Stephen Colbert paid the filing fee to run for president in South Carolina before the deadline.
"However, after about 40 minutes of discussion by top party officials, the executive council voted 13-3 to keep the host of "The Colbert Report" off the ballot."
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20071101/ap_po/colbert_ballot
What kind of a Democracy do we have when a few select people get to decide who can and who can't run for president?
And before Republicans get all high and mighty about this offense by the Democratic Party, Colbert couldn't even run as a Republican because they had a required $35,000 filing fee. Apparently you have to be wealthy to run as a Republican, which is fitting, I suppose.
2007-11-01 10:51:08 · 14 answers · asked by Dana1981 7 in Politics & Government ➔ Elections
We all know that Stephan Colbert was trying to make a mockery of the elections and he's proven his points -
1. Democrats are not necessarily democratic (in this case the only democracy was that they voted him off).
2. Republicans are for the rich.
Mr. Colbert has succeeded in showing everyone the true colors of the democrats and republicans. To top it off, he got his money back.
2007-11-01 16:15:24 · answer #1 · answered by CAPTAIN BEAR 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Democracy is a funny thing.
I wouldn't say that Democracy has failed, because they voted, but there was an undeniable limitation on liberty. Just to point out; the majority is just as capable of limiting freedom as a dictator. Democracy doesn't equal freedom, and if you think it does, please let me explain why you are mistaken.
Democracy is a very old idea, and people in America tend to think that Democracy is a truly belnevolent form of government. Here are some really interesting quotes that I have collected on the subject:
"Democracy is two wolves and a lamb voting on what to have for lunch. Liberty is a well-armed lamb contesting the vote."
- Benjamin Franklin
"Democracy is the worst form of government except all the others that have been tried."
- Winston Churchill
"Democracy [is] when the indigent, and not the men of property, are the rulers."
- Aristotle
"Democracy is the recurrent suspicion that more than half of the people are right more than half of the time."
- E B White
"When great changes occur in history, when great principles are involved, as a rule the majority are wrong. The minority are right."
- Eugene V. Debs
"As democracy is perfected, the office represents, more and more closely, the inner soul of the people. We move toward a lofty ideal. On some great and glorious day the plain folks of the land will reach their hearts desire at last, and the White House will be adorned by a downright moron."
- H. L. Mencken
"Democracy encourages the majority to decide things about which the majority is ignorant."
- John Simon
"Democracy means not 'I am as good as you are' but 'You are as good as I am.'"
- Theodore Parker
"A democracy is nothing more than mob rule, where fifty-one percent of the people may take away the rights of the other forty-nine."
- Thomas Jefferson
It is not that I think Democracy is bad, I just don't think it is the perfect system that people tend to believe it is. The assumption that more than half of the people know what is good for everybody is complete hogwash.
If you want to see democracy in action on a weekly basis, watch any reality TV show that "votes off" people. It is never the weakling that is voted off. It is always the best competitor. As stupid as this may seem, I think the comparison is actually quite profound.
As far as Republicans putting a pricetag on the ticket- I actually think that might be a good idea. I am not sure that I would want someone in the Whitehouse from either party that couldn't even raise $35,000.
But I see your point that anyone should be able to run, and the elimination of a candidate should be left up to voters.
Why can't Colbert run as an Independent?
2007-11-02 03:10:43 · answer #2 · answered by Cold Hard Fact 6 · 1⤊ 1⤋
That's what I don't like about elections these days. It's all about how much money you can you raise and not about a persons point of view on things. This country is all about money and it always will be. Money drives everything. This country is in a sad state these days. I feel if someone has the money to pay the filing fee then you should be able to run and let the people decide who gets the presidency. Not oh Hilary as accumulated 30million dollars so she should be the democratic candidate. Let the people decide who they want to represent their party. It's sad but it is very fitting that you have to be rich to run as a Republican. But don't think that Republicans are the only money grubbers b/c the democrats aren't any better. We need a strong independent to run our country someone who's for the people and not for themselves!!
