Neel Kashkari delivers commencement address about humility

Republican gubernatorial candidate Neel Kashkari, a former treasury official and investment banker who is a first-time political candidate, on Sunday delivered a commencement address to business-school graduates stressing the importance of being humble.

“Here’s what I want you to take away from this speech: We should all strive for humility,” he told about 100 executives in San Francisco receiving their MBAs from the University of Pennsylvania’s Wharton School of Business, his alma mater, according to prepared remarks. “… To me – humility is a natural product of appreciating just how lucky we are. I am not so remarkable. If the ball had bounced differently on any number of days I would not be standing here. Here’s the thing – humility is not just a virtue – it is not just the product of recognizing luck’s role in our success: it is also in our own self-interest. Humility makes us more open to ideas. To learning from others. To spotting our mistakes and short-comings.”

The candidate finds himself at an introspective point – of all the GOP candidates trying to take on incumbent Democratic Gov. Jerry Brown, Kashkari has the most money and establishment support, along with a personal back story and moderate social views that some say are critical as the Republican Party tries to rebuild in California.

But Kashkari is struggling badly, with lackluster poll and fundraising numbers. Addressing the graduates and their families at the Nourse Theatre, he highlighted his experience as he urged them to follow their dreams.

“My journey is to continuously pursue the biggest challenges I can find that I think are important, worthwhile causes – and in doing so make a meaningful, positive impact. For me, it is not enough to do something difficult or to do something important – it must be both difficult and important. Climbing a mountain would be very difficult – but, for me, I wouldn’t feel it important,” he said. “I am currently running for governor of California. It is an extraordinarily difficult task – that I believe is also deeply important – the chance to help improve the lives of millions of Californians who are struggling today.”

Kashkari concluded by urging them to remember that not only hard work and skill helped them achieve their accomplishments, but also luck.

“I strongly believe that if we all strive for not only success but also for humility, we will be more successful,and our society will be stronger as well,” he said.

Democrats were biting in their review of Kashkari’s remarks, citing his lack of electoral experience, uneven voting record and leadership of the taxpayer funded bank bailout.

“A guy running for governor with no experience, beliefs or voting history is preaching about humility? That’s as absurd as a Wall Street bailout czar lecturing about poverty,” said Dan Newman, a political spokesman for Brown. “He’s apparently running California’s first post-ironic campaign.”