Former Maryland Gov. Martin O’Malley said the presidency is not “a hereditary right” in an interview with MSNBC’s Ari Melber Thursday.
O’Malley, seen as one of the few credible alternatives to soon-to-be candidate Hillary Clinton, also echoed comments he made two weeks ago to ABC’s George Stephanopoulos, saying the presidency is not “a crown to be passed back and forth between two families.”
MELBER: Are there too many dynasties in American politics right now?
O’MALLEY Look, I think the presidency is not a crown to be passed back and forth between two families. It is a sacred trust to be earned and exercised on behalf of the people of our country. It’s supposed to be a contest of ideas and opportunity for candidates to earn this awesome trust from the people whose government it actually is.
MELBER: Do you think that’s a hurdle then for the Bushes and the Clintons and the Pauls specifically?
O’MALLEY: I don’t know. I think that the way it’s supposed to work is if you feel that you can lead a country forward and you have the ideas and experience to do it, you offer. And then once you offer, it’s up to the people to decide. But it’s — I don’t believe that it’s a hereditary right.