain, Obama, and even Biden to some extent I disagree with. Besides that, Mitch Daniels, Al Franken, and Ron Wyden are probably the best grassroots politicians there are.

[Blair]

David Cameron, Jeremy Corbyn, Douglas Carswell

[Derpist]

Bernie Sanders, Jeremy Corbyn, Ralph Nader, Tom Mulcair, Jack Layton, Pablo Ygleias, Marco Rubio, Jeb Bush, Jimmy Carter, Michael Dukakis

[dead0man]

Bernie and Franken.  I once believed it of Carter, but I don't anymore.

[Free Bird]

Paul Ryan, Jeb Bush, John McCain, Joe Biden.

You think that John McCain thinks he's doing the right thing? I thought the consensus of the world was that he was pure evil.

[Gass3268]

Rand Paul, Gary Johnson, Justin Amash, Walter Jones

[Human]

I despise Santorum's political views, but I think that he's a good and well-meaning person.