The worst job in the world

"The hate towards candidates or elected officials is deep, wide and thick. Oh yes, the haters have to hate.  I have seen the best of people accused of doing the worst of things. Some true, mostly false. Not just in private - in public."

I have a confession to make. During the past five years, I have been asked about as many times to run for some kind of office. Was I tempted? A bit. Never been on my bucket list, but it is never too late to add something. But each time, I declined. Why? I have a few skeletons in my closet, but not too many. It is mostly the hate which would be engendered by the other side. My wife is sort of okay with what I do now in politics, but if the hate barbs started coming into the family, that event would be over, and now. 

The hate towards candidates or elected officials is deep, wide and thick. Oh yes, the haters have to hate.  I have seen the best of people accused of doing the worst of things. Some true, mostly false. Not just in private - in public. The hate would become very visible, where the candidates or family could see it. Also, where friends or co-workers could see it. Even if you were as close to a saint as Mitt Romney was - it will not save you.

Remember the narrative the Left had on Mitt? He had "folders full of women" (for employment interview purposes only). That common management practice got Mitt the instant reputation of being a sexist and a misogynist.

Here is my question. How as a conservative, do you run a decent campaign without getting  harpooned by the Left and the media? Without getting your family harpooned? Simple answer - you don't.

To be fair, I need to ask this next question. How does a progressive, who follows the Constitution, keep from being harpooned from the Right? Hint: It would never happen. It would only happen to a progressive who did NOT follow the Constitution. And it would not be a "harpooning" - it would be a condemnation of policy.

But we are where we are. I ask each and every person who is aspiring to help his or her community, state, or great country, if they know what they are getting into. In some respects, it is the greatest job in the world. In others - the worst. This is not new. Back in the beginning, Thomas Jefferson said to John Adams, "Politics is a subject I never loved, and now hate." It should not have to come to that, but it does.

If you have never worked on a campaign, put it on your bucket list. It will give you a chance to see the tireless work most candidates go through. The physical and mental stamina required is simply off the charts. It is hard on the family, friends, employer and so forth. Then why do people do it? Simply put - to serve. No matter at what level of government. 

For those out there on the campaign trail, and for those who are serving - many in the community say "thank you". You are aspiring to what should be one of the best jobs in the world, but now can be one of the worst. Good luck, and God's speed.