A warm smile and a soft touch can camouflage a rogue, my grandmother warned me. Despite her admonishments, there were times when, blinded by exterior attributes, I ignored substance.
Her advice came to mind again as I listened to the collateral chatter about the differences between Mayor Adrian M. Fenty and D.C. Council Chairman Vincent C. Gray — a newly announced mayoral contender. Pundits, civic leaders and others have complained the incumbent executive isn’t warm and fuzzy. They have said he’s arrogant, remote and secretive. African-American respondents in recent opinion polls have said they don’t trust him. Gray, on the other hand, has been characterized as more inclusive and friendly. Last week, on the television show “NewsTalk,” he said he is “more engaging” than Fenty.
