Ben Barnes is a prominent democratic politician, businessman, and lobbyist from the state of Texas. Ben Barnes was the Lt. Gov of Texas from 1969 to 1973 and the protégé of United States President Lyndon B. Johnson, who commented once that Ben Barnes would be the next President of the United States.
Although Ben Barnes did not pursue politics after 1973, his entry into business earned him continued recognition as one of the elite names among American politicians. After retiring from his career as a politician, Ben Barnes founded a real estate business and later his own business consulting and lobbyist firm called the Ben Barnes Group. Although no longer a politician in office himself, Ben Barnes remained involved in politics supporting the Democratic Party. Ben Barnes heavily supported Presidential candidate John Kerry in the 2004 Bush vs. Kerry presidential campaign. Because he believed that the election was an important event in American history, Ben Barnes helped the Democratic Party secure over $500,000 in donations to contribute toward the democratic candidate. Ben Barnes continued his support of Kerry throughout accusations and political sabotage that grew progressively uglier as Election Day drew nearer.
Two years later, Ben Barnes wrote a book about his career as a politician. In his book, entitled "Barn Burning, Barn Building," politician Ben Barnes talks about what being a politician meant during a very controversial and interesting time in America's history--the time period of the Vietnam War. However, although Ben Barnes' book is seemingly about the past, the content of the memoir is anything but dated. Ben Barnes wrote his book in partial reaction to the increasing tendency toward partisanship in Austin, TX, but wrote it to be relevant to today's politicians, the American people, and the future of America as a great nation.
As a Democratic politician from Austin, TX, Ben Barnes discusses the misconception that Texas is a Republican State unshakably rooted in conservatism. In his book, Ben Barnes points out to modern day America that Texas was a solidly Democratic state up until the 1970s, and that the change to Republican rule is a relatively recent event. In pointing out this fact, it is not Ben Barnes' intention to stir up controversy between Republicans, Democrats, conservatives, liberals, and the many other combinations and political affiliations among the American people. In fact, Ben Barnes desire as a politician is to remind people of the limits of human assumption and to encourage members of all party affiliations to work together to do good things for the country. The title of Ben Barnes' book "Barn Burning Barn Building" makes reference to the ineffectiveness of sabotage in politics. As the metaphor implies, Ben Barnes is looking toward an era where politicians will build rather than burn, especially in campaigning and legislation. Ben Barnes recognizes the value of building as a process that requires hard work, integrity, and compromise between all people across all party lines.
Ben Barnes' career as a politician began with running for the Texas State House of Representatives when he was 21 years old. Only five years out of high school, Ben Barnes' election was a shocking upset. However Ben Barnes managed to win his way into office, he was immensely popular and that victory was by no means his last success. Within a few years, Ben Barnes was elected Speaker of the House. At the age of 26, he was the youngest Speaker of the House to date. Ben Barnes is a natural articulate speaker with a charismatic personality, an impressive education, and a deep passion for his work.