In Politics, It's Not What You Know, It's Who You Know

Right now there are three seats in the U.S. Senate waiting to be filled before the 2009 session begins. Two of the three openings exist because the previous occupant has moved on to bigger and better things. Another is embroiled in a disputed election. All are fraught with controversy.

• In Minnesota, Democrat Al Franken currently holds a slight lead over Republican Senator Norm Coleman as the state Canvassing Board is still counting the votes. Meanwhile, Governor Tim Pawlenty has offered to select a temporary Senator--most likely a Republican like himself--to serve until the whole mess is straightened out. Who knows how long that will take?
• In Illinois, Barack Obama's successor is up in the air because Governor Rod Blagojevich has been accused of trying to sell the President-elect's Senate seat to the highest bidder. Efforts by the state Legislature to get rid of Democrat Blagojevich have so far been stymied by his refusal to leave, thus complicating the matter of who gets to appoint whom.
• In New York, the possible confirmation of Hillary Clinton as Obama's Secretary of State has created an opening for that state's governor to appoint Caroline Kennedy as interim Senator.

Kennedy is the daughter of former President John F. Kennedy, and has mostly been known for staying out of politics and the public eye. Now she suddenly decides she's interested in the position, with no previous experience and on the strength of her name? There would be two immediate advantages: There would be at least one Kennedy in the Senate, with uncle Ted in failing health. And she wouldn't have to face the voters until 2010--if she wants to run again, that is.

This isn't the first (or last) time relatives of famous politicians have run for public office (see: Bush, Clinton, Roosevelt, etc.), or were appointed upon the death or resignation of an official. Contrary to popular belief, you don't need much experience to enter politics, either. We've had entertainers, athletes, business leaders, anyone with a name that has been in the media at least once run for office.

(In Minnesota, in addition to former Saturday Night Live cast member Franken, we've had a Senator whose last name was synonymous with a beloved Minneapolis department store, and the son of a former Senator and Vice-President who ran for Governor in 1998 and lost to a former pro wrestler.)

This also brings into question what it takes to get into politics these days. Unless you have oodles of money and/or have a last name everybody knows (in which case the funding usually takes care of itself), you have no shot. Oh, you could hope for a miracle, such as your well-known opponent getting caught up in scandal or saying something stupid on YouTube.

We are just as guilty every time we go into a voting booth, look at the ballot and think: "Gee, I've heard of this candidate's name before. I'm not real sure about where he or she stands on the issues, but I'm gonna vote for this person anyway". Then the voter fills in the oval (or doodles, as the case may be) for that candidate.

There you have it. Name recognition, money to burn, and voter apathy. Why shouldn't it be so surprising that the political scene is filled with enough familiar names to fill a volume of Who's Who In America?