Just Say No to Demagogues

Is it better to have a leader that looks perfect with polished speech and can convince many that ideas we normally recognize as dangerous are safe in the hands of enlightened leaders?  

OR – is it better to have a flawed leader with a background of human mistakes and dysfunction that we all know about, but is doing the right thing and pushing policy that may not be perfect, but is pragmatic and close to the principles we have held sacred?