The Political Prize Fight

By Lucius Gantt

When I was a sportswriter, covering boxing matches was one of my favorite jobs.

Fans called the big boxing matches, "championship" boxing but the fighters called each match a "prize fight" because the winner would win the prize, or the most money.

Political elections are prize fights too. Most candidates seek political titles, good political benefits, free meals and alcoholic beverages, political conferences in Las Vegas, Miami, and other "fun cities" and better-than-average political health and retirement benefits.

Good enough, but you must win your election to win a political prize!

A competitive election race is very much a fight. You have to fight for voter support, you have to fight for campaign contributions, you have to fight to compose, and air, the best motivational and inspirational messages, and you have to fight for political credibility.

You see, most candidates are encouraged to run for office by friends and family.

Some one's "side piece", "designated hitter", sorority sister, masonic brother, coworker, classmate, or someone else will say, "You should run for office", and you'll run straight to the Supervisor of Elections office, pay your registration fee and declare your iuntent to seek a political office.

Well, most people who run for political office end up as political losers.

I imagine practice makes perfect, so many unsuccessful candidates run for office again and again.

Trust me, the key to winning an election is not a big booty and a smile, a pretty face, or a rented luxury car.

To win, you have to know what you're doing, you have to know how government works, you have to know who the Congressional and Legioslative leaders are, you have to know where to go and who to go to when you need help or assistant, and you have to know who can deliver votes and other things you need to win your political battles.

Once you get elected, you have to address the legislation that your voters want you to address. If you don't know how to write a bill, an amendment, a substitue amendment, you should at least know how to discuss proposed legislation with lobbyists or how to convince the "bill drafting staff" to help you compose the legislative documents that supporters want you to file, and fight for.

In Congress and in state legislatures, there are hundreds of elected officials. How can you get your particular legislative needs andissues discussed, debated and passed?

Your bills will flow through government halls like water IF YOU BEFRIEND CONGRESSIONAL AND LEGISLATIVE LEADERS!

But that's not done when you walk into the governmental chambers. My advice is to be humble during your first year in office, judge the political energy and see who has power now and who will assume power when the time comes and try to be friends with both of them!

Campaign comments and speeches are usually well thought out lies to tell the voters what you think they should hear but voters desire clarity and authenticity.

Being a politician is not easy. Take a look at what's going on in Washington. Corruption, mismanagement, wars and rumors of war take place in government halls on a daily basis.

If you want good bread, find a good baker. If you want to win an election, seek political knowledge for yourself or find an experienced political professional to help you.

I'm out of the game but I will jump back in for a friend.

I wish all political candidates well but to me, some candidates are laughable.

I like rap music but I could never be a rapper but many rappers think they know more than enough to serve their communities as an elected officiial that can deliver government bills and benefits to the people.

Again, best wishes to all candidates. Tell me, what Black candidate for elected office can garner over 50% of voters to vote for them?

Comment on this post with a solid answer.

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