I attend monthly meetings of various Republican and Conservative groups around Raleigh, North Carolina, and am impressed by those individuals who have the guts to run for public office. In this day and age, that cannot be a pretty process, especially for a Conservative.
Becoming an Instant Target
Consider that everything you've ever done, personally or professionally now, potentially becomes ammunition to use against you. If you did something stupid when you were 18 and a record of it exists somewhere, or the opposition can instantly find someone who recalls what you did, the information comes hurtling into the present. And, if you did something brilliant in your career, it can be contorted by the opposition in the quest to make you look bad.
If you have a family, your spouse, and your children, not to mention your friends and neighbors, you could suddenly become targets by those who want to gain ‘insight’ into your ‘true nature’ or, more likely, find dirt on you. Your high school or college academic record, first job, and business record will likely be put under the microscope. This is all before we're even talking about your stance on various issues.
Actually, the opposition often doesn't care much about your stance on issues, even if your views are sound, logical, well thought out, and would benefit the great masses of your constituents. They will find some chink in your logic. They will take what you said and twist it and turn it. Whatever can be grabbed out of context will be presented to the Leftist media, which dominates across the land.
No Fair Shake
You might think you’d get a fair shake by calmly and articulately airing your views on crucial topics of the day. Nothing could be further from reality. The groups to whom you speak could be supportive, so you gain a false notion of security or comfort. Outside of a sheltered arena, however, you are an instant target.
If you advocate for voter integrity, you’re labeled as someone who advocates for voter suppression. If you advocate equal rights for all, your words will be pounced upon and made to seem like you advocate for special rights for special, unapproved groups – the wealthy, pro-life advocates, parents concerned about what their children are being taught, and white people in general.
Fundraising is a fundamental component of running for office. When you seek campaign contributions from others, additional issues often arise that the opposition and the capitulating press are eager to exploit. Happily, at least locally, fundraising on a grassroots level can work, and a bevy of small donations has sustained many candidates.
Intentional Misinterpretation
You likely cannot think of a single issue that will not be intentionally misinterpreted or misrepresented and then magnified via the Leftist press.
Considering all of the above, I admire those who run for office, put themselves on the line, decide to take a stand, and have the courage to steel themselves all through the campaign until election day.
In America today, where every issue in every locale is hotly contested, running for public office is likely to be arduous. Determined candidates, especially first-timers, need to fortify personal resilience. The same is likely for your staff, family, key advocates, and supporters.
One might ask, why am I putting myself out there? I don’t suffer fools gladly. I might start with somebody in my audience who is seeking to heckle me or with the reporter who is blatantly misrepresenting my view. I would be doing the GOP party a disservice if I were to run for office.
The Hardy Among Us
So, I leave running for office to those who have the composure and comportment to weather the storms. Those hardy individuals who can deflect the slings and arrows of the outrageous fortune that befalls a Republican or Conservative candidate in a land dominated by the Leftist press, who gleefully distort and gaslight with reckless abandon.
To the brave souls who choose to run for office as a Republican, a Conservative, a Libertarian, or someone who is simply steeped in oodles of common sense, I applaud you to the high hilt. We need you, North Carolina needs you, and the country needs you. Fortunately, good men and women step up all the time.