Who is a politician? These days, it would be wonderful if it was just someone who practices politics. Someone who has his constituents' interests in mind, who cares more about getting things done than retaining political capital. Simply put, it would be beneficial to everyone if our politicians came across as genuine, emotional and sensitive people.

This past week, we may have seen just that. There was a glimmer of hope on the floor of the house as Representative Gabrielle Giffords resigned her seat. A little more than a year ago, Giffords was shot in the head at a public meeting in Tuscon, Ariz.. Since then, she has had a difficult road toward rehabilitation—to say the least—and has managed to overcome tremendous challenges.

Sadly, though, she reached the decision last week that she would not be able to capably serve her constituents. The glimmer of hope did not come from the unfortunate resignation, but in the service accompanying it. In a moving ceremony, numerous members of Congress delivered emotional speeches.

Perhaps the most poignant moment came when Representative Debbie Wasserman Schultz, in tears, stumbled as she read Giffords' resignation letter aloud. This was followed by Speaker of the House John Boehner's acceptance of Giffords' letter. As she was slowly helped up the stairs to hand her letter to the crying speaker, the chamber was overcome with applause and emotion.

For once, our leaders seemed like people. The moving ceremony and the many tears that accompanied it made it hard to feel anything but pride. Here was a body of leaders who not only legislate (or at least attempt to) but are also deeply sensitive. One couldn't help but respect our politicians.

Sadly, this reality frequently eludes us. Our leaders are often corrupt, angry, overly ambitious and sometimes downright nutty (a presidential candidate recently suggested we build a moon colony and that it should apply for statehood after reaching 13,000 residents). President Barack Obama outlined the problem quite convincingly in his State of the Union address, "I bet most Americans are thinking the same thing right about now: ‘Nothing will get done in Washington this year, or next year or maybe even the year after that because Washington is broken.' Can you blame them for feeling a little cynical?" Most Americans agree with the president on this one. Statistics show that Congress, and, even the president, have devastatingly low approval ratings.

This especially holds true for one demographic: college students. According to the Harvard University Institute of Politics, only 46 percent of those between 18 and 29 approve of the president (down from 55 percent a year ago; the lowest approval rating yet for Obama). Just 33 percent approve of Democrats in Congress (down from 45 percent) and 24 percent approve of Republicans (down from 30 percent).

How can our leaders get us back? Emotion.

Obama won the election with our demographic. And most people will tell you that he did it through inspiring rallies and emotional speeches. College students voted largely in his favor, and this may have been because his energy was a game-changer (with the added factor that watching paint dry was more entertaining than watching speeches given by Senator John McCain).

In the current Republican primaries, emotion has played a decisive role. Former Speaker Newt Gingrich (the guy who wants the moon colony) won South Carolina through an impressive and passionate ripping of CNN at a debate. But emotion doesn't always have to involve a face turning darker shades of red as candidates yell at each other or at the moderator of the debate.

The solution also lies, perhaps, in the sensitivity and passion displayed at Giffords' ceremony.

Take last week's Republican debate in Florida as an example: A woman from the audience told the candidates that she was out of a job and did not have health care. She asked the men running for president what they could do for her. And instead of first looking in this woman's eyes and expressing sensitivity, most of the candidates proceeded to debate the merits of "Obamacare" and "Romneycare."

To be clear, emotion always needs to be accompanied by a change. A show of sensitivity or a passionate speech is nothing without decisive action. We need our leaders to step off their high horses and figure out a way to accomplish something.

But in the process, they shouldn't overlook the power of emotion. It won Obama the election, it won Gingrich South Carolina, and it's the key to winning our demographic back.