Part Reality Show, Part Revolution
A national search for America's next great leader -
no party, privilege, or political pedigree required
Two American Obsessions:
Politics + Reality TV
Inspiration
The modern American political system has already become, in most respects, reality TV. Our current president is, quite literally, the reality TV star President, not only because he is a former reality TV star, but also in his obsession with ratings and his use of the office to manufacture viral moments. Love, hate, admiration, disdain – he uses these emotions to stay permanently affixed in the spotlight. He even muses in real time how a given moment will create “great television.”
Congress has, of course, taken the cue, along with governors and state office holders. There has never been a time in our politics as wrapped up and defined by realty TV moments, as the one in which we’ve found ourselves today.
Why let them have all the fun??
If ever there was a moment in our evolution as a nation to capture the two American obsessions of reality TV and politics, and meld them into one incredible, dramatic, funny, important, educational, entertaining production – this is it.
What if the best candidate for President of the United States has never been allowed in the room? POTUS finds them - on national television.
The Pitch
Is this the best we can do?
Is the political class representing all 350 million of us really the best of us to lead? Perhaps! But most reasonable people believe we can do better. The ingredients that must be blended into the most unlikely, imperfect cocktail of personality traits, privilege, and ambition to facilitate a rise to our highest elected offices are not necessarily aligned with the traits that make for a servant leader who uses power to improve the plight of all Americans. And, given the unlikely opportunity, our greatest future leaders will make themselves known, rising from the heart of our communities to take on the challenges of today and tomorrow, and to truly represent the people above all else. Someone just needs to create a broad-enough spotlight to illuminate the brilliance of those individuals whose sparkle may otherwise be dimmed by the lack of extraordinary opportunity.
We need a televised search for the next President of the United States.
No, not the one we’ve seen playout over and over again and produce continued questionable results. Not the process currently in place where political operatives and wealthy donors decide who gets the opportunity to be on the shortest of short lists of those deemed worthy to run for the highest office in our land. Not the one where two political parties make the rules and erect and guard the gates to the national primary selection process. No, this is a very different sort of national search. One based not on privilege, but on passion, merit, and talent, and one that levels the political battlefield so that anyone who sufficiently reflects the values of our fellow Americans has the ability to rise to the top. This is a true, national search, where the spotlight fills every corner of our country. One where the best of us can make themselves known...
And one that is televised for all to see.
