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

[Rebecca Goldin]

Ouch, Alec Baldwin! Digging up dirt is one way to say, hey, I'm for real-but I would certainly add him to your "enemies" list- Is that what you wanted when he disparaged your education? At least you can speak a full sentence that is erudite after attending NYU. Obviously not a qualification for political office.

[Simonsaid]

Well said Alec.

[libdemannie]

I love you being totally candid, Alec. therefore, please do not run. Just keep calling out the fools and charlatans.

[hauty007]

Alec, has some big BRASS venaculars.

Run, get involved.

ELTISIT hide behind "the piece of paper", their assault is obvious, America is aware of the game.

There are thousands of Ivy Leaguers who are "ordinary barbarians" who will rise with you.

[BBDisk]

Alec ... for the love of God (or whomever you post-Catholic secular humanists worship these days) - please run for office. Even though you and I part ways politically, you are simpl one of the funniest human beings ever to walk the planet. You put Al Franken to utter shame in that department.

Do I think you're qualified to run for office? Damn skippy you are. Make it happen, Al - and remember: keep it funny. All these mortefammes in office now ... it's like a crypt-keeper's convention out there.

[KSMullins]

A Harvard education...give me a break...we have the Ivy League folks in office before and in general they don't have a great track record. And where did Lincoln get his degree... The only thing an Ivy League degree really says...is that you paid a ridiculous amount for your education.

[President Decider]

Alec - Don't let McCaffery get to you. I'd like to see you run for a public office. Yeah, you Baldwin's are all somewhat twisted, but aren't we all in some way or another? I dig you man, you've been dealt some tough cards in life but you always kept your moxy and showed you've got the stones to stand up to people.

There's an old saying in the Schweaty family: "If you've got balls . . . you must be Schweaty"

[Noland]

Oh PLEASE! What tuff cards? He's white, male, hetero, and handsome. Really tuff.

[balakovsky]

Alec, Do you have someone who reads through your Huff blog before you press 'send'? Maybe you should mull things over with a confidant before you respond. I get it - and you are right - but Cafferty, however ridiculously underqualified, has been given a pulpit. Sorry you got fired on.
If you run I will vote for you.

[jwredd]

I love Alec and certainly think he has the right to smack down Cafferty if he sees fit. That said, the premise that only people with no skeletons in their closet can be a commentator is kind of flawed. Ultimately everyone will be subject to their flaws and mistakes being exposed in one way or another.

And having said THAT...... Wow Jack, that was a frickin' lame move dude! Bad boy.

[richardwb]

It's the hypocrisy, folks. The freaking holier-than-thou hypocrisy of the "news" puppets.

[KayoFrisco]

Cafferty's comments about Baldwin ring hollow. I think overall, a career as an entertainer prepares one to effectively communicate ideas. Whether I agree or disagree with an ex-actor's positions is another matter. How does being an actor prepare one for the other responsibilities as a legislator or elected executive? I honestly don't know.

[Badgirl]

Ouch. 70 hours of community service ? And, not Tasered and cuffed upon capture ? Special.

[ConcernedAboutRFuture]

Good smack down Alec. Hypocrites need to be slapped every once in a while.... and this certainly is a good example.

[honoursplendor]

1. How many celebrities have actually entered political life? There have been a few prominent individuals over the years but out of the many individuals that are "celebrities" not many are clamoring to be in public office (just like most people in the country).
2. It seems that there is only alarm when celebrities that are considered liberal, such as Franken or Alec Baldwin, want to serve their countries in this way. When Clint Eastwood, Fred Thompson and Arnold Schwarzenegger run/ran for office I don’t recall any public outcry or media concern. At one point the GOP loved Schwarzenegger so much they wanted to amend the Constitution to make him eligible to run for President!
3. Why are celebrities held to a different standard than any other citizen? They should be able to express their opinions, run for elected office and behave like jackasses just like the rest of us. But often their opinions -- as valid as anyone else's -- are mocked, vilified or dismissed because they are celebrities. If someone with a passion for politics like Alec Baldwin (or anyone else) decided to run for office and their day job was that of mechanic, teacher or engineer rather than actor would this be an issue? Would their motives be questioned? Would they be considered “arrogant” for thinking they could hold public office and respond to the needs of the constituents that elected them? Would folks like Cafferty be alarmed by a trend of nurses seeking public office?

[gernger]

Years ago Ed Mc Mahon told Johnny that he met with some politicons in a " smoke filled room" and they told him if he ran for US Senate, they would guarentee victory. Ed turned them down.

[gernger]

When Cafferty gives his talks on the air, they written in advance and are rehearsed, he seems very bright. When he gets into discussion or debates, he is very shallow, and his opinions are very basic and elementary. That tells me that he may be a good speaker, and a good news reader, but he is not very smart. I have seen Gloria Borgia take him apart.

[ImNotCranky]

Alec, I agree that Jack McCafferty has way too much media influence with his one-sided CNN segments.
While I voted for Obama (eventually) I was way too irritated at McCafferty (and CNN) for airing McCafferty's biased anti-Clinton questions/segments during the Presidential Campaign.
I have come to simply turn off my TV when his segments come up on CNN.

CNN's McCafferty Staff also gets to pick the email responses that air.

I respect Wolf Blitzer, but, he protects McCafferty.
I remember McCafferty from years ago, when he appeared on the Old CNN morning show-He was noted for his displeasure about his ex-wife and women in general. He was also a Bush fan.
I agree with you also (in another blog or report) that in the presidential election, American men would rather vote for Obama, than any female for president. Even men with a certain level of racial bias prefer any man over a woman. Sexism was indeed the biggest decider that election.

As for your political ambitions, Alec, all I can say is that politicians have to be very guarded on what they comment about. Look at Biden. A great guy, man of the people, but he does not have "politico - speak." And, political people need really thick skin and strong ability to restrain emotions.
McCafferty is sleezy and distubed and biased. I am an CNN fan, but, who really cares what McCafferty thinks. I don't.

[arizonawonder]

Amen to all of that! I felt the same way about the 2008 election. And all you say about that "Hit-her-w­ith-a-flat­-bed-truck­" (per Mrs. Clinton) blowhard is right on.