# The failure of celebrity candidates **URL:** \ **Category:** Politics & Elections\ **Created:** [December 7, 2022, 10:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-failure-of-celebrity-candidates/976133 "2022-12-07T10:38:33Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![Tride](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tride/32/13907_2.png) [@Tride](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tride)\ **Post date:** [December 8, 2022, 2:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-failure-of-celebrity-candidates/976133/41 "2022-12-08T02:09:05Z")
Circa 12/7/22 would Arnie run as a Republican? He’s probably left of Manchin at this point. I could totally see him trying to reclaim the right-of-center Democratic party, and succeeding. ---
**Author:** ![squeegee](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/squeegee/32/14537_2.png) [@squeegee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/squeegee)\ **Post date:** [December 8, 2022, 3:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-failure-of-celebrity-candidates/976133/42 "2022-12-08T03:48:37Z")
> [@Miller](#): > > he gave a good speech at the DNC four years earlier Also a famous speech [at the Brandenburg Gate in Berlin](https://www.theguardian.com/global/2008/jul/24/barackobama.uselections2008) in 2008, which I think is what McCain’s “celeb” spot is referring to. ---
**Author:** ![dtilque](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/d6d6ee/32.png) [@dtilque](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dtilque)\ **Post date:** [December 8, 2022, 4:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-failure-of-celebrity-candidates/976133/43 "2022-12-08T04:22:55Z")
> [@Exapno\_Mapcase](#): > > Pure celebrities are a waste of air. Volodymyr Zelenskyy’s only previous political experience was playing the president on TV. Yet he seems to have done a good job so far. ---
**Author:** ![Saint\_Cad](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/saint_cad/32/18907_2.png) [@Saint\_Cad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Saint_Cad)\ **Post date:** [December 8, 2022, 4:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-failure-of-celebrity-candidates/976133/44 "2022-12-08T04:26:07Z")
Steve Largent Saint Cad - Seahawks fan ---
**Author:** ![Alessan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alessan/32/465_2.png) [@Alessan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Alessan)\ **Post date:** [December 8, 2022, 8:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-failure-of-celebrity-candidates/976133/45 "2022-12-08T08:01:05Z")
> [@FlikTheBlue](#): > > None of our elected leaders started out as politicians. I think most of them _did_ start out as politicians. Check how many elected officials ran for president of their class in high school - my guess would be most of them. Maybe they had other jobs along the way, but most of them were always politicians at heart. I mean, Ronald Reagan was President of the Screen Actor’s Guild at 36 - to me, that’s not “actor who got into politics”, that’s “politician who did some acting.” ---
**Author:** ![Little\_Nemo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/little_nemo/32/3120_2.png) [@Little\_Nemo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Nemo)\ **Post date:** [December 8, 2022, 8:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-failure-of-celebrity-candidates/976133/46 "2022-12-08T08:29:50Z")
> [@FlikTheBlue](#): > > Exactly. That last part is the key. None of our elected leaders started out as politicians. The unstated implication of those who have a blanket opposition to celebrities running for office seems to be that only certain careers (lawyer and business owner seem the two big ones) qualify one to run for office. Why shouldn’t a retired astronaut, or reverend at a prominent Baptist church, or actor who played the president on TV, run for office, even if they start out running for a higher office? I have no problem with any competent person running for office. I think it’s a good idea to have people with a wide range of experience holding office and I’d like to see us having more office holders with backgrounds other than business of the law. That said, being a good politician is like any other profession. You’ve got to learn the job in order to do it well. Nobody should enter politics at a high level. They should seek a lower level office where they can learn the skills they’ll need to do a good job at a higher level. ---
**Author:** ![slicedalone](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/slicedalone/32/12515_2.png) [@slicedalone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/slicedalone)\ **Post date:** [December 8, 2022, 11:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-failure-of-celebrity-candidates/976133/47 "2022-12-08T11:34:33Z")
It’s very flexible, isn’t it, our definition of “experience” and “politician” to suit our ideologies? To consider a sitting US senator like Obama primarily a celebrity because he’s very skilled at oratory, or a former full-term Governor of a major state primarily an actor takes some unprincipled thinking. Being a lefty, I had nothing but admiration for Obama and Bill Bradley (voted for each of them) but contempt for Reagan and Kemp (voted agin 'em) and thought the first two were perfectly qualified and the latter two incompetent clowns, airheads and simple-minded jocks. ---
