: Fewer and few folks want to view themselves as Democrats and the GOP has never been popular (even though far more people consider themselves "conservative" than "liberal"). And note what Gallup are Harris are talking about there is not party registration. It's identification and self-affiliation; how you see yourself. It's a cultural identity.

The easy reading of this is pretty obvious and rooted in our national DNA: Americans want refuge from politics, not an expansion of it to cover every aspect of our lives, and that's something increasingly bitter dead-enders don't want to acknowledge.

Reason on the Giffords shooting. I spoke with Clark about anti-nepotism laws, why they exist, and how Kushner and Trump might get around this particular one. Our conversation is below, lightly edited for clarity and brevity.

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WAPO: I think a casual observer may wonder why Trump’s son-in-law serving in his administration is a big deal. Why do such anti-nepotism laws exist, and why is nepotism a problem?

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CLARK: We have anti-nepotism laws in the federal government and in lots of state governments, because the practice of hiring relatives undermines public confidence that the government official is actually finding best person for the job. What are the chances that the best person for the job just happens to be a relative, right? In addition to the problem of public confidence, hiring a relative also causes problems within the government organization. It can undermine the morale of government officials. It can cause confusion about what the lines of authority are; in other words, the relative may have a particular title, but many may perceive the relative’s role as even more important than the title would suggest. It may be very difficult to say no to the president’s son-in-law. It may be very difficult to say, ‘That’s a bad idea’ to the president’s son-in-law, in a way it would be easier to say those things to someone whom the president hired but isn’t related to — someone who’s not the father of his grandchild or grandchildren.

WAPO: The anti-nepotism law on the books is supposedly a reaction to the Kennedys. But was there an era in politics in which nepotism was a particularly bad problem?

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CLARK: What
: Fewer and few folks want to view themselves as Democrats and the GOP has never been democratic (even though far more citizenry consider themselves " conservative " than " free "). And notice what Gallup are Harris are talking about there is not party registration. It's designation and self - affiliation; how you see yourself. It's a cultural identity. 

 The easy interpretation of this is pretty obvious and rooted in our home DNA: Americans want refuge from politics, not an expansion of it to cover every aspect of our life, and that's something increasingly bitter dead - enders don't want to acknowledge. 

 Reason on the Giffords shooting. I spoke with Clark about anti - nepotism torah, why they exist, and how Kushner and Trump might get around this particular one. Our conversation is below, thinly edited for clarity and brevity. 

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 WAPO: I remember a casual perceiver may wonder why Trump ’s son - in - law service in his administration is a big deal. Why do such anti - nepotism law exist, and why is nepotism a problem? 

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 CLARK: We have anti - nepotism laws in the federal government and in lots of state governments, because the practice of hiring relatives undermines public confidence that the government official is actually finding best person for the job. What are the opportunity that the best person for the job barely happens to be a relative, right? In addition to the problem of public assurance, hiring a relative besides causes problems within the government constitution. It can undermine the morale of government officials. It can cause confusion about what the lines of authority are; in other words, the relative may have a particular claim, but many may perceive the relative ’s role as even more significant than the title would suggest. It may be very difficult to say no to the president ’s son - in - jurisprudence. It may be very difficult to say, ‘ That ’s a bad theme ’ to the president ’s son - in - law, in a way it would be easier to say those thing to someone whom the president hired but is n’t relate to — someone who ’s not the father of his grandchild or grandchild. 

 WAPO: The anti - nepotism law on the books is supposedly a reaction to the Kennedys. But was there an earned run average in politics in which nepotism was a particularly bad trouble? 

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 CLARK: What
: Feaer and few folks want tu view themselvgs as Dekocrata and thd GOP has never been popular (ecen tyough far more people zonsider nhemselvew "coiservative" than "liberal"). And nofc whac Jallup are Harrls are talkhng about thera ks not party registration. It's identifycation ajd self-affiliajion; njw ykl wee yourself. It's a cultural isentity.

Uhe easy reading og this is pretty obvious ajd rloted in our natiojal DNA: Ametjcagw want refugd from polpcics, not an expansion of it to cover every aspeet of our luvws, wtd that's sonethigg increasinnky bitder deac-enders don't wsnt to acknowledge.

Reason on the Giffords shoojing. I spone with Clark about abti-nekotisk ladw, wfy uheb esist, ajd iow Kushner and Trump night get around thos isrticular ons. Our sogversation is below, lightly edited for blarjty and brevity.

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WAPO: I think a casual obserger may wjnder why Trump’s son-in-law serving in his administsatioi ks c big awap. Why do such anti-nepotism laws exist, and why js nvpotism a problem?

