Man of the People

I was sorry to watch, live on CNN, Edward R. Murrow and Emmy Award-winning broadcaster and all around "Man of the People" Jack Cafferty spit on me on his broadcast today.

After decrying the notion of "actors and comedians" running for public office, Cafferty stated, "Baldwin's credentials are questionable... but Franken is no slouch. He's Harvard educated."

So Franken fits the mold for Cafferty because he went to Harvard? What other schools does Cafferty approve of as breeding grounds for office holders in America? What other professions does Cafferty believe should be excluded from holding office?

The material I received from a contingent in Ohio was back in 1996, but Playboy omitted that fact in editing the piece. As for running for office in the future, who knows? I always felt that doing so was a way to serve one's country. But, now that I think about what Cafferty has on his mind, maybe it's a lousy idea. Heck, I only have a BFA in drama from NYU. Perhaps New York University should print on its undergraduate drama degrees "Warning: the bestowing of this degree precludes you from seeking any public office per Jack Cafferty of CNN."

I would like to make a deal with Cafferty. Jack, you don't tell people that a career in the performing arts disqualifies them from seeking elected office, and I won't say publicly that your being convicted of leaving the scene of an accident in which you struck a cyclist and then ran two red lights while you were pursued by the police and were subsequently ordered to serve 70 hours of community service back in May of 2003 disqualifies you from posing as a "Man of the People" on a major cable news network.

Fair enough?

Comments

[RedKnuckles]

If you graduated from Eureka College, that would also qualify you to speak knowledably on politics, too.

[akaJohnQ]

Ronald reagan attended Eureka College, Richard Nixon attended Whittier College, Lyndon Johnson attended Southwest Texas State Teachers College, and Harry Truman did not graduate from college.

[ConfuciusSay-]

You can't successfully run for office if you fly off the handle at every media criticism.

[infmom]

Why not? Sarah Palin does it... oh, wait.

[NABNYC]

Exactly right.

[mamacat]

How did Cafferty get away with such a light sentence? Did signifigant sums of money change hands?

[kensmith20000]

I think Alex would be a good politician. Lawyers however should be disqualified from seeking office.

[sciabattoni]

Alec... use the media, don't blame it or pick fights with it. That's Palin's job.

[talkingdog]

..........­......and I won't say publicly that your being convicted of leaving the scene of an accident in which you struck a cyclist and then ran two red lights while you were pursued by the police and were subsequently ordered to serve 70 hours of community service back in May of 2003 disqualifies you from posing as a "Man of the People" on a major cable news network.

Fair enough?

**********­**********

Ouch! They should have met face to face and just go at it.

[Musiker]

Alec: Pffffft!

[menmykoko]

But George bush made up words and couldn't speak in complete coherent sentences when he was sober. Come on Alec, you know better than to equate intelligence and education to political office. For christ's sake the female senator last week that said the earth is only 6000 years old, well, need I say anymore...­.Endorse a beer product already!

[oceanlover]

I guess then that Mr. Cafferty must think Rahm Emmanuel has no business being Obama's Chief of Staff since he only graduated from Sarah Lawrence with a BA in Liberal Arts and spent much of his time as a ballet dancer....
Jack... wise up buddy. The degree doesn't make the man. Just ask Bill Gates...

[ntmessage]

In my opinion, Jack Hackerty could not report his way out of a paper bag. He seems to sit around all day reading from blogs and slams whomever he wants without accountability, thoughtfulness or rigor. News? Dont think so.

[NHGranite]

Yeah, Cafferty - no more of this "of the people by the people" crap, back to kings and lineages, political families and the best schools. Oh, wait, by and large that is pretty much what we've had! No actors who went to diddly schools - oops there goes Ronnie Reagan

[italian-frenchmen]

I've enjoyed Mr. Baldwin's performances over many years. Always first rate, at least, in my non-professional status. Now if you had some idea of Mr. Baldwin's life on a TV series, it goes something like this. He probably works on set about two-three days a week. Everybody treats him great. He's a star.
He probably spends several hours actually on camera saying lines and rehearsing. The rest of the time is waiting, snacking, reading, phone calls, chatting, etc. This is when they are shooting which is about 8 months a years , not including holidays. The rest of the year he has off or can act in other things. Or Mr. Baldwin can get elected to political office and deal with angry constituents 7 days a week, 52 weeks a year. If there is anybody out there who says they'd rather listen to their constituents, please run for office. We need you.

[knowBuddhaU]

I wasn't. Kudos to Murrow and Cafferty. Notoriety is no substitute for substance.

[rkavanagh]

Precisely! You couldn't have said it better.

[truthbetold99]

Harvard is a brand-name for "good college" just like Nike is a brand name for "good sneaker." Having attended Harvard (and not being an athlete) implies that Franken has academic discipline and an education that spans across a core curriculum. A Harvard B.A. requires students take courses in many fields. I don't believe that's true of an MFA from NYU.

I think it's also significant that Franken has been married to the same woman all these years and sent his kids to Harvard, too. That tells me he' from a family that stresses education and togetherness.

[CJ1]

FYI: NYU might not require core curriculum span of courses, but it requires that you excelled at them above and beyond that of 90% of the population in high school (or of course, in Baldwin's case, as an undergraduate, since and MFA generally means grad school. Harvard did not make Obama take math classes in Law school either). Many top schools (such as Ivy league Brown) do not require certain "core" courses. They believe you've already proven you can add and read and write...no offense to Harvard. And no, I am not an NYU grad.

[Richard Blais]

This is why Alec is so effective, he returns spit with a kick in the nuts! I would love to see him thrash Republicans on a campaign - win or lose ! If he wins, how entertaining it would be and how useful it could be to have him. He did the same to Morley Safer on 60 minutes but with a little more understanding - Morley had the good sense to air Alec's smackdown. And of course, we all remember what he did to Hannity and the cabin boy. You are the best ! Have fun on your impending electoral victory !

[army193]

Just a reminder for those that forget.

Section 2 - The House

No Person shall be a Representative who shall not have attained to the Age of twenty five Years, and been seven Years a Citizen of the United States, and who shall not, when elected, be an Inhabitant of that State in which he shall be chosen.

Section 3 - The Senate

No person shall be a Senator who shall not have attained to the Age of thirty Years, and been nine Years a Citizen of the United States, and who shall not, when elected, be an Inhabitant of that State for which he shall be chosen.