**Author:** ![doreen](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/858c86/32.png) [@doreen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/doreen)\ **Post date:** [December 8, 2022, 4:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-failure-of-celebrity-candidates/976133/48 "2022-12-08T16:52:41Z")
I think you’re right about the others, but Javits was elected and served in the House from 1947-1954 and as NY Attorney General from 1955-1957 before being elected to the Senate in 1957. ---
**Author:** ![Gyrate](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gyrate/32/3588_2.png) [@Gyrate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gyrate)\ **Post date:** [December 8, 2022, 5:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-failure-of-celebrity-candidates/976133/49 "2022-12-08T17:19:41Z")
> [@kenobi\_65](#): > > Several served in the U.S. House, including Jack Kemp (former Chargers and Bills quarterback), Steve Largent (former Seahawks WR), J.C. Watts (former University of Oklahoma quarterback), and Heath Shuler (former Redskins and Saints quarterback). > > In addition, there was Bill Bradley (former pro basketball player, who became a three-term Senator), Jim Bunning (former MLB pitcher, who served in both the House and the Senate). And, currently, former college football coach Tommy Tuberville is now one of Alabama’s senators. > > Kemp and Bradley both ran for president, but failed to gain their parties’ nominations. Tom Osborne did three terms in the House before making an unsuccessful run for Nebraska governor. ---
**Author:** ![Atamasama](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/atamasama/32/12961_2.png) [@Atamasama](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Atamasama)\ **Post date:** [December 8, 2022, 6:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-failure-of-celebrity-candidates/976133/50 "2022-12-08T18:42:09Z")
> [@Crafter\_Man](#): > > **Jesse Ventura** was the first to come to my mind for some reason. I am still waiting for Carl Weathers to become a governor. I assume that entire cast of the film _Predator_ will serve as governors at some point, or at least the principle actors. > [@Saint\_Cad](#): > > Saint Cad - Seahawks fan I grew up with a Steve Largent poster on my wall. ☺ ---
**Author:** ![Dr.Winston\_OBoogie](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dr.winston_oboogie/32/2945_2.png) [@Dr.Winston\_OBoogie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dr.Winston_OBoogie)\ **Post date:** [December 8, 2022, 6:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-failure-of-celebrity-candidates/976133/51 "2022-12-08T18:53:58Z")
> [@Atamasama](#): > > . I assume that entire cast of the film _Predator_ will serve as governors at some point, Even the guy in the Predator suit? “Vote for Kevin Peter Hall - the alpha predator!” ---
**Author:** ![Atamasama](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/atamasama/32/12961_2.png) [@Atamasama](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Atamasama)\ **Post date:** [December 8, 2022, 6:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-failure-of-celebrity-candidates/976133/52 "2022-12-08T18:56:05Z")
Peter Cullen, most famous for voicing Optimus Prime in the Transformers TV show and films (even the Michael Bay films) did the voice of the predator alien. Can you imagine if he ran and campaigned? It would be hard not to be inspired when Optimus Prime asks you to go out and vote. ---
**Author:** ![bump](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/7c8e57/32.png) [@bump](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bump)\ **Post date:** [December 8, 2022, 7:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-failure-of-celebrity-candidates/976133/53 "2022-12-08T19:08:16Z")
Jack Kemp. AFL all-star and general standout at quarterback, followed by 18 years in the House of Representatives, a Presidential run, a Cabinet position, and a VP nomination. ---
**Author:** ![gnarator](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gnarator/32/8266_2.png) [@gnarator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gnarator)\ **Post date:** [December 8, 2022, 7:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-failure-of-celebrity-candidates/976133/54 "2022-12-08T19:18:08Z")
Neither is Ted Cruz, but that didn’t stop him. ---
**Author:** ![Icarus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/icarus/32/72_2.png) [@Icarus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Icarus)\ **Post date:** [December 8, 2022, 7:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-failure-of-celebrity-candidates/976133/55 "2022-12-08T19:20:23Z")
> [@Little\_Nemo](#): > > That said, being a good politician is like any other profession. You’ve got to learn the job in order to do it well. Nobody should enter politics at a high level. They should seek a lower level office where they can learn the skills they’ll need to do a good job at a higher level. This brings me to where this whole discussion gets fuzzy. I find it useful to investigate the dividing lines between candidate/legislator, and running for office vs. legislating. What makes one a successful Candidate (getting elected) may have little to do with what may make someone a successful legislator/leader. Certainly, we would like to think that an informed wise voter considers whether a candidate has the requisite experience, such as serving in other elected or appointed government offices, but I suspect that is not true for the majority of voters. For many, it seems that the candidate having a larger than life personality is qualification enough (as long as they promote the basic R or D policy points, whatever those may be). So, then it gets into what we expect them to do once in office. Do we think that some of the more colorful figures in the US House of Representatives actually sit at a keyboard and authors laws? Or even guides their staff in that effort? Heck no! They are instead, reliable party line voters. And that fact is enough to convince many if not most voters. ---
