Today Politico examines what it takes to succeed in politics these days and offers a guide to gaining political recognition. So does it take hard work? Dedication? Nah. Get a Twitter feed and willfully embroil yourself in a scandal worthy of US Weekly magazine. Politicians! They’re just like us! A sample:

The tried-and-true methods to increased visibility are just as effective as ever, says Republican consultant John Feehery. “Either get involved in a sex scandal, write a book (easiest way) or run for president,” Feehery says. “Accept every invitation to every cable outlet, learn how to master the art of the sound bite and spend a lot of time in New York and L.A.”

Crass and gimmick-y! And perhaps a reminder to the media not to automatically spill ink for every fresh-faced freshman Congressman just because he looks good in a suit, knows how to boil down his ideas and actions to 140 characters and has figured out how to use Facebook. That’s all well and good, but that’s not a story. What about the substance of those ideas and actions? Politicians are not just like us. They wield political power, let’s hold them accountable to it.