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Candidates should be judged on present, not past

Democratic presidential candidates Bernie Sanders, left, Hillary Rodham Clinton and Martin O'Malley appear during a Democratic presidential primary debate, Saturday, Nov. 14, 2015, in Des Moines, Iowa. (AP Photo/Charlie Neibergall)
Democratic presidential candidates Bernie Sanders, left, Hillary Rodham Clinton and Martin O'Malley appear during a Democratic presidential primary debate, Saturday, Nov. 14, 2015, in Des Moines, Iowa. (AP Photo/Charlie Neibergall) AP

While watching Oprah's "Where are they now?" recently, I was reminded of our political vetting of candidates.

The celebrity made the comment that "she has completely changed." Doesn't that apply to many, if not everyone?

Saul was changed in an instant, on the road to Damascus, from murdering Christians to one of God's great teachers of the Word. How many people would like youthful wrong choices they made to be put out for the world to see?

What the candidates did years ago is of no import! Who they are now and what they believe in is what they should be judged by. They have changed through all of their experiences... good and bad!

Barbara Parkman

Bradenton

This story was originally published November 18, 2015 at 5:49 PM with the headline "Candidates should be judged on present, not past ."

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