Keith Ellison is getting a lot of buzz these days as the Democratic National Committee looks for a new party chairman.
He should back off the notion that he’s the best man for the job.
Here’s why.
Ellison is a congressman from Minnesota. He is employed by his constituents to do a full-time job on their behalf. He needs to answer mail from those who are concerned about, oh, Social Security checks, veterans benefits, federal aid of all stripes.
He earns a six-figure salary to do those kinds of things. Yes, he has a staff to deal with “constituent service.” Ellison, though, is the guy his district elected to his public office.
Running a major political party also is a full-time endeavor. It requires the chairman to devote his or her attention to the task at hand, which is ensuring victory for political candidates and to deliver whatever message the party wants delivered.
That job also pays handsomely and those who work in the trenches on behalf of the party deserve a full-time chairman.
Can a member of Congress do both jobs? Can he do them correctly and with all the dedication and energy they both demand?
Unless the congressman is gulping large quantities of Red Bull or espresso, I do not believe he can do either job the justice each of them deserves. Truth be told, I am more interested in whether he could serve his constituents fully than I am in whether he can lead his party.
What’s more, as a federal lawmaker, he makes decisions affecting the rest of us — regardless of our party affiliation.
The DNC has a lot of capable individuals from which it can choose to lead the party. I am sure Ellison has convinced himself he’s the man for the job.
He isn’t Superman.