Making It In Politics the Hard Way

Politics ain’t beanbag, right? But most prominent women get ahead the old-fashioned way, writes Victor David Hanson.

[Think of] successful contemporary female role-model politicians, such as a Diane Feinstein, Nancy Pelosi, Mary Landrieu, or Hillary Clinton — or pundits like Sally Quinn, Eleanor Clift, Andrea Mitchell, Campbell Brown, Gail Collins[.]

How did these women get started? They married well, or they were the children of established politicians.

Nothing wrong with that. Hey, you gotta play the hand you are dealt.

But it makes you realize that you wouldn’t want to start with these cards, not unless you are playing low-ball.

1. Grow up in small-town America.
   
2. Make it Alaska.
   
3. No Ivy League law school.
   
4. Marry a guy without money or influence.
   
5. No money, connections, or “name” in her family either.
   
6. Have lots of children.
   
7. Conservative: pro-life, pro-gun, pro-religion, pro-drilling. Republican.
   
8. Start career in all-male corrupt machine.
   
9. Get national attention in bad year for your party.
   
10. Corny photos with moose or party-hardy Alaskans, and more to come.
    

You gotta hand it to Gov. Palin; she did it her way.

Of course, you say, talent will out. No doubt. But it sure makes things easier when hubby or daddy can get you into the game.