"Not ready for prime time", "not politically experienced." A rant.

[madfloridian]

Sometimes I think being ready for "prime time", being "politically correct", being experienced "politically"....are the only critieria now for candidates.

Some of the very greatest Democrats are none of the above, and they have made an impact on our country.

Sometimes I think we want to "groom" candidates until they are prim, proper, and talk and walk alike.

I am not sure what will happen to our party if we discourage many more candidates who are "not ready for prime time."

I heard those words here in Florida recently about two different races. They were used by people who are so politically experienced that never think outside the box. They vote as they are told on such things as the bankruptcy bill and CAFTA and NAFTA and other things that hurt ordinary people.
I heard those words about candidates who are no better than the ones being asked to leave...or being told they will not get party support. The main difference between the ones being asked to run and the ones already running....is money. Lots of it. That way they can self-finance, they are not obligated to the people or the party and can vote for the corporations just as so many Florida Democrats have done for years.

I am so ready for plain spoken people, and I very much resent when they are not appreciated and used by the party.

We have a fixation on being "ready for prime time." By the time they are all ready and politically experienced enough for the party they start to sound like Stepford people.

(Disclaimer...I am speaking in general, not of any special race.)

[SharonAnn]

1. Hmm, those who can "self-finance" are wealthy. Thus, no average

people will be able to run, thus no average people will get elected, thus average people will have no representation.

Thus, the Democratic Party elected officials will be wealthy people, just like the Republican Party elected officials.'

Is this a problem in a "democracy"? Hell, yes it is!

[babylonsister]

2. I know what you mean, but can point to a few people

who can do it all, like Barbara Boxer. She's savvy but true to who she is. (I have no idea about her finances)
Too many don't have the courage of their convictions, and can be programmed to say and do 'the right thing' according to party politics and what's in it for them.

[emulatorloo]

3. OK, but no more "plain spoken" "not ready for prime time" ones like this:

http://www.voanews.com.nyud.net:8090/english/images/ap_George_Bush_Terror_Iraq_24feb06_210.jpg

I am reallly fed up with no-nothings

[Bjornsdotter]

4. Agreed

<I am so ready for plain spoken people, and I very much resent when they are not appreciated and used by the party. >

I couldn't have said it better myself.

Cheers

[insane_cratic_gal]

5. All "Not ready for prime time" means:

"I have no freaking money or a name to endorse me" or I'm not a career politician.

It's very sad that new blood seems to be a very big issue in the democratic party and even republican ones (at least sane blood that is).

I guess we are right at you have to earn your stripes small district by district until you build or succumb to the corruption.