There is
a certain mystic about non-politically experienced candidates when
they for the first time win a high elected office.
We have histories
of actors such as Ronald Reagan and Joseph Estrada becoming Presidents
of their respective countries. We also have Rogelio de la Rosa, a
famous actor, as the first person to be able to win a Philippine senatorship.
He had earlier challenged Diosdado Macapagal during the latter's attempt
at Presidency. Rogelio de la Rosa was related to President Macapagal
as an in-law relative. Later Rogelio withdrew and became the first
movie actor to become an Ambassador. His country of assignment was
Cambodia. Another actor/senator the Philippines has had is Ramon Revilla.
And there are several others.
Now a new governor
for the State of California has emerged, and he is none other than
Arnold Schwarznegger, an naturalised American citizen from Austria.
He was famous for his movie appearance in Total Recall, Terminator
1 though 3, and others. He is a Republican but married a Kennedy whose
clan has been traditionally Democrat. Arnold has no experience as
an elected politician but his movie popularity made it possible for
him to become the governor of the most progressive and populous state
in the USA. He has also brought the biggest turnout of voters in the
history of California or any state in the Union.
We have such sports' figure who graced the Minnesota governorship
for four years. Jesse "the body" Ventura, a known national
wrestler, a villain wrestler, and an Independent party person won
the governorship of Minnesota and beat seasoned and veteran politicians,
both Democratic and Republican. He was also the first governor who
was neither a Republican nor a Democrat. His election to the Minnesota
highest elective post brought for the first time the highest voter
turn out in the history of our state. One of his striking and unique
platform was his rejection of any large political campaign contributions
from businesses, a customary practice in US politics, the Philippines,
and other countries.
Governor-elect Arnold Schwarzenegger heeed the advise of Jesse the
body not to accept corporate political contribution. This may have
helped the new incoming governor win the position considering the
fact that the California citizenry is tired of politics-as-usual and
major corporate campaign contribution.
Jesse "the
body" did not run for re-election: had he run again, he would
have easily won the second term as governor. He has brought good things
to our state, considering the fact that his limited political experience
was a Mayor, a part time position, of a small city in Minnesota, a
suburb of Minneapolis and St. Paul.
We also have elected for the first time in the State of Minnesota
an Associate Justice of the Supreme Court by the name of Alan Page.
He was also the first African-American elected to the Supreme Court.
Associate Justice Page had no previous government or judicial experience
other than being a juris doctor (LL.B.) graduate from the University
of Minnesota not too long ago. He won primarily because he was a famed
football player for the Minnesota Vikings.
Recently in the Philippines, our famed basketball player, Robert Jaworski
won the Senate race, following the feat of an ex-Senator and player
Freddie Webb. Again the sports popularity mystique is omnipresent
in the world. So is the movieworld whose influence cannot be overemphasized;
ask Senator Tito Sotto and Senator-spouses of popular actresses. So
if you are a popular actor, a popular athlete, even a popular commentator
your chances of winning elective positions in the government even
without experience ARE very high.
Now Fernando Poe is rumoured to be running for the presidency. Will
the actor mystique rule or dominate politics in the Philippines? How
many of our country-mates who are professional actors and athletes
are running for high public office? Their chance of winning a high
office position in our country or any country is very probably given
the sports and cinema mentality of the people on earth. The only thing
that is very special about the American actors and athletes is their
integrity and their commitment to follow through what they had promised
during their electoral campaigns.
The author is a retired
assistant professor of international politics at Bernidji State University
in Minnesota. He now works as a coordinator for Minneapolis Department
of Civil Rights. Originally from Kamuning, Quezon City, his search
for a bride took him to Krygyztan and into the arms of Naziyat, shown
here with her mother.
