1. Definitions

1.1. Statesman

A statesman or stateswoman or statesperson is usually a politician or other notable figure of state who has had a long and respected career in politics at the national and international level. As a term of respect, it is usually left to supporters or commentators to use the term. When politicians retire, they are often referred to as elder statesmen.

Statespersonship also conveys a quality of leadership that organically brings people together and of eldership, a spirit of caring for others and for the whole.

Anyone elected to office is a politician but only a few consistently manage to work as disinterested promoters of the public good with integrity. There is a huge difference between the two.

The words statesman or stateswoman are applied loosely to any head of state, any senior political figure, or anyone who in a given moment exhibits a certain quality of "statespersonship."

1.2. Politation

A politician (from Greek "polis") is an individual who is involved in influencing public decision making through the influence of politics or a person who influences the way a society is governed through an understanding of political power and group dynamics. This includes people who hold decision-making positions in government, and people who seek those positions, whether by means of election, coup d'état, appointment, electoral fraud, conquest, right of inheritance (see also: divine right) or other means. Politics are not limited to governance through public office. Political offices may also be held in corporations, and other entities that are governed by self-defined political processes

1.2.1. Considered a politician

• A person who is active in party politics.
• In a state, a member of the executive branch of government, or the office of Head of State, as well as the legislative branch, and regional and local levels of government.
• Any person influencing group opinions in his or her favor can be termed a politician. For example, a worker participating in office politics is a politician, but only so far as the operations of his or her workplace are concerned.
• Some law enforcement officers, such as sheriffs, and many judges who are elected or appointed because of their political views or popularity.

1.2.2. Not considered a politician

• Members of government who serve purely functional roles, such as bureaucrats.
• Members of the judicial branch, law enforcement, and the military are not usually regarded as being politicians since they are generally executing or adjudicating established law and custom.
• Ordinary citizens with the power to vote cannot properly be called politicians even though they can participate in group decision-making. A politician participates in public debate that leads to a group decision being reached, while a voter is simply responding to that debate.

2. Difference

When talking about a person who is trying to run for election in our country, two terms get thrown around loosely, a politician and a statesman. However, there is a difference between the two. A Politician is a leader engaged in civil administration whose main objective is to get elected. Human affairs are not that important to him, he just wants the title. A Statesman however takes interest in human affairs and works for the common good to help people. (http://www.dictionary.com)

George Washington can be defined as a Statesman. Washington always kept the common good for people in mind. When it was time to choose the first president of the United States of America, George Washington was unanimously voted. George Washington wanted to make sure that the citizens of the United States were all recognized so he traveled the country meeting them, assuring them he was there for the good of the people. (George Washington, American Political Leaders)

Aaron Burr, unlike George Washington, is classified as a Politician. Aaron Burr is known for killing Alexander Hamilton in a duel, but it is his ruthless personality that has him most remembered. Burr was most concerned in the title he wanted to win, rather than the good of the people. He took a dislike to Alexander Hamilton after meeting him in the Revolution and they soon became rival Politicians in New York. Burr had a seat in the Senate, but was defeated in reelection. Burr ran for governor of New York, but lost because of Alexander Hamilton's opposition. When Burr killed Hamilton in their duel he fled to Philadelphia where he came up with his plans to make a vast empire in the West by conquering the Mexicans. He was a ruthless politician who cared more for his titiles than about the people of the United States. (Aaron Burr, American Political Leaders)

Alexander Hamilton can be classified as a statesman. Hamilton made many important decisions for the United States that aided in its...

Leadership in a nutshell: Politician vs. Statesman

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® Politicians talk it — Statesmen walk it

® Politicians run to win — Statesmen run to serve

® Politicians are ideologues — Statesmen are open-minded

® Politicians, “it’s all about me” — Statesmen, “it’s all about them”

® Politicians focus on the next election — Statesmen focus on the future

3. Example

I watched the Obama-Clinton final debate last night. What I saw was a statesman versus a politician.

In a breakfast meeting of GHASP this morning (covering the state of our --cough, cough -- air quality in Houston), I heard people tell me that they are looking for a potential statesman as President, not another politician who plays the “gotcha” game.

Mr. Obama came across more as a Statesman, who didn’t lower himself to take cheap political shots, even when it would have been easy to do so. He went out of his way to say good things about some of Mrs. Clinton’s plans when most candidates have nothing good to say about an opponent.

Ms. Clinton came across as a good politician, “who was against NAFTA before she was for it” (depending on which state she was campaigning in) and full of catchy slogans like "change you can Xerox." But we are “full up” on politicians in Washington who read the polls to determine which way the wind is blowing, and which slogan of the minute might connect with people.

At the same time, we saw a glimpse of the hate speech to come from the dark side. At a speech during a McCain rally, radio hater Bill Cunningham implied Obama was a Muslim (untrue). When McCain, to his credit, did the right thing and apologized for the bigoted remarks, Cunningham got angry and said he had been “thrown under McCain’s bus” -- and turned on McCain!

Bigotry like Mr. Cunningham's is a major GOP problem that is driving away decent people. Decent moderates were kicked to the curb. If you aren’t a “hater” candidate willing to condone trash talk, they will turn on and eat their own candidate!

This episode shows how un-American the haters really are, and why none of them deserve to be in office or influencing American policy. We need a statesman as President, someone who can build bridges. We don't need another politician or a President supported by groups that promote hate. The GOP war against blacks, Hispanics, gays, Muslims, etc. is racism at its worst. (McCain's attack on Obama about Al Qaida in Iraq ignores the fact that there was NO Al Qaida in Iraq before Bush started this war --none, zip, nada! They poured in after we opened the borders).

Hate is neither equality nor a family value. In this election we have a chance to vote against the haters and for a new level of American, statesmanlike leadership...