There is no statement I hate more than politicians saying they are not career politicians. For two reasons. First, it demeans politics and politicians, which and who are essential parts of democracy and debate in our republic, and when you demean politics, I have to wonder how you feel about democracy. Sure there can be bad or corrupt politicians, just as there are bad or corrupt businessmen or bad or corrupt bankers. But that doesn’t mean the profession as a whole is evil… well… maybe banking. But I digress, you get my point.
Second, and just as important, when someone says they are not a career politician, most often than not it is a lie said by a career politician. You only get to say you are not a career politician the first time you run for office and/or if you have never served in government before.
Tom Kovach says he is not a career politician.
He says that even though he has participated as a candidate in three elections for two offices and preparing to run in another election for another higher office. He has won twice and lost once.
Likewise, John Carney has participated as a candidate in four elections for three offices, and we assume he is running for reelection. He has won three times and lost once.
They both look like career politicians to me. And only one of them is lying to pretend he is not.