When confronted by a staff member about validity of the stories he has told though out numerous campaign events, Stanton acknowledges them as mostly fictional and is quick to dismiss the idea that this practice is immoral. Multiple times Jack used his uncle Charlie, who turns out not be his uncle at all, to make voters feel that they can relate to him. While in New York Stanton uses Charlie to capture the votes of those in an adult literacy program, for this occasion Charlie "couldn't read, and he was embarrassed, and he didn't want to tell anyone," (Klein 9). Stanton also had no problem lying about his position on issues to gain the support of certain groups. While speaking at a Senior Citizens benefit, he changes his position on several issues at the heart of the attendants in order to appeal to them for votes. Joe Klein perfectly portrays the modern day heartlessness of politicians on campaign. .
In Robert Warren Penn's Pulitzer Prize winning book, All the Kings Men, readers are introduced to the lager than life character Willie Talos and also witness his transformation from an honest small town politician to a corrupt Governor who is addicted to being in control of everything. After gaining power in such a rapid fashion, Willie's ego soon inflates to epic proportions, which begins to cause him personal woes. Willie's State Auditor is caught in a scandal and faces impeachment. Instead of standing down and admitting that Byram B. White was a poor choice for the job, Willie's ego forces him to stand by his man, which in effect alienates other people close Willie's heart. Willie also has no ability to separate his personal and professional life. Tom, Willie's son, finds himself in trouble injuring a girl in a car crash. Soon it is revealed that Tom is the father of the injured girl's baby, a fact that gives Willie an upper hand in a political deal of his. Willie's estranged wife, Lucy, is livid about the way he brings personal matters into his professional life.
