Something about running for office still bother me 16 years after the last time I was on the ballot
There was such an enormous disconnect between what people believe can be done via the political process and what actually is possible is huge...
I blame it on the expectations that slogans go a long way toward dumbing down the American people.
I also was really bothered by people wanting to know what denomination I was as if that would tell them how I would comport myself once I was elected to office.
Somehow people who vote believe that if someone is a "good" Christian, Catholics need not apply, btw, they will stand up for what is righteous and good. We all know how well that has worked out over the years.
And the interest groups that are there to determine if you are worthy enough to be an officeholder.
Take the cause of abortion.
The first district I ran in was very catholic. I went in front of one of the women's organizations that offered an endorsement as well as financial assistance to all of the candidate.
This organization wanted me to introduce or at least cosponsor legislation to get government assistance to poor people seeking an abortion.
Now I had thought this out before going into the interview and when that came up I said in deference to the overwhelming catholic make-up of my district, I would not feel as if I was representing the that district if I introduced such a bill. I added I would vote for the bill in committee and on the floor but I would not introduce the bill.
Cuyahoga County said yes. I replied if I lived in the districts that they represent, I would be glad to. But the key here is I would be representing the people who sent me to Columbus while also taking into consideration your concerns.
Needless to say, I did not get an endorsement.
Another part of the process that bothered me was how the press viewed political figures. Since the news depends on advertising for their revenue, there is a conservative pro republican slant to the news, especially on the local level. What has happened over the years is the political beat is more about politics and less about governing.
This is why it costs so much money to run for office. The news outlets have no interest in covering political stuff especially if it about someone who is going to upset the cozy relationship between the advertisers and the people own the papers.
I had some dirt on one of the guys I was running against and gave it to the Plain Dealer and all they said to me it was up to me to get my message out.
The papers still endorse but that is no longer as important as it once was.
I just wanted to put a few things out there that I experiences in the three times I ran for office.
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