Does Ones Business Success or Failures Matter in Politics?

[Arnold jr]

They are not uncommon remarks "John Doe knows has run a successful business, he might be a good fit for a spot in DC" and the opposite is true too for someone who has failed in business. It could be that the individual had business matters end up in the toilet not due to his incompetence but simply due to a host of issues that can be unpredictable. Take for example Samuel Adams, a failed business man who was more than a successful and influential politician.

So does successful business experience matter as much as general wisdom and understanding? Thoughts?

[Hugo Chavez]

I guess it doesn't matter that much.  It didn't hurt Bush that he had past Business failures and Meg's success didn't help her enough.  Didn't help Forbes when he ran either.

[Arnold jr]

I guess it doesn't matter that much.  It didn't hurt Bush that he had past Business failures and Meg's success didn't help her enough.  Didn't help Forbes when he ran either.

I don't mean does it help or hurt your chances of getting elected, I'm asking how important do you think that success or failure is once and if you're in a position of power in politics. People bring up Obama's lack of business experience all the time, he has not tasted neither success or failure to any real degree. Does that matter?

[Purge_WTF]

  Look at the midterms. Carl Paladino, Meg Whitman and Linda McMahon all lost.

 
  "For skillful and godly Wisdom is better than rubies or pearls, and all the things that may be desired are not to be compared to it."
  --Proverbs 8:11   

[Hugo Chavez]

I don't mean does it help or hurt your chances of getting elected, I'm asking how important do you think that success or failure is once and if you're in a position of power in politics. People bring up Obama's lack of business experience all the time, he has not tasted neither success or failure to any real degree. Does that matter?

I guess it depends on the citizen you're talking to.  It seems a lot of people look past it or they would have voted different in the primary and or election to begin with.  for me it depends on what they were successful in but usually other issues end up being more of a deciding factor.  I mean once you have them in office, it's kinda a mute point.  If they have no business experience, then they should have some good advisers to help them in that area. Also it depends on the business experience.  I'd be way more impressed with a politician who built a successful business from the ground up than some assclown CEO from Goldman Sachs or something.  His business experience wouldn't mean jack shit to me personally and would probably be a negative for me.