Colbert/Colbert 08
by Shawn Ashley
Stephen Colbert, the host of The Colbert Report has officially announced that he is seeking the office of The President of the United States.
Although it is unusual for a comedian to be running for President, it is not the first time this has happened.
Back in 1968 American comedian Pat Paulson announced that he would be seeking the office of President.
Although he never won, Paulson continued to run for the office of President in 1972, 1980, 1988, 1992, and in 1996. In the 1996 Democratic Primary he received 921 votes which was enough votes to put him in second just behind Bill Clinton.
When Paulson ran he wasn’t doing it with the intention of actually becoming President. He did it to poke fun at the American political system. One of his campaign slogans was “If elected, I will win”
He died as the result of pneumonia in 1997.
So is Colbert going to be another Pat Paulson?
Colbert has said that he will only run for president in the State of South Carolina. He is seeking nomination from both the Republican and Democratic parties in that state. On his show he said his likely running mates are Mike Huckabee, Vladimir Putin or even himself.
When asked why he was running on he said
“I am doing it because I think our country is facing unprecedented challenges in the future and I think that the junctures that we face are both critical and unforeseen. The real challenge is how we will respond to those junctures be they unprecedented or unforeseen, god help us if they are critical.”
Does he really mean that though?
In the same interview he goes on to say
“I don’t want to be President. I want to run for President, there is a difference.”
He than goes on to say
“I would like to lose twice, as both a republican and democrat.”
When asked what good losing would do he responded by saying
“I got on the ballot in South Carolina, and if I can do it then so can you.
If at the Democratic National Convention, somebody has to stand up and say, The proud state of South Carolina, the palmetto state, the home of the greatest peaches and shrimp in the world, casts one vote for native son, Stephen Colbert, I’d say I won.”
It isn’t likely that he will actually win, but having the freedom to enter the running is good enough for him.