Political dynasty is an ugly phrase.
It conjures images of royalty, who sit on thrones based on heredity rather than merit. It speaks of family money and political connections over the American way ? that through hard work you can become anything you want to be.
Opponents of John Sarbanes? bid to become the next U.S. Representative for Maryland?s third district invoke the phrase as areason not to elect him.
They say that the position of his father, retiring U.S. Sen. Paul Sarbanes, must not determine the outcome of the congressional race. That?s true. But it?s not a reason not to elect him, either.
You could say the same thing about former Baltimore Health Commissioner Peter Beilenson ? another Democrat running for the open third Congressional seat. His father, Anthony Beilenson, spent 20 years in the House as a U.S. representative from California.
Political dynasties go way back to colonial times. The son of President John Adams, John Quincy Adams, became president, too. Benjamin Harrison followed in the footsteps of his grandfather, William Henry Harrison, to become president. His great-grandfather signed the Declaration of Independence. More recently, the Roosevelts, Kennedys and Bushes have dominated the U.S. political landscape.
Research of Stephen Hess, author of “Political Dynasties: An American Tradition,” and a senior fellow at the Brookings Institution in Washington, shows that about 700 families exist where two or more members have been elected to Congress. Those members account for about 17 percent of all those chosen to represent we the people in the federal legislature since 1774.
After all, many children follow in their parents footsteps into law, medicine, teaching and many other jobs, so why not politics?
While the fact that political dynasties exist does not make them good, it?s not as if they gain absolute power.
Family tragedy and criminal charges mark the Kennedys more than political victories. Remember who lost the last race for governor of Maryland ? Kathleen Kennedy Townsend.
As Hess wrote, “The most important characteristic of our political nobility has been its fluidity ? A political class that remains open, mobile, and self-generating is successive generations is a healthy sign.”
We think you might agree that the more important qualifications for office are the candidates? ideas and experience.
However, where opponents of political dynasties make a good point is that the media and civic organizations must not pick winners prior to elections based on political connections. The public deserves to hear all the voices in the field, especially in competitive open seat races, like those in the third Congressional district and U.S. Senate elections.
Research shows those we the people select in this election will overwhelmingly not leave until they choose to step down. That could be decades.
