Among countless announcements of awards at the 2015 MTV Video Music Awards, Kanye West chose to make headlines again with his statement that he intends to run for president in 2020. Although his remarks were humorous, there are people who are taking his announcement too seriously. We need to pay less attention to West’s statement and more on the future of our country.

West is a well-known hip-hop artist, but he is also known for his unpredictable comments and flippant personality. Remember the 2009 VMAs? Being unpredictable is not a quality that a potential candidate or president should possess. We need a leader who can provide stability for our country and West does not fit the bill.

A presidential candidate should also, at the least, have some experience in politics. If he or she has never held a political position, then there is little chance of that candidate being an effective leader. Inexperience has been one of the biggest arguments for those in opposition of President Obama’s two terms in office. At the time of his inauguration, the president was only 47 years old. Although he has not been the youngest incumbent to assume office, many still argue that his lack of tenure did not serve the country well.

West should not be treated differently. To President Obama’s credit, he actively pursued a career that would prepare him for a life in politics. West, on the other hand, has no previous experience that would prepare him for the responsibilities as the country’s commander in chief.

More frequently, we are seeing candidates who are celebrities, not politicians. Although West was likely joking with his desire to run for president, it is important that we do not overanalyze the situation and lose sight of the current election. Preoccupying ourselves with the outlandish declarations of celebrity presidential bids will only in the end delude citizens from the issues at hand and push our country further from reaching its goals.

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-- Online Editor-in-Chief Emeritus-- Digital Journalism

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