Opinion: Fingers crossed Beth Gaines is fit for office
Publisher’s note: This editorial is from the May 9, 2011, Sacramento Bee.
Beth Gaines is scheduled to be sworn in this week as Assembly member for the district that includes parts of Sacramento, Placer and El Dorado counties.
Many wonder if she is fit for state office. We hope she surprises us.
She succeeds her husband, Sen. Ted Gaines, who was elected to the upper house in a special election. Gaines won a rather lackluster victory, besting a Democrat who barely campaigned by 10 percent in a district that is heavily weighted to favor Republicans.
Gaines should understand that it’s a privilege to serve, not a right. She ought to turn down the perquisites of public office, avoid constant fundraising, and devote full-time to representing her constituents.
Wording like “fit for state office” bothers me. What exactly does that mean? Is there a litmus test? I am not aware of one. Just because someone has never held a “local” government position, doesn’t mean that they can’t serve in a state position. I think the same logic applies to a federal government spot too.
Maybe if more “average people” like you & me were elected to state & federal goverment, then things would run better. With the mismanagement of government an epidemic on EVERY level, I would argue that there are a lot of people currently serving that are not “fit for office”.
Maybe the question should be is the Sacrament Bee fit to be a newspaper?
Considering the papers biased newstorials, poor writing, decreasing circulation, and reduced advertising revenues, I think not.
People in glass houses shouldn’t throw stones or newspapers for that matter.
I agree, thimesnv. This article is a very obvious slap in the face to someone who hasn’t even started her new job yet. Didn’t hear these same complaints from the left about the President or about Al Franken, or any number of Democrat political hopefuls. Ya gotta start somewhere, and even though Ms. Gaines would not have been my first choice, I’d recomment holding back your insults until she has earned them. With the attitude and leanings of the SacBee, I’m sure they will soon be forthcoming.