Well, I kinda do that job... (Claiming to be something you are not part II)
I've noticed myself doing a little too much editorializing, and far too little discussing the lessons of politics. So, back to business with regards to some topics dealing with political strategy;
In 1992, the Public Utilities race between Ken May and Jim Burg was hard fought. Ken had graduated from college with a degree in engineering, but had long been doing more managerial in his career. Ken really put up a serious challenge to Jim, and took some solid pokes at him over his tendency to travel a lot, using a commercial developed by an out of state media/campaign consultant. It honestly looked like Ken might win that sucker.
Then, a week or two before the election, a bomb was dropped.
It came out in the media that the State Board of Engineers, Architechts and Surveyors (now the Board of Technical Professions) had questioned Ken's ability to refer to himself as an engineer. In other words, it was brought to the attention of the public that this candidate might possibly be lying about his pedigree. And a silver bullet issue was born, with full commentary by his opponent.
To Ken's credit, he wasn't calling himself a licensed or professional engineer, or anything else within the jurisdiction of the board. He said, "I graduated from college with a degree in engineering, hence, I'm an engineer." But here was the licensing board (as persnickity and turf conscious as some of these boards can be) challenging his honesty and credibilty. With less than two weeks to go before the election, you don't have time to split hairs with a state licensing board that meets maybe every two months.
In my view, it completely turned the campaign around for Burg. In an instant, the battleground of the campaign was not over how much travel Jim Burg was doing, it was about the truthfulness of the challenger. And the campaign was sunk. Ken did everything right, but was hit with a silver bullet as he approached the finish line.
I was originally going to do this post on timing (and questioning why the 2010 US Senate race was being waged now), but this post is more appropriately back at the topic of claiming to be something you are not.
If there's ever a question; ever the slightest glimmer of doubt that an assertion you are making about yourself could be construed as untrue, it could cost you the election.
In this case, I think Ken was right. But in a twist of life's unfairness, it didn't matter. Fair or not, as a candidate, are you prepared to take that risk?
In 1992, the Public Utilities race between Ken May and Jim Burg was hard fought. Ken had graduated from college with a degree in engineering, but had long been doing more managerial in his career. Ken really put up a serious challenge to Jim, and took some solid pokes at him over his tendency to travel a lot, using a commercial developed by an out of state media/campaign consultant. It honestly looked like Ken might win that sucker.
Then, a week or two before the election, a bomb was dropped.
It came out in the media that the State Board of Engineers, Architechts and Surveyors (now the Board of Technical Professions) had questioned Ken's ability to refer to himself as an engineer. In other words, it was brought to the attention of the public that this candidate might possibly be lying about his pedigree. And a silver bullet issue was born, with full commentary by his opponent.
To Ken's credit, he wasn't calling himself a licensed or professional engineer, or anything else within the jurisdiction of the board. He said, "I graduated from college with a degree in engineering, hence, I'm an engineer." But here was the licensing board (as persnickity and turf conscious as some of these boards can be) challenging his honesty and credibilty. With less than two weeks to go before the election, you don't have time to split hairs with a state licensing board that meets maybe every two months.
In my view, it completely turned the campaign around for Burg. In an instant, the battleground of the campaign was not over how much travel Jim Burg was doing, it was about the truthfulness of the challenger. And the campaign was sunk. Ken did everything right, but was hit with a silver bullet as he approached the finish line.
I was originally going to do this post on timing (and questioning why the 2010 US Senate race was being waged now), but this post is more appropriately back at the topic of claiming to be something you are not.
If there's ever a question; ever the slightest glimmer of doubt that an assertion you are making about yourself could be construed as untrue, it could cost you the election.
In this case, I think Ken was right. But in a twist of life's unfairness, it didn't matter. Fair or not, as a candidate, are you prepared to take that risk?
Comments
One of the owners is on their deathbed with cancer at the moment (seriously),
So, I'm a little reluctant to fink them out.