**Author:** ![Exapno\_Mapcase](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/exapno_mapcase/32/1051_2.png) [@Exapno\_Mapcase](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Exapno_Mapcase)\ **Post date:** [December 8, 2022, 8:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-failure-of-celebrity-candidates/976133/56 "2022-12-08T20:28:58Z")
> [@dtilque](#): > > Volodymyr Zelenskyy’s only previous political experience was playing the president on TV. Yet he seems to have done a good job so far. I did say that some celebrities have been successful. And they seem to have more success in other countries, with different political systems. In America, though, plunging directly from celebrity to an election almost always produces terrible results and worse politicians. > [@doreen](#): > > I think you’re right about the others, but Javits was elected and served in the House from 1947-1954 and as NY Attorney General from 1955-1957 before being elected to the Senate in 1957. Darn. I thought I checked all the names. Thanks for the correction. ---
**Author:** ![Akaj](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/akaj/32/145_2.png) [@Akaj](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Akaj)\ **Post date:** [December 8, 2022, 9:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-failure-of-celebrity-candidates/976133/57 "2022-12-08T21:55:44Z")
> [@Exapno\_Mapcase](#): > > In America, though, plunging directly from celebrity to an election almost always produces terrible results and worse politicians. There are numerous examples in this thread that argue the opposite: Jack Kemp, Steve Largent, Bill Bradley and others. Schwarzenegger did a credible job as well. ---
**Author:** ![kenobi\_65](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kenobi_65/32/13178_2.png) [@kenobi\_65](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kenobi_65)\ **Post date:** [December 8, 2022, 10:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-failure-of-celebrity-candidates/976133/58 "2022-12-08T22:13:15Z")
> [@Akaj](#): > > There are numerous examples in this thread that argue the opposite: Jack Kemp, Steve Largent, Bill Bradley and others. Schwarzenegger did a credible job as well. Of those four, three (Kemp, Bradley, and Schwarzenegger) either had some level of education related to politics, and/or were involved in their party’s operations (campaigns, etc.) prior to actually running for office. ---
**Author:** ![Exapno\_Mapcase](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/exapno_mapcase/32/1051_2.png) [@Exapno\_Mapcase](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Exapno_Mapcase)\ **Post date:** [December 8, 2022, 11:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-failure-of-celebrity-candidates/976133/59 "2022-12-08T23:16:24Z")
That’s why I phrased it as “plunging directly” from celebrity. Those New York Senators I mentioned had been deeply involved in politics without having been elected. Even if none of that were true, how much difference would it make? I said “almost always.” If all you can find is three, maybe four, counterexamples then almost always is an apt description. Finding a small number of exceptions is the literal definition of “almost always,” not a refutation of it. This has become a pet peeve of mine because it can be found all over this board. It just makes want to make broader flat statements. C’mon, “almost always” or “usually” or “virtually all” or “the great majority” or some other obvious qualifier goes into every claim. ---
**Author:** ![Akaj](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/akaj/32/145_2.png) [@Akaj](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Akaj)\ **Post date:** [December 8, 2022, 11:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-failure-of-celebrity-candidates/976133/60 "2022-12-08T23:31:23Z")
> [@Exapno\_Mapcase](#): > > If all you can find is three, maybe four, counterexamples then almost always is an apt description. I only cited four because I didn’t want to go back through the whole thread. And I wasn’t bothering to parse different definitions of “directly.” Look, we all know of one giant example of a celebrity going straight into politics with a disastrous outcome. Others (Dr. Oz, Herschel Walker) narrowly avoided bad results by not being elected. But plenty of others (again, depending on your definition of “directly”) have done OK. I just don’t think it’s correct to say that celebrity → politics is “nearly always” a train wreck. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-failure-of-celebrity-candidates/976133.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-failure-of-celebrity-candidates/976133.md?page=4)