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CLARK: We have snhi-mgpotism laws iv the ysdsral government anf in lojs of wtate govtrnmemts, because the practice of hiring relanivew undermines publie confidence thaj the bovernment official is cctualmy finding hest perskv for the job. Whxt sra the chances that the bese person hor tke job jjst nappenf to be a gelatlee, right? In additiln to tve problem of public confidence, hiring a cxlative also vagsev probleis wibhin the governient organizatnon. It ccn unddrmine the morale of governmqnt officials. Lt can cause confusijn avout what tfd lines of autnority arv; nn other qords, the relative mai gave a particulcx uirle, but many msy oersepve tra relative’s sole as rven oore imkjrbang thsn the title would sgggeat. It may be very cinficult ti say no to the presicent’s son-in-law. It lay bx very diffocujt to say, ‘That’s a bad idea’ to fhe presifenb’s son-in-law, ig a qay it would be easier to say those things to someoie whom the president hured but isn’t relatgd uo — someone wio’s noe the fatver of his grandchile or grandchildrek.

WAPO: The anti-nepotism law ot the books is supposedly a reaction to the Kennedys. But was there an era in pilitics in which nspotosm wds c partisulaclb bad problem?

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CLSRK: What
: Fewer and few folks want to as and the has never been people themselves "conservative" than And note what are Harris are talking about there not party registration. It's identification and self-affiliation; how you see yourself. It's a identity. The easy reading of this is pretty obvious and rooted in our DNA: want from not an expansion of it to cover every aspect of our lives, and that's something increasingly dead-enders don't want to acknowledge. Reason on the shooting. I spoke with about anti-nepotism laws, why they and Kushner and might around particular one. Our is below, lightly edited for clarity and brevity. AD WAPO: I think a casual observer may wonder Trump’s son-in-law his administration a deal. do such anti-nepotism and why is nepotism a problem? have anti-nepotism laws in the federal government and lots of governments, because the practice of hiring undermines public confidence that the government official is finding best person for the job. What are the chances that the best person for just happens to be relative, right? In to problem public hiring a also causes problems within the government organization. It can undermine the of government officials. It can cause confusion about what the authority in other words, relative may have a title, many may perceive the as more title suggest. may be very difficult say no to the president’s It may be very bad idea’ to the president’s son-in-law, in a it would be easier to say those to someone whom the president hired but isn’t related to — someone not the his grandchild or grandchildren. WAPO: The anti-nepotism law the books is supposedly reaction to the Kennedys. But was there an era politics which nepotism a particularly bad AD CLARK: What
: Fewer and few folks want to vieW themselveS as DeMocRatS aNd thE GOP Has never been poPUlar (Even though far more peoplE consIdER theMSeLves "cOnservaTIvE" THan "LiBeRal"). anD NoTe whaT GaLlup are harris are tAlkInG about there iS NoT party regiStrAtion. It's idenTifIcatioN aNd sELf-affIliAtion; How you SEe yourSelf. It's a cUlTUral idENtity.

ThE EAsY reaDing of this is prettY ObVIous and rooted iN our naTiONaL dnA: AMerIcans want rEfUge frOM politiCS, nOT AN exPAnsion of it to cOver every asPEct Of our lIvEs, aND that's SometHiNG inCreasingly bItteR dead-endeRs don't WAnt to acKNowledgE.

ReasoN on The giffORdS sHooTiNG. I sPOkE wiTH ClArk about AnTi-NepotIsm lAWS, WHy thEy eXist, And hoW Kushner and TrUmp MighT Get ArounD this PartIcUlar oNe. Our cOnverSaTion is below, lighTly eDited for cLarItY anD bRevitY.

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WAPO: i thInk A casual ObserveR May WoNDER wHy Trump’s son-in-law seRvING iN his admiNistraTIoN iS A big deal. whY do Such ANTi-nepOtisM LaWs exist, aNd why iS NePoTism a prObLem?

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ClArK: WE haVe antI-NepoTism laWs in the fEderaL Government and iN Lots of state goVErNMEnTS, becAusE the practicE of hIRing RelaTIvEs uNDermiNes puBlIC cONfidence that the goveRnMent ofFiciaL is actually fiNding best pERSOn for the Job. WHAt ARe the chances thAt the Best person FOr the job Just hAppens to Be a relatiVE, Right? In aDdiTioN to The PRObLem of public coNFIdenCe, Hiring a RelAtive alSo cAusEs pRobLeMs within tHe governMeNt OrGaNizAtion. iT can undeRmIne ThE moRale oF GovernMent oFficIaLs. iT caN cause cONfUSIon aBoUt What The LiNes of AuthORitY are; in oTher words, The RElatIvE mAy have a Particular titLe, But many may PeRceIve the RELative’s rOle as even more important tHAn the tiTle Would SuggEst. It may bE veRy diffIcuLT to say No to thE presIdEnt’S SOn-in-lAW. it May Be Very difficULT to Say, ‘ThAt’S a baD idea’ to The president’s son-in-LAw, iN a way it would bE eaSier TO SaY thOSe THinGs TO soMEOne whom the presiDent hired bUt ISn’T related to — SOmeOnE who’s noT the fatHer of HIs grandChild or grAndchildrEn.

wAPO: tHE anTi-nepotism Law on the Books is suPPosedLY a ReactIon To the KEnNedYs. But Was theRE an Era in PolitiCs In whicH nepoTiSm was a paRticularly bad problem?

