"There are men, in all ages, who mean to exercise power usefully; but who mean to exercise it. They mean to govern well; but they mean to govern. They promise to be kind masters; but they mean to be masters." Daniel Webster

Thursday, July 15, 2010

Wrestling with the Facts

The Weekly Standard has a piece on Linda McMahon's Senate candidacy that contains this passage:

McMahon is not the first figure from professional wrestling to enter politics. In 1974, Jim Crockett, who ran the National Wrestling Alliance, ran for the Senate in North Carolina. He finished sixth in a field of six in the GOP primary. And, in 1990, Jesse “The Body” Ventura was elected mayor of Brooklyn Park, Minnesota. Eight years later, he was governor of the state.


Where do we begin?

First, Jim Crockett Jr. wasn't elected NWA president until 1980, and I don't think it would be correct to say that he "ran" the NWA even then since the president's only two roles were to run the annual meeting and book the world champion.

Second, everything I've ever read says that Crockett ran for state Senate not the Senate as the Standard says.

Third, if you are taking about pro wrestles in politics, how can you talk about Crockett's failed run for Senate and not mention even Tom Drake, who served 32 years in the Alabama House of Representatives, including two terms as speaker, while maintaining a successful pro wrestling career?

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