--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: If somebody wants to run for office, they…" description: "\"“If somebody wants to run for office, they had better to explain why they want to run for office. Wanting to be a candidate seems, in itself, reason fo..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3a4/douglas-coupland-305_candidate_if-somebody-wants-to-run-for-office-they_3207608.jpg" --- # If somebody wants to run for office, they had better to… ![“If somebody wants to run for office, they had better to explain why they want to run for office. Wanting to be a candidate seems, in itself, reason for exclusion.” quote by Douglas Coupland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3a4/douglas-coupland-305_candidate_if-somebody-wants-to-run-for-office-they_3207608.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3a4/douglas-coupland-305_candidate_if-somebody-wants-to-run-for-office-they_3207608.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3a4/douglas-coupland-305_candidate_if-somebody-wants-to-run-for-office-they_3207608.jpg) > ““If somebody wants to run for office, they had better to explain why they want to run for office. Wanting to be a candidate seems, in itself, reason for exclusion.”” [Douglas Coupland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/douglas-coupland/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. He argues that merely wanting to run for office can be used to exclude candidates, highlighting a bias in political gatekeeping. **In simple terms:** Desire to run can lead to exclusion. Key Takeaway Address biases in candidate selection. Themes politics inclusion bias Mood critical reflective Type analytical thought‑provoking When to use this quote - election campaigns - party nominations - grassroots activism Key Concepts gatekeeping candidate motivation Questions to Reflect On - How can we create fairer candidate evaluations? - What criteria should replace bias? A Different Perspective Not all motivations are scrutinized equally. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Candidate](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/candidate/) [Candidate Reason](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/candidate-reason-4392658/) [Explain Want](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/explain-want-891806/) [Reason Exclusion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/reason-exclusion-5980955/) [Wanting Candidate](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wanting-candidate-5980954/) ## Related quotes > [The way the electoral college works, the way the states have kind of sorted themselves out in such a way that most states, the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frank-bruni/the-way-the-electoral-college-works-the-way-the-states-have-kind-of/) [Frank Bruni](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frank-bruni/) > [“I explain that i want time off to write a book. 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My kids can't believe I just said that.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jon-huntsman-jr/today-i-m-a-candidate-for-the-office-of-president-of-the-united/) [Jon Huntsman, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jon-huntsman-jr/) > [I think Trump is a very interesting candidate in this sense: I think he has cross-party appeal.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pat-buchanan/i-think-trump-is-a-very-interesting-candidate-in-this-sense-i-think/) [Pat Buchanan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pat-buchanan/) > [I do think that sometimes, especially coming into this going straight from activism to being a candidate or to being a person who potentially,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexandria-ocasio-cortez/i-do-think-that-sometimes-especially-coming-into-this-going-straight/) [Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexandria-ocasio-cortez/) > [Even though I don't agree with Donald Trump on everything, and I think there may be certain things or statements of his that I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lee-zeldin/even-though-i-don-t-agree-with-donald-trump-on-everything-and-i-think/) [Lee Zeldin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lee-zeldin/) > [I'm not quite certain how you can force a candidate to stick by the rules.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gwen-ifill/i-m-not-quite-certain-how-you-can-force-a-candidate-to-stick-by-the/) [Gwen Ifill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gwen-ifill/) > [I am not a fan of Mitt Romney, but I admit that he is, politically speaking, a good candidate for president. 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