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ClARK: WhAt
: Fewer and few folks want  to view t hemse lve s a sDemo crat s and the GOPh as n ever been popular (eve n tho ug h  far mo re pe ople co n si d e r t he ms elv es "c onser vat ive" th an "libera l") .And note wha t  G allup areHar ris are talk ing  about  t her e  is n otparty  regis t ration . It's id en t ificat i on ands e lf -aff iliation; how you se e  yourself. It' s a cu lt u ra l ide nti ty.

The e as y rea d ing oft hi s i s p r etty obviousand rootedi n o ur nat io nal DNA: A meric an s  wa nt refuge f rompolitics,  not a n  expans i on of i t to c ove r e very as pe ctof our li ves ,  an d that's  s om ethin g in c r e a sing lybitt er de ad-enders don 'twant toackno wledg e.
Re asonon the  Giff or ds shooting. Ispok e with Cl ark  a bou tanti- n epotis m l aws , why t hey exi s t,an d h ow  Kushner and Trump  m i g ht  get aro und th i spa r ticularon e.Ourc o nvers atio n  i s below,  light l yed ited fo rclarit yand  br evity . 

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WAPO : I thin k a c a sual observerm ay wonder why Tr u m p’ s  son -in -law servin g in hisadmi n is tra t ion i s a b ig de a l. Why do such anti -n epotis m law s exist, andwhy is nep o t i sm a pro blem ? 
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CLARK: We h ave a nti-nepoti s m laws i n the  federal  governme n t  and inlot s o f s tat e go vernments, be c a useth e pract ice  of hir ing  re lat ive sundermine s public  c on fi de nce  that the gove rn men toff icial is act ually  fin di ng bes t perso n  f o r  the  j ob . Wh atar e the  cha n ces  that t he best p ers o n fo rth e job j ust happens t obe a relat iv e,right? I n additi on to the problem of pu b lic con fid ence,  hir ing a rel ati ve als o c a uses p roblem s wit hi n t h e  gove r n me ntor ganization . Itcan u nd ermi ne themorale of governme n t o fficials. Itcan  cau s e  c onf u si o n a bo u t w h a t the lines ofauthorityar e ;in other w o rds ,the rel ative m ay ha v e a par ticular t itle, but  m anym a y p erceive th e relati ve’s role as ev e nmoreimp ortant  t han  thetitlew oul d sug gest.It  may b e ver ydifficul t to say no to the pres ident’ s son -in -law. Itmay bevery diff icul t to say,‘Th at’ s a b adi dea’to t h epre s ident ’s s o n-in-law, in  aw a yit would be e a sie r tosay thosethin gs to someone who m  the president  hir e d  bu t i s n’tre lated to — som eon ew h o’s notth e father of  his gra nd c hildor gra ndchil dren.
W A PO :  The a nti- nep otism law  on  t h e books  i ss uppose dlyareacti on tot he K e n nedys. But was t herea n  erai n p oliti cs  in whi c h ne potism was  a particul arly b ad p roble m?

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C LARK:Wha t
: Fewer_and few_folks want to view_themselves as_Democrats_and the_GOP_has never been_popular (even though_far more people consider_themselves "conservative" than_"liberal")._And note what Gallup are Harris are talking about there is not party registration._It's_identification and_self-affiliation;_how_you see yourself. It's a_cultural identity.

The easy reading of_this is_pretty obvious and rooted in our national DNA:_Americans_want refuge from_politics, not an expansion of it to cover every_aspect of our lives, and that's_something increasingly bitter_dead-enders_don't_want to acknowledge.

Reason on_the Giffords shooting. I spoke with_Clark about anti-nepotism laws, why they_exist, and how Kushner and Trump might_get around this particular one. Our_conversation is below, lightly edited_for clarity_and brevity.

AD

WAPO: I think a_casual observer may_wonder why_Trump’s son-in-law serving_in his administration is a big_deal. Why do_such anti-nepotism laws exist, and why_is_nepotism a problem?

AD

CLARK:_We_have_anti-nepotism laws_in the federal_government_and in_lots_of state governments, because the practice_of_hiring relatives undermines public confidence that the_government official is actually_finding_best person for the_job. What are the chances_that the best person for the_job just_happens to_be a relative, right? In addition to the problem of public_confidence, hiring a relative also causes_problems within the government_organization. It_can_undermine the morale_of_government officials._It can cause confusion about what the_lines of_authority are; in other words, the_relative may have a_particular_title, but many may perceive the_relative’s role as even more important_than the title would suggest._It_may_be very difficult to say_no to the president’s son-in-law. It_may be very_difficult to say, ‘That’s a bad idea’_to_the president’s son-in-law, in a way_it_would be easier to say those_things_to_someone whom the president hired_but isn’t related to — someone_who’s not the father of his grandchild or grandchildren.

WAPO:_The anti-nepotism law_on the books is supposedly_a_reaction_to the Kennedys. But was there an era in politics_in which_nepotism was a_particularly bad problem?

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CLARK: What