Tom Stilson for Congress Needs to Hit the Minor Leagues

BBCW had it's Brad Pitt's mother moment today. Houston Astros pitcher Lucas Harrell's father came out defending Tom Stilson, who is running for Congress. Both Stilson and Harrell played baseball together at the sports before academics mecca known as Ozark High School in Ozark, Missouri.

I used to watch Lucas Harrell's career closely being a Chicago sports fan. As my readers know, I am that rare person who lived in Chicago that rooted for both the north side and south side teams finding a uniqueness in both traditions to celebrate. Harrell was drafted by the Chicago White Sox and brought up in the minor leagues before he was traded earning a spot in the Houston Astro's organization where today he is 7-6 with 4.43 ERA and 69 strike outs.

Lucas Harrell's success wasn't instant. He was developed in the minor leagues until coaches felt he was ready to don a Major League uniform full time. In fact, Lucas spent seven years in the minors beginning in 2004 according to the Major League Baseball database. 2012 is Harrell's first full year in the big leagues according to MLB.

I find there is a good point to make in all of this. Tom Stilson is running for Congress. He is a just-turned 25 year old, part-time employed clerk working the gun counter at Bass Pro Shops, who still lives with mom and dad. Tom Stilson is asking voters to put him in the game--the most critical game of all where our lives all hang in the balance. The voters won't have the luxury of "next season" something I have become accustomed to as a Cubs fan.

With a $16 trillion deficit, the erosion of freedom and liberties guaranteed by the Constitution, Tom Stilson is asking to pitch relief in place of Billy Long, a man who went to the mound claiming he was fed up but soon fell prey to Washington's way. Stilson has yet to pitch in the minors to even prove himself, and the temptation of Washington may be too much for a single 25 year old who doesn't even have a full-time job.

He has no record of managing a household budget for a family. He doesn't have to worry about the rent check even now. He has a cushy job where the closest thing he does in terms of government work is calling in background checks to potential gun owners. Oh sure, he talks a good talk using Tea Party buzzwords, but that's the easy part of the game. "Come on coach, put me in the game!"

The truth is Stilson has no experience of doing anything other than graduating college and working at Bass Pro. His real life experiences are quite limited and he has been sheltered by his parents much like a welfare recipient is sheltered by the federal government. He still lives with them.

I can't help but ask why does this 25 year old kid really believe he has what it takes to lead our district in Congress and fight the establishment that continues to move to the left and grow government when his own Web site proves he has embraced this very establishment.

I think Stilson needs to take a lesson here from his buddy Lucas. He needs to hit the minors and learn the struggles that is life so he can apply these lessons to the decisions he will make as an elected leader. He needs to face the ups and downs of life in the game of trying to make ends meet. Living with mom and dad is fine. A lot of kids are doing it these days in a tough economy, but it also should make you question his experience and if he is really ready for Congress.

In my opinion, judging from his political rhetoric which includes calling his opponents sophomoric names, he is still a child acting like a child while obviously being coached by his campaign team to recite Tea Party buzzwords like Billy Long did before him two years ago, that perhaps Stilson needs the minor leagues. Perhaps a county position or a state legislature position. I mean Matt Blunt didn't just become governor overnight, and he had name recognition and a far finer record having served in the Navy and graduating from the Naval Academy than what Stilson posts as he runs for Congress. Stilson went to very liberal colleges and sat in very liberal classrooms that taught radical environmentalism.

Blunt was young too when he broke into politics, but he did so running as a state legislator and then stepping up to Secretary of State. Tom Stilson needs to be broken in the minor leagues too.

That's why Mike Moon is really the only choice in the Republican primary. Moon is a strong Christian, a true Constitutional conservative, and a Republican molded from the original Republicans like Thomas Jefferson and James Madison. Moon is successful at both family, job, and the game of life, and you won't meet a finer man. Moon can unite the Southwest Missouri Republican party because his supporters come from all sides of the Republican spectrum, where as Stilson still attacks various factions of the Republican party accusing conservatives of trying to destroy the GOP.

Stilson is young. He needs to prove he is a leader and the minor leagues is where voters must insist Stilson goes in August.