Stephen Colbert Doesn’t Have $ To Run with GOP
Your hero and mine, satirist Steven Colbert, apparently does not have the necessary cash to run as a Republican in the South Carolina presidential primary. The cost is $35,000!!!
Running as a Democrat requires a mere $2500 or 3000 signatures, but for each candidate on the ballot, the state party is required to pay the state election commission $20,000. For the most part, members of the Democratic caucus have no interest in allowing Colbert in their primary. One council member said it best:
"Over my dead body will Colbert’s name be on the ballot."
Pretty damn blunt. While Colbert may be serious about his run, if only for the publicity it will generate, I can’t imagine he’s going to get a lot of support. We’re rootin’ for you Steven… so long as you don’t run in our state. ;-)
Check out the story from CNN below:
Funnyman Stephen Colbert’s presidential campaign is apparently no joke.
The host of Comedy Central’s "The Colbert Report" will file papers late Wednesday or early Thursday to put his name on South Carolina’s Democratic primary ballot, a source familiar with the comedian’s strategy said.
Stephen Colbert, a South Carolina native, made two "campaign" stops in the Palmetto State last weekend.
The South Carolina native will not file papers as a Republican because the $35,000 required to get on the GOP ballot is apparently too high a threshold.
"They priced us out of range," the source told CNN.
The South Carolina Democratic Party demands a candidate pay $2,500 or garner 3,000 signatures to get on the ballot. Surrogates of "The Colbert Report" star will file the hand-signed papers at state party headquarters before the November 1 filing deadline.
The mock conservative pundit whose show regularly features real politicians and political commentators announced that he was running as both a Democrat and Republican on October 16.
But whether Colbert’s name will show up on the ballot remains unclear
The state party’s 26-member executive council — with representatives from each of South Carolina’s six congressional districts as well as state members of the Democratic National Committee — will meet Thursday afternoon to decide which candidates meet the criteria to appear on the ballot.
To make the cut, a candidate must demonstrate two requirements: that he or she is viable nationally and has spent time campaigning in the state.
Colbert made two "campaign" stops in South Carolina last weekend, speaking at a "Rock the Vote" event Saturday in Charleston and appearing Sunday in Columbia to receive a key to the city from Mayor Bob Coble. That event attracted about 1,000 people, mostly University of South Carolina students.
But Colbert’s national viability is what’s at issue before the executive council.
"He does not appear to be campaigning to win if he is only running in one state," said Carol Khare Fowler, chairwoman of the state Democratic Party and a member of the executive council.
Another council member, Charleston Democratic Party Chairman Waring Howe, was more blunt: "Over my dead body will Colbert’s name be on the ballot."
Opponents such as Howe argue that Colbert makes a mockery of the political process. They also note that for each candidate on the Democratic ballot, the state party must pay $20,000 to the state election commission, a consideration that could blunt Colbert’s chances.
Colbert’s supporters on the executive council said that the comedian will bring new, younger voters into the party fold and that he will use his candidacy to promote South Carolina nightly on national television.
"I think a lot of people think it’s a joke because it’s a comedy show and what not, but he’s a nice fellow, and if he gets on the ballot, he will come here to South Carolina and campaign across the state," said Charles Hamby, the second vice chairman of the state Democratic Party.
"We know he won’t be president. He knows that. But it will bring a lot of people into the party," Hamby said.
On Sunday, Colbert had a private meeting with Joe Werner, executive director of the state Democratic Party, to discuss the implications of being on the ballot.
The source familiar with Colbert’s strategy said he will use his satirical candidacy to promote his home state, as he did during the recent speech in Columbia in which he extolled the virtues of Palmetto State peaches over Georgia’s.
Colbert is asking supporters to donate $100,000 to South Carolina schools at the Web site donorschoose.org, which already has raised $40,000.
source Tags: dumb news, stephen colbert, president, 2008 elections, south carolina, presidential primary
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2 opinions for Stephen Colbert Doesn’t Have $ To Run with GOP
Tina
Nov 1, 2007 at 8:51 am
Hello and thank-you for hearing me out on this.
In a county that prides it’s self on the principals of freedom, opportunity, and democracy (not intended for the population to need to be among the elite) I find it absolutely appalling that in this country in which we need a qualified person to take the reigns, one which not only has the foresight to think of the implications of the actions that they are preforming on the behalf of the public, but also the desire to do thing on, and for the reasoning of using only the best intent rather than looking to further benefit elitist who have assisted them into their position; that in any case the minimum standards for filling this position should be set on assets, popularity among the elite, or connections witch further promote the corruptions that have led this country to the troubles that are currently being experienced. I find this to be a trouble that could be remedied by a two part solution. Firstly and foremost I applaud you and the forthright-ness of the campaign of Steven Colbert in so much as exposing the problems that exist on this forefront. With out the general public knowing what it is that they have to contend with as issues in taking responsibility for placing the proper person in such a position I wonder if it is truly right to hold them accountable for the results. Only by furthering the education as to the problems that exist in the systems which are currently being employed to select who should and who should not be allowed to run the country; can these process be remedied to resolve the issues that allow such problems as we have had in the seat that need to be filled relating to corruption, lack of ability, and lack of foresight; as well as lack of better intentions for the people in which this person represents. The second step is to do something about it which in essence is to revise the possess which from the arctical on here I would be led to believe needs to be done on a state to state basis. There are federal standards for running for this position, I believe that if the parties that we are employing to benefit the public can not find a person using these, then maybe we need other minded groups to come forward and fill the position which is currently being left insufficiently taken care of.
In general I believe it is not the elitist of this country that are the mainstay pillars of support for the wonders that abound in this country, I do believe that many of them have worked hard and benefitted from assistance of others that have worked hard and saw potential in them, however even then a majority of them would not have what they currently do if not for the eventual support of the general population of this country and as such they not only should not be the only parties allowed to fill such a position; but in any position have a due responsibility of duty to the general public at large as they would be without much if not for them. The public need not accept the blinders they are handed to wear on a daily basis, and any and all that further expose the issues that need to be resolved in relation to such issues should be appreciated to the utmost extent for the debt to them is one that will no doubt have the potential to extend for generations as their efforts will have the potential for affecting many generations as well. The general public need the guidance of a few able and well intended persons that are willing to benefit the public at some cost; and to take that hard won information and progress with it to the next level. We need to take responsibility and repair the system and take efforts to allow future generation to not have a need to suffer this insult we currently are delivered in the average nightly news.
Thank-you again for hearing me out on this.
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