Notes of Concern…
…. Jack Blair
PERENNIAL CANDIDATES
Many of my friends seem to have their “undies in a wad” over Sarah Palin. Funnily enough, some are ecstatic about her chances for the presidency. Others are apoplectic with the same thought.
I always refer them to history.
When George Wallace regularly ran for president, people reacted in the same two ways. History taught us that he was never a serious candidate but he ran every chance he had. Some people loved him. He scared the others to death.
Ralph Nadar is another name that comes to mind as a perennial candidate. There have been a number of others.
Why would anyone exhibit an interest in running for president or actually conduct a race for president with no hope of victory?
As it is always applicable I respond: follow the money.
People from all walks of life send donations, large and small, to candidates for national office. No matter how long the odds, or how odd the candidate, there are enough Americans eager to applaud their candidacy that there is BIG money to be gained.
Of course, money is not the only motivator. These candidates regularly pique the interest of the national news media, especially on “slow news” days. If they are not getting national attention, all they have to do is say something outrageous, or misspeak, and the press comes running. So in addition to accumulating some big bucks every four years you also become a bit of a celebrity.
The celebrity piece brings big bucks, too. Some organizations ask you to come and speak to them. They pay your expenses and give you a nice honorarium. Before you know it, you sign with a speakers’ bureau or agency and you are running all over the country delivering much the same speech and collecting thousands each time.
When the ballots are counted and you have clearly lost, you take a vacation and rest up for the next run for the roses, which will start in about 3 years.
In the meantime, every time the winner does something wrong, the newspapers and magazines and television reporters come to you for your usual response: “I told you so.”
