The “Water Cooler” is a feature on Claycord.com where we ask you a question or provide a topic, and you talk about it.
The “Water Cooler” will be up Monday-Friday at noon.
Today’s question:
QUESTION: Should a person be disqualified from running for office if they’ve been convicted of a felony?
Talk about it.
Absolutely should be. If you can’t vote or own a firearm because of a felony, it should also disqualify you from holding office. For example, there is a council person in Antioch who was convicted of arson. Probably something going on upstairs if one commits that.
in california you can vote if you have a felony.
That would depend on the crime, not all felons are bad people. I can remember when possession of one joint was a felony. There are ex-felons who are probably more honest than a lot of politicians who are currently in office. If a person running for office is upfront and honest, and doesn’t try to hide anything about their past, then it should be left up to the voters to decide. Maybe they did something stupid 20 or 30 years ago when they were young, and have since wised up. The Constitution does not prohibit a convicted felon from running for public office, and from what I understand, a felon can even run for congress, but the final decision would be made by the Senate, or the House.
Depends. If you shoot the neighbor’s dog, that is a felony. If you shoot the neighbor, that is a felony. These are very different things. Just because you hate Chihuahuas doesn’t mean your stand on the government deficit or foreign policy is wrong.
Wow is all i can say ! So animal cruelty is ok ?
Absolutely! Character counts. If you were convicted of a felony, how many felonies did you commit prior to? Not everyone is caught. A DUI is a perfect example. How many times did you drive drunk before you were arrested?
It would depend on the felony. if a person gets a DUI once when they were young I see no problem.
Yes. Felons cannot vote or own firearms, so why should they be in public office? They gave up that right when they committed their crime.
I cannot think of any felony that would not cause me concern about the potential candidate who would be a felon. I would agree in general, then, that a felon should not be able to run for national office, or statewide office. For local offices, I would prefer nonfelons as well.
You are walking a fine line erasing the right to vote without exception. Everything gets twisted by the two political parties. Will your political opponents be more inclined to have you charged with or increase your charge to a felony in the hopes you won’t be able to vote? Pretty sure Kamala Harris would have participated in this as Attorney General. Would a jury be more likely to convict a political opponent defendant for the same reason? Probably better for the voters to decide by not voting for the person or for there to be a process for the right to vote to be restored.
Some folks seem to have been misinformed. In California, a convicted felon regains their right to vote after they have completed their sentence, and are off probation or parole.
Salty Here!
Yes they are criminals.
But lets get to the real problem here!
THIS NEW WEBSITE SUCKS! Put back the old site. We like the newspaper layout that it use to be. (Bet you dont post this)
Salty OUT!
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Depends.
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What type of felony?
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@EXIT 12A..…It’s a felony to wear adult diapers?….that’s not right.
Being corrupt is a REQUIREMENT to hold public office.
It’s ok to have a bumbling, drooling fool to be (P)resident of the White House?
Yes. We have enough crooks in office already with other crooks egging them on.
I really don’t see what difference it makes.
All politicians are criminals, some get caught, others don’t.
Just like prostetutes, they keep working no matter what their convicted of.
Politicians are the same.
And the people keep voting for them.
No brainer you morons.
Is this a trick question?? ABSOLUTELY
Agreed! The city council in Antioch has a convicted arson on a district. She tried to burn down a dwelling with people inside.
That’s a silly question, of course they should be disqualified!
Yes, there needs to be a level standards, including education, character and morals. There’s way too many unqualified individuals running and ruining public office.
Yes definitely
Convicted? Yes.
Accused? Yes, Although that would likely narrow the field quite a bit.
Willing to learn? Hey, that’s a prerequisite.