Top 10 Reasons Frank Underwood Would be a Great President
10.
Decent Poll Numbers
Granted, Frank Underwood is a fictional character working in a fictional Washington, but when
compared to President Barack Obama, more people actually prefer Frank as President despite
his nasty personality traits.
In a poll from early 2015, Frank had a 57 percent favorable rating as opposed to President
Obama, who had a favorable rating of only 46 percent.
9.
A Moderate
For a whole host of different reasons, Americans are a people divided.
The problem is with being this divided is that one group of voters is bound to be sorely
disappointed come the elections in November.
Having Frank Underwood as a President, a moderate Democrat, may solve a lot of those problems.
For example, in season one, Frank wants to have the best school system, but goes against
traditional Democratic values and essentially goes to war with the teacher’s union.
This shows Frank will do what is best for America, and not toe the party line.
8.
Military Background
Frank never served in the military, but he did go to a prestigious military school.
This type of experience can be incredibly beneficial when someone becomes the Commander
and Chief because it is important to know how basic military strategies work.
For example, some candidates running in the 2015 election have suggested carpet bombing
ISIS.
But Lt. Gen. Sean MacFarland, who is in charge of fighting ISIS in Iraq and Syria says that
it would be a terrible plan because how you win a war is as important as defeating the
enemy.
Frank wouldn’t have to learn basic concepts like that because it would have been part
of his college education.
7.
A Fighter
Frank Underwood’s desire to win is downright ferocious.
Not only does he fight for himself, but he fights for others.
Notably, there is the episode where he goes to Moscow and demands the release of a gay
rights advocate who was arrested because of his lifestyle.
When was the last time a President stood up for a citizen like that?
6.
Outside the Box Thinker
Some of the major problems facing America need innovative solutions and outside the
box thinking is Frank’s specialty.
After all, how much of the story revolves around Frank convincing or manipulating people
into doing a plan no one sees the merit in except for him?
He even admits that he’s an out of the box thinker and that is what makes him so effective.
5.
Excellent Negotiator
One of the best traits of Frank is that he is an amazing negotiator.
When he sits down to hash out something with someone Frank always has a plan of attack,
he sees both the small and big picture, he is calm and he knows that there is always
a way to work something out.
Of course, this skill would be immensely valuable for dealing with the house and senate, but
it would also be great for dealing with other world leaders.
4.
Job Focused
One of the major platforms of Frank’s Presidency in Season 3 is that he sets out to eliminate
unemployment through his America Works program; a universal employment plan that would create
10 million jobs.
Of course, the negative side of the program is that it would cost the country $500 billion,
which is a lot of money to pay for something that the free market should provide.
Regardless of whether it would work, it is a refreshing idea that a politician would
identify a problem, develop a detailed plan, and try to implement it, instead of doing
nothing and spouting rhetoric.
While the plan may not be feasible in real life, it shows the type of focus Frank has
to tackle a real and serious problem that gnaws away at the foundation of the American
economy.
3.
Self-Made Man
Frank never really goes into too much detail about his childhood, but from what we do know,
he never really knew his father and he grew up poor.
This suggests that he worked hard, got into a prestigious military school, and he attended
Harvard Law School; all this without family connections.
This background means that he would understand the plight of people from lower and middle
class.
2.
Experienced
Frank Underwood is noted for his political savvy and the way he is able to manipulate
people in rather cunning ways.
Serving 11 terms, which is 22 years, as a congressman probably taught him a lot about
the inner workings of the political monster.
Experience is valuable in any position, but this is especially true when it comes to something
as complex as the American Presidency.
Frank knows how the system works, and more importantly, he knows how to get things done.
1.
Machiavellian
There is a saying that if you like sausages never see how they are made.
This expression couldn’t be more apt for politics because, sometimes, the end result
is more important than how the deals are made.
Of course, this “sausage making” is most of the plot of House of Cards and a lot of
the grinding is controlled by Frank through Machiavellian tactics.
Machiavellian, which means using clever and deceptive ways to achieve a goal, often has
a negative connotation because in a lot of stories people who act in a Machiavellian
way often have nefarious plans.
While Frank certainly has a dark side and a thirst for power, he does seem to genuinely
want to improve America.
Also Frank’s tactics are effective and he gets things done.
In an era where Republicans and Democrats look at compromise as a sign of weakness,
wouldn’t a brilliant puppet master be a nice change of pace if it meant progress?
Even President Obama was impressed with the speed and efficiency way Frank gets his goals
accomplished.