Anybody who ever had dirt under their fingernails and who hasn't spent the past 20 years speaking in well-scripted platitudes and giving "educated" non-answers on "Meet The Press" need not apply.
We have become conditioned to only accept well-coiffed, smooth, oily, telegenic politicians who memorize talking points and never had an original thought in their lives.
Everybody else, we will make fun of and ridicule, should they ever dare run for public office. We will brand them as "unqualified", "inexperienced" and "unfit" to hold public office. We shall chortle along with the Dave Lettermans and Jay Lenos of the world as they trash these upstarts on their late-night shows and we shall accept whatever cardboard cut-outs they want to shove down our throats.
We have become conditioned to only accept well-coiffed, smooth, oily, telegenic politicians who memorize talking points and never had an original thought in their lives.
"We" have not really been so conditioned. Not anymore. Maybe when there were three networks, no cable and the messaging much better controlled, but not so much anymore. The MSM and the political party establishments have pushed these sorts of candidates because this is what they know and what they can control. We out here in "flyover country" are sort of an enigma. Yes, there is a whole industry in image consulting for those in politics and they are coached and polished. Anyone with half a brain should be able to see through it.
Until the last year or so, the populace really didn't pay all that much attention. Now that the people are awake, don't be surprised if the silver tongues and such aren't enough. Workers aren't as dumb as the Ivy League wants them to be.