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

[Ron]

Look how educated Bush was, and I'm sure the schools he graced are ashamed,and he was a disaster. Alec, you are a gifted actor ,and your abilities could be just as gifted in politics as others before you were and are today. Ronald Reagon. Arnold (I won't try his last name) , and others from other high profile professions such as sports stars, school teachers, wrestlers, etc. . We needn't be alarmed by comments from a Jack, Rush, or who ever it might be that has a different opinion of your potential abilities. You Alec have to answer the question if you can be regarded a talented politican by working hard as you have done in your acting career, and if successful, your critic's will fade away, and if you don't do so good, you'll be like Sarah Palin, and will be held accountable for your statements and actions, and won't last long. Good luck Alec, and keep growing your skin thicker, because you'll need it in politics.

[digeridoo2]

Lib fight!

[MindyM]

While I think Cafferty's comments were kind of silly and not relevant, I think Alec Baldwin is taking it way too personally. If he wants to run for public office, he is going to hear a lot worse than that. If it was someone whose opinion really counted, someone who had some real clout and power or someone who Alec Baldwin respected, then I might be able to understand him devoting a blog to answering it. But Cafferty on CNN? Really, Alec? You think this is worth your time?

If Alec Baldwin wants to run for political office, then I say go for it. I don't care where he went to college. That's not the only thing that matters. But this is really a tempest in a teapot. There are much more important things going on and Alec Baldwin knows it.

[rustyshackelford]

Where does it state in the constitution that a President must be college educated at all? Some of the dumbest people I know are PhD's.

[unite4change]

I'll take Jack.

[rasputin999]

Alec rips old Jack a new one!

[gmhussein]

Mr Baldwin, if you are that thin skinned over a remark like that, you'll never make it in politics. Also when you bring personal history to an argument such as this, you really diminish yourself and show others how petty you are.

[blastocyst]

Seriously, an accomplished actor, writing on this site, inviting criticism is anything but thin-skinned.

[lenzorizzo]

The problem is that the sort of people who seek public positions of power over others are precisely the sort of people who shouldn't be allowed to have it.

[jakiew]

baldwin takes stuff way too personally. should not have said that about cafferty. it was something palin and the repubs would do. exact rev-enge on perceived en-emies in a vic-ious and unnecessary way. kind of a scary guy, and i agree with cafferty. you need a background of more than theatre to run for office.

[queotic]

"you need a background of more than theatre to run for office."

Why? Isn't our government already too full of politic science and pre-law majors? I wouldn't mind having more diversity and less career politicians.

[E4B32787]

I think the number one qualification should be that one is not involved with influence peddling, in association with corporate lobbyists paying bribes.

Once we get that out of the way, then, we can focus on what ideas a particular person brings.

The trouble with our current government is that we haven't focused first and foremost, on the politicians involved in influence peddling.

[dtghope]

Well said. I second that !

[freelyb]

Agreed

[Martampa]

Cafferty for Congress - Baldwin for Movies.

[Catfish1968]

no.

[Yasmine]

ALEC .....................you continue your political activism...........PALIN quit so she could go on the attack dog role agianst OBAMA....................................................................................................she is OBSESSED that she was not able to defeat OBAMA in the election............so now she is FREE to rant all she wants as she did in TIME magazine page 44................she is the female LIMBAUGH

[thecanadian]

She also loses her cover = without a "cover" for slander, race baiting & hating.

[Renatakilol]

An elipses is three periods, i.e. "..." . Perhaps your keyboard is broken?

[Mabo]

America would do better if those in elected office were bound by term limits and we were rid of the career politicians. If normal people, not bent on being in office for life, were in the Congress, there would be much more sincerity and trust of campaign promises.
As it is, we elect our representatives to represent their own interests and to apologize to their constiuents when the go back on their promises. Too bad we have moved away from honest Americans representing us and have settled for the gang we have "representing" us today.

[PwnedByJesus]

You actually believe "normal" people are more trustworthy than career politicians? What town do you live in? What is your career? Sounds like a fantasy world to me.

"Normal" does not mean "trustworthy". "Normal" means what the majority of people do. My experience with normal people has not shown much more familiarity with the truth than the majority of elected officials.

You can't pigeon-hole people like that. Throwing inexperienced crops of first-timers into the breach every two or four years guarantees nothing resembling trustworthyness, and certainly not competence.

[Mabo]

Just because I said term limits does not mean one term. I would support 3 terms (6 years) for a congressperson, 2 terms (12 years) for a Senator. We already took care of the Presidential term.
You must live in a larger city (usually Democrat controlled...that WOULD explain your cynacism...lol)

[mikenolib]

You really must live in a large Democrat controlled city. That would, indeed, explain your view of what's normal. For the remaining 98% of us, someone who is considered normal is not a pathological liar, miscreant or self-important, as are 98% of sitting politicians. So, yes, we actually believe, that a representative who understands he or she is a public servant, will do better than the disgusting liars and self-serving jokes that continue to be elected with little or no opposition. Competence is relative. What is competent about Pelosi, Barney Frank or Dodd? Power, power,power.

[queotic]

"You actually believe "normal" people are more trustworthy than career politicians? "

A career politician only cares keeping their job, which means doing whatever they need to do to stay in power, regardless of how it helps or hurts their constituents. A "normal" person - of whatever political party - who has term limits, wouldn't be as inclined to do shady things to stay in office. I agree with Mabo that term limits would help.

[WilliamL]

the case could be easily that a fundamental problem in american politics is harvard, yale, and the rest of the breeding grouds that include foriegn service apts. and on down.

the fact you did not go to harvard wd itself be a qualifier.

that business about hitting a biker is knarly and he sd. have known better than starting a pissing contest.

and as you made it clear, if one is to enter a pissing contest,

stand on a chair................................

[NHBill]

Nice try but Harvard is a great school. Even Bill O'Reilly went there.

[capricorndevil]

Yes, Alec...fair enough!

[morris1030]

Just think of it. George Bush attended Yale, etc.

Was he qualified to be President?

There are many jerks in congress who have Harvard,Yale, and Princeton degrees.

[morris1030]

Well said, Alec. Cafferty is a curmudgeon who feels that if he's not contrary enough no one will realize his [uniquenesss]?

He's sarcastic most of the time without giving his comments any real meaning. About him...he's an alcoholic with many anger issues. Why you don't qualify is a mystery considering the liars and hypocrites serving now that pretend to be qualified. Some like Mr Wonderful Ensign, are Veterinarians, and hold degrees from write in colleges, and belong to secret religious cult societies that admire the POWER Hitler had? These dogs use their fundamentalist ideology that fester in cults & promote power and wealth as qualifiers for office.

You would make a terrific public servant. We should be so lucky.