What do you think of Stephen Colbert's satirical bid for the U.S. Presidency?
I had no idea he was "serious" about this. I hardly watch his show and when I did hear about it I thought he was kidding with him staying in character for the Colbert Report in a role--not spending money to be on the ballot.
It's not news that a comedian is running for political office but the brief few times recently that I've heard Stephen Colbert mention it, I thought he was being satirical.
But while Colbert took the necessary steps to be on the Democratic ballot, he didn't get the necessary votes. In South Carolina, the Democratic Party requires all would-be candidates to win the approval of an executive committee. (The state's Republican party requires no such extra step—pay the $35,000, and you're in.)
That's a huge disparity in getting on Republican v. Demcratic Ballots. And a screening process by the Dems. to get on the ballot? Besides the age and citizenship status, I thought if you had enough signatures and all else was in order you could run. Guess not in S.Carolina.
Article follows: Colbert Loses Bid For Presidency
U.S. / Politics
Colbert’s Presidential Bid Ends After a ‘No’ in South Carolina
November 2, 2007
The Democratic Party in South Carolina decided Stephen Colbert was not serious and turned down his application to get his name on the primary ballot. Also: from E!Online. In the end, Colbert's campaign, which the candidate swore was real, only followed through on its efforts with the Democrats, paying the $2,500 filing fee to the state party by Thursday's deadline. According to the South Carolina Republican Party, Colbert did not produce its required $35,000 filing fee by its 5 p.m. (ET) close-out time. Colbert had earlier announced on his TV show that he wasn't going to cough up the five figures required to get on the GOP ballot, noting that he'd paid less "for my black-market liver."
But while Colbert took the necessary steps to be on the Democratic ballot, he didn't get the necessary votes. In South Carolina, the Democratic Party requires all would-be candidates to win the approval of an executive committee. (The state's Republican party requires no such extra step—pay the $35,000, and you're in.) On Thursday, South Carolina Democratic leaders voted 13-3 against Colbert. Nine "ayes" would have gotten him on the ballot.
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