Ben Carson for president? Why a nonpolitician won't win.

[Valin]

Christian Science Monitor:

Politicians are so unpopular these days that a nonpolitician like conservative hero Ben Carson might seem a natural choice for president. But it rarely works.

Jack Pitney

September 26, 2014

 

Carly Fiorina, the former CEO of Hewlett-Packard, is campaigning hard for Republican candidates this fall. News reports indicate that she might be pondering a race for the White House in 2016. And she is not the only nonpolitician who is eying the real estate at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue. Ben Carson, a famous surgeon and author who has a big following among Christian conservatives, has started a political action committee that could be the launching pad for a presidential campaign.

 

Do they really think that they have a chance? It’s easy to see why. According to a recent survey, 79 percent of Americans are “somewhat dissatisfied” or “very dissatisfied” with the political system. They are disillusioned with both the executive and legislative branches of the federal government. Only 14 percent say that they have “high” or “very high” confidence in state officeholders, and members of Congress have the confidence of just 8 percent, one point below car salespeople. With politicians faring so poorly in the public eye, nonpoliticians might reckon that lack of background in elected office is actually an asset.

 

There’s just one hitch. Not since Dwight Eisenhower in 1952 have Americans elected a president or vice president without such experience. In the 62 years since, other electoral novices have sometimes sought the top job, but they have always fallen well short. There are good reasons for this pattern.

 

Running for office requires particular skills, and success in other fields does not necessarily carry over to the campaign trial. Consider retired Gen. Wesley Clark. On paper, he was a dream candidate: West Point valedictorian, Rhodes Scholar, combat veteran of Vietnam with a Silver Star, White House Fellow, commander in chief of the US European Command. But after he announced his candidacy for the 2004 Democratic presidential nomination, he bobbled questions that an experienced politician could easily have anticipated. Would he have voted for the Iraq War? "I don't know if I would have or not,” he said. “Mary, help!” he called to his press secretary, when reporters bore in. “Come back and listen to this.” He got a little better over time, but never quite got the hang of presidential politics, and his campaign fizzled.

 

(Snip)

 

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Actually Politicians are rarely popular,

[Valin]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eJ50Jqw9UVY&list=UUPAuZAgpp3cKMj8wYABU0ZA

[Pepper]

He has a better chance of getting more votes than Jeb Bush but he could not overcome a Dem ticket.

[nickydog]

He has a better chance of getting more votes than Jeb Bush but he could not overcome a Dem ticket.

 

Darn. But you're probably right.