Congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez recently sparked a heated debate when she put forward her experience over that of Rep. Byron Donalds. Responding to her accusations, Donalds brought up the issue of her qualifications for the post of Speaker of the House. He claimed that she does not possess the necessary “knowledge or gravitas” for the post.
Donalds commented on the issue, adding that qualified people should be put into positions of high power. He maintained that he was grateful for the enthusiasm that Ocasio-Cortez brought to the political sphere but argued that experience should take precedence over sheer enthusiasm.
He stated that those in positions of power and influence should have sufficient knowledge and education regarding the role to make important decisions. However, he maintained that Ocasio-Cortez does not have the qualifications to be a viable contender for the Speaker of the House, as her expertise lies elsewhere.
Noting the condescending nature of his reply, many people have called into question Donalds’ judgement regarding the issue. While some have defended his stance, others have argued that his remarks were disrespectful and unwarranted. People have pointed out that focusing on her qualifications rather than her experience was a misguided approach, and a shallow attempt at undermining her credibility.
Regardless of the controversy surrounding this incident, it highlights the importance of experienced leaders, and how they are more suited to take up positions of leadership than enthusiastic yet uneducated neophytes. Experience is essential if one is to make important decisions, and should be given priority.
