Presidential candidates don't need political experience

In the Oct 30th edition of The Daily Herald Fencepost, Bob Foys states that people such as Donald Trump, Ben Carson and Carly Fiorina should not be taken seriously for the office of president of the USA because of their lack of previous elected office experience.

It is undisputed that nobody is perfect, and even though one thing the aforementioned three have in common is that each one would almost assuredly be a better president than Hillary Clinton or Bernie Sanders, one could cite intelligent reasons why they don't qualify, in his or her opinion, to be our commander in chief.

Lack of elected office experience is not one of them.

Following are several examples of past presidents with previous elected office experience, some of whom made most lists of the 10 worst presidents. Jimmy Carter, the worst President I've seen in my 89 years. Obama might be worse but he is still in office and perhaps he can save his dismal record in the next year).

George W. Bush, architect of costly wars in Iraq and Aphganistan and a so-so domestic policy record. Richard Nixon, a man with mental problems who was forced to resign to avoid being impeached. James Buchanan, one of the worst. Warren G. Harding, whose presidency had many scandals, notably The Teapot Dome.

Andrew Johnson, first of only 2 presidents impeached, had white supremacist views and a lack of political skills.

Our best president ever was George Washington and he didn't have previously elected office experience.

So you see folks, the more previous elected office experience a candidate has tells us only one thing. The person is comfortable working at over paid jobs with excessive perks and obscenely high pensions for small number of years worked, at the expense of us taxpayers.

I'll take Ben or Carly.

Gene Maril

Arlington Heights