Something that has caught my attention over the past few weeks on Facebook on the official pages of minor 2024 Presidential Candidates seeking the Republican nomination on certain posts it seems that they are so desperately trying to buy their way to the RNC debate stage for the first presidential primary debate which is set to take place on August 23rd in Milwaukee.
Candidates must have a minimum of 40,000 unique donors from 20 or more states and territories. Candidates must also meet certain polling requirements as follows
● 1% in at least 3 national polls or
● 1% in 2 national polls and 2 polls from either New Hampshire, South Carolina, Iowa or Nevada
Many of the minor candidates have asked for just $1 just to help send them to the debate stage no bribes at all but some of the bribes that select candidates such as Doug Burgum, Perry Johnson, Francis Suarez, Mike Pence and Ryan Binkley have offered were anything from $20 to $10 relief cards, t shirts, bumper stickers, books, hats etc. (NOTE: Burgum has currently qualified to participate in the debates)
Other candidates such as Larry Elder, Asa Hutchinson and Will Hurd just to name a few have asked for a $1 donation but without a bribe to my knowledge.
Let’s be clear about one thing, it is nothing wrong with candidates asking for donations and selling merchandise to their supporters, I mean they have to buy signs and other necessities for the campaign trail I understand that however, a few things that I question are the potential bribing and desperation to be in the limelight.
1. If a candidate really wants to appeal to the voters they should make themselves known by going out to meet them and share their vision for this country. This is a job they’re applying for and if they want the job they need to reach out to their potential future employers and appeal to them as to why they’re the best man/woman for the job. Nobody told them this would be an easy journey for them.
2. If they are out and about a majority of the time campaigning with little to no results could it be because they lack a plan or vision for the biggest job one could ever apply for? Voters are not and will not take this too lightly and if they judge the candidate properly they will judge by their character, their morals and their past and present experiences in public office.
3. Are they in it for the welfare of America and her people or are they in it for themselves in an attempt to get a shot at being a Vice Presidential pick, having a spot in the eventualPresidential nominees’ cabinet or are they investing in their political resumes to eventually have their chances of a higher spot on a statewide or federal level of government?
4. Selling merchandise and collecting donations is one thing but it is another to bribe the voters with books, clothing, gift cards, bumper stickers etc. to just collect a dollar from them so they can get to the debate stage the easy way when other candidates have worked hard to earn the trust and support of the voters.
I, like millions of other Americans, will watch the debates whether we have already decided or not on whom we will support because we want to hear what the candidates have to say as far as the future of governing this nation is concerned but once again we want candidates to be serious about the job and not in it just for a great performance of political theater.
What Americans want to invest their time and money in is not random merchandise for a cheap price but a leader who has worked hard to get the position they desire, one who is upfront and personal with them and one who has earned their trust, their respect and their vote.