I like that Colbert went out and tried to get on a ballot as a mockery. B/c most of the people running are a mockery to politics and everyone before since the 90's has been as just of a mockery as Colbert. I would of voted for Colbert!!!
Chirssy D.: Who's the last serious president you've seen. The last two sure weren't. I'm from Arkansas and new all about Clinton before he got into office, but it was better him than Bush Sr. and Bush Jr. hell you couldn't put a more dumber face in office to represent our country!! He should of just kept riding the coat tail of his father doing blow and I'm sure our country would be better off!!
2007-11-02 04:00:43 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 1⤋
How serious could Colbert be about running for President when his main goal was just to get on the ballot? He admitted his 1st choice was to run on the Republican ticket. So obviously, he's not a Democrat. He was on Meet the Press Sunday and didn't want to answer any of the ??'s Russert asked him.
Democrats were right to prevent it. The only reason he wanted to go Democrat, was because of the cost of the filing fee for the Republican base. Even if he had paid the $35,000 filing fee for the Republican base, it doesn't mean they would have allowed it either. They probably wouldn't.
He can still run if he chooses. Problem is, he's a comedian, not a politician. His job is to make people laugh. America isn't laughing about this one. The stakes are far too high. He's a joke. Period.
2007-11-01 11:20:00 · answer #4 · answered by Nancy L 4 · 3⤊ 4⤋
This means tht you must pass the test. Wht is the test for being a democrat. i know two. my friendgrows a bunch of vegatables and gives them to many people. He gaave the democrat guy some. When they were not looking he came back and got the whole box and then came back in the house. I saw this and got the box back.. Anohter time he drove up, when into my fs truck and stole some ammo and put on his dash. My f saw that and got it back. The otherguy is not as bad, but both say a man should be able to cheat on his wife! One in city office are just as bad.
On the other hand the Republicans shold not be able to charge money to run, but which is worse and trust me they got crooked judges as high as federal level.
Even so Colbert (Col BEARRRR) should have been able to run. He he any bigger a joke than most of the others?
What about his dignity, compassion, and what is that other word the democrats are always throwing out, no not racist, no not neocon, no not sexist, no not Christians, no not..........
2007-11-01 13:38:07 · answer #5 · answered by R J 7 · 0⤊ 2⤋
What they did was actually the most approprate thing to do.
Stephen Colbert was running as a JOKE. He was only going to run for President in South Carolina. Is it okay to make a presidential election a mockery? Absolutely not- which is what it would have turned into if they allowed him to run. He is running as a joke. What would that say about the election? That its okay to let people who aren't serious about presidency to run and make a complete mockery of the whole thing.
This is one of the most important elections of our time. There are dumb people out there who would vote for Colbert, knowing it's a joke. There is no reason to put the election in jeopardy because of a comedian running for laughs.
P.S. I love Stephen Colbert, but what he was doing was just plain ridiculous and stupid. Only serious candidates should run for the president.
2007-11-01 11:05:44 · answer #6 · answered by Chrissy D 2 · 1⤊ 3⤋
It appears so I was always told that anyone could become president if they meet the qualifications. I personally never thought it was ture untill Bush got elected to a 2nd term but on a more serious note I belive that any person who wishes to run should be able to run under the party of their choice.
2007-11-01 18:28:54 · answer #7 · answered by Rocketman 6 · 1⤊ 2⤋
The answer is "Campaign Finance Reform" which is what Al Gore was pushing for when he actually beat George Bush for President, but somehow the Skull & Bones Fraternity won out in that farce of an election.
2007-11-01 11:26:03 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 3⤋
Yeah, well I can think of other previous nominees that we allowed to run and were a joke. Maybe he should have saved the joke for later in the first year of his term like so many others.
He should have been allowed to run.
2007-11-01 12:42:05 · answer #9 · answered by ? 5 · 3⤊ 2⤋
No one is stopping him from running, the two parties are keeping him from running as a candidate for nomination in their party. Differentiate between Party qualifications and ballot qualifications. DId he try to run as a Libertarian? What was their reaction?
2007-11-01 10:56:52 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 3⤋