The Bad News Bears go to Washington: Rudi Stein is running for Congress

“What do you want me to do, put in Rudi Stein?” — Walter Matthau, Bad News Bears (1976).

Yes, it’s come to this in American politics: they’re putting in Rudi Stein. David Pollock, known to millions as the Little League pitcher so bad that his coach went out and recruited a girl to replace him, is running for U.S. Congress. Pollock, elected twice to the Moorpark (Ventura County, Calif.) City Council, is running as a Democrat in California’s 26th Congressional district. Here’s his Facebook page.

For my money there is no better metaphor for Democratic politics than a nervous kid wearing glasses who is ordered by his coach to lean over the plate and get hit by a pitch.

“I think there really is something to having an acting background, going into politics. There are a lot of jokes about it and I wouldn’t say that every actor would make a good politician, but I will say that there is something to be said about putting yourself into a character’s shoes and looking at the world through different eyes as an actor,” Pollock said. “That’s a skill you develop, and it really helps in understanding where our people are coming from in politics. It develops empathetic skills that can work very well and as a representative of the people.”

Congressman Rudi Stein? Governor Rudi Stein? President Rudi Stein?? (Tanner Boyle shakes head, swears).

First major campaign contributor: Chico’s Bail Bonds.

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Bad News Bear’ David Pollock Running for Congress, Says Acting Skills Helping! [Fox News]