Posted on 10/08/2007 1:05:49 PM PDT by PhilCollins
Here is an op-ed, by John Cox, a conservative republican presidential candidate, about his not being covered by many reporters. In the Texas Straw Poll, in Sept., he received more votes than Sen. McCain, Sen. Brownback, and Rep. Tancredo. His website is www.cox2008.com.
Phil Collins
News item: Paris Hilton announces for President and NBC invites her to next debate of presidential candidates.
Is this what we want for the selection of our political leadership? The President of the United States is the most important post not only in our country, but the world. The leadership of the world's largest economy, the world's most advanced and powerful military and the world's most important voice should not be about mere celebrity or name recognition. It should be about competence, about ideas, about experience in delivering results.
It shouldn't be about spending a personal fortune to get heard. The presidency should be decided by an informed electorate making an informed decision. Yes, we should know everything about a candidate. Yes, the views and ideology of a candidate is crucial to his or her ability to govern and ability to bring the citizenry along for the ride. Yes, the experiences of a candidate will shine a huge light on what we expect them to accomplish once they have been elected.
All of this importance cries out for a process that truly seeks the most competent, the best leadership, the greatest ability to communicate a plan and see that it is executed.
What do we have now? We have permanent campaigns. We have celebrity candidates from television and the movies. We have screen star looks and a pandering flip-flop artist who will say anything, switch a position based upon the election or audience at hand. We have celebrity mayors who spend most of their time earning celebrity with outrageous public acts and then exploit that celebrity for millions in business and government. We have leadership more interested in book royalties and speaking fees than effective policy and progress in solving our many problems.
Is there any wonder the last twenty years have seen two prominent political families controlling the levers of power - and another member on her way to at least her party's nomination. Yet, we still have many of the same problems we had twenty years ago - and most of them are worse, not better.
Is this a surprise? It shouldn't be. People who have a history and track record of accomplishment stay in the private sector, where they can make money and raise their families in relative peace. They can see what goes on in politics, where it is attacks that make headlines, where the more extreme and outrageous is rewarded much more than the serious and sober.
What do we do about this state of affairs? We do plenty, if we want to preserve our nation's leadership of the world. We have to deal with this problem head on and it starts with us, the voting public.
We have to demand that our media do the job intended in a free society founded on free choice of our officials. We have to require that the media afford a reasonable opportunity to be heard to all legitimate candidates. This 'legitimacy' cannot be just about celebrity or boatloads of money. It ought to be about a history of community involvement. It ought to be about a proven record of ideas and the ability to communicate those ideas. It ought to be about a life committed to progress for America and a record of executing that progress, be it in the private or public sectors.
The media is the gatekeeper and they need to do their job responsibly. They cannot let just anyone get on their airwaves; the do have to exercise discretion. All I ask is that that discretion be exercised and mistakes made on the basis of more, not less opportunity.
I have a history of community involvement; I have a history of political activism; I have a successful business career where I have formulated plans and executed them for success for the most part. More to the point, I engaged the process. I went to the early primary states and put myself in front of the activists of the party, and, though I was a total unknown, they welcomed me and my ideas.
Why haven't I shown in the polls? Because I am not perceived to be viable. I don't have the name recognition; I don't have billions to buy ads, I don't have a long track record in office that assures people know me. Is this all our leadership should be based upon? A search for ratings points?
People love to complain about politicians. They're all crooks, they never get anything done, all they do is snipe at each other to get on television. Well, I decided to try to do something. I want true statesmen. I am tired of money- grubbing in politics. I don't want politics to be a career, I want it to be a calling. Because you cannot serve two masters. You will either serve man or money and time and again I have seen money win.
I'm not giving up. I am keeping the faith. I believe in the end the result will be worth the struggle.
ABOUT JOHN COX
John H. Cox, 52, is the first announced Republican candidate for President in 2008. A self-made millionaire businessman and attorney, Cox made his fortune running successful companies in real estate, law, and venture capital. He helped turn around major potato chip manufacturer, Jays Foods, saving hundreds of jobs and turning millions of dollars in loss into profit. He served on the steering committee for Jack Kemp for President and on the boards of charitable organizations, such as the USO. He is a former president of the Cook County Republican Party in Illinois.
I saw him debate. A little too much cliche in his speeches imho. Has a lot of energy though, plays the Perot-inspired President is CEO card.
Waste of time. I feel sorry for the people who get sucked up into this.
I was trying to say I wasn’t at all impressed in a polite way ;)
I like this man. I dismissed him only because I was unfamiliar with him. But I would have no trouble at all supporting this man for President.
Too cliche? I didn’t think so. I thought he was quite impressive.
I wouldn’t either, but let him run for something else first. Congress, Senate, Governor, something.
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