Posted on 03/22/2011 9:15:19 AM PDT by 6ft2inhighheelshoes
The 2010 election attracted more than a few first-time Conservative politicians eager for a chance to put their tea party honed ideals into action by running for office. For the disappointed souls who played and lost in 2010, as well as first timers who want to get their feet wet, I have some free advice.
1. If you've never held any office before, please, please, do not run in 2012 for a State Representative or Senate seat. It goes without saying that you should not run for a federal office either. For some weird reason, voters want to be impressed with your experience as a Conservative law maker, and if that box is marked "empty", you are wasting your time.
2. Get to be a qualified candidate by running for a "smaller" office that you have researched and become intimately familiar with; County Commissioner, School Board, Township Clerk, or Planning Commission are a few examples that offer not only campaign and service experience, but are also key to building the relationships and voter recognition you need to run for higher office. Understand that nothing's too small, as long as it's an elected position, so investigate your local condo board, or PTA too.
3. Your image is important. No matter how perfectly coiffed and attractive you think you are, hire a stranger to privately evaluate your "look"; your personality, your clothing, your attitude, and speech. Your friends and family probably won't tell you if you have bad breath, slouch, talk too loudly, tell bad jokes, or have a wimpy handshake. Most grooming and presentation problems are correctable, and If you have at least the brains of a chipmunk, you'll welcome the chance to identify and fix flaws.
4. Voters aren't as dumb as you've been told. Write down your political philosophy, and your reasoning behind it. Get used to talking about it constantly and coherently. Conservatives admire consistency, and you will be grilled on your core philosophy not only during the election, but afterward, when every controversial decision will be sharply questioned by newly formed organizations that will hold your tender feet to the fire.
5. Don't be such a big ego-maniac that you refuse to take advantage of the excellent organizations that sponsor training programs for candidates. Often at very low cost, groups like American Majority and the Leadership Institute offer workshops all over the country. Start now.
6. And Finally, for men, my personal pet peeve: learn how to tie a proper double windsor knot in your tie for a polished look. Most men tie a "single" windsor which hangs a little cock-eyed, making you look off balance.
We should keep in mind that if properly and intelligently distributed, the nascent political talent within the Conservative community could wipe out more of the liberal leadership in 2012. The vigorous Tea Party movement has spawned a "farm" system consisting of networks that identify, vet, and train candidates. Anyone who wants to run, or be part of a campaign, can easily find information on a local group by searching the internet.
Anyone have any ideas where to find such a stranger for hire?
7. Regardless of your supreme list of accomplishments and your long, upstanding record of honesty and civic-mindedness, brace yourself for being called the worst kind of liar, cheat and self-serving scoundrel, in the secret employ and at the beck and call of the most sinister puppet-masters in the world — on a daily basis.
In other words, brace yourself to receive a new identity, given you by Alinsky-loving radical apparatchiks.
State Rep is a good idea if you are a prominent local figure though.
Look in the phonebook or on the internet for “Image Consultants”. I also assist Conservative candidates, and can be reached through the website, 6foot2inhighheelshoes.com
There are specialists who can help you choose clothing, hairstyles, and makeup to look professional, but I help you to act and speak more confidently in public, and identify critical skills you need to master in order to control your image as a politician. If you’re nowhere near Michigan, I can try to help you find someone nearby. First consultation is free :)
Thank you.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.