Ashley Judd: Keeping the cameras rolling by other means

By Richard K. Barry

I don't have a strong opinion about actor Ashley Judd possibly taking on Republican Sen. Minority Leader Mitch McConnell in Kentucky in 2014. Though it is looking increasingly like she's going to do it.

Associated Press is reporting that Judd made cute references to the possibility in a keynote address last Friday at the American Counselling Association's 2013 conference in Cincinnati. 

In speaking about her personal experience with depression, she said when she started in counseling she didn't like to be criticized. She added that was ironic since she was, in her words, "about to get $40 million worth of it."

Judd also said her mother, Naomi Judd, can't wait to turn her garage into a campaign headquarters.

On the one hand, profile and polished presentation skills matter, and I am sure Ms. Judd has all of that. On the other hand, I tend to think experience matters and a high profile U.S. Senate race may not be the best place to get that initial experience. Try school board, or city council, or even the state legislature first, assuming the point really is to make a difference instead of simply keeping the cameras rolling by other means.