The Jaker

Mostly rational politics, with occasional rants about how a few crazy Republicans are ruining the country.


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Tuesday, December 18, 2007
Self-Made
Reading this article about how Mitt Romney is basically running for President to in some way atone for his father's loss in a 1968 Presidential run, made me think about this: isn't is much more impressive when someone catapults themselves to a Presidential run without the benefit of a family member who paved their way?

There are obvious examples of this on both sides. Romney's dad was corporate executive, then governor of Michigan, then a legit Presidential candidate. I'd argue that this made Mitt Romney's path to where he is today much easier. Similarly, Hillary Clinton is obviously a brilliant academic and lawyer, but she probably wouldn't be running for President if she hadn't married Bill Clinton. And even John McCain benefitted - his grandfather and father were very senior Navy Admirals, so McCain's ascension isn't incredibly surprising.

On the other hand, there are a number of candidates that are more or less self-made, and these folks are more impressive to me. Barack Obama, John Edwards, Mike Huckabee, and (hate to say it) Rudy Giuliani, should get credit for largely steering their own courses to the top of their respective primaries.

Of course it's not the most important factor. But it should not go unrecognized.
posted by CB @ 1:44 PM  
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