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2016 election already here for fringe hopefuls politico
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2016 already here for fringe hopefuls
Quran Man
The current front-runner for 2016’s most controversial
candidate is Terry Jones of the group Stand Up
America Now. If that name sounds familiar,
(http://www.politico.com/story/2013/09/pastor-arrested-
burning-qurans-96696.html) it’s because Jones’s
attempts in 2010 to host a “Burn A Quran” day
sparked international outrage, as well as outright
rebuke from Clinton, leaders of American armed
forces overseas and Obama himself.
Jones said his opinion of Obama couldn’t be lower,
and that he has his eye on saving the country.
“I’m pretty devastated by the condition of America, the moral condition, the spiritual condition, the economical
condition,” Jones told POLITICO, adding that he didn’t have a “game plan” for his campaign and that winning would
require “some type of major miracle.”
The ‘eagle-nomics’ Candidate
It would be unfair to give the impression that the entire field is that far away from the mainstream politics. Some,
including Robby Wells, a 45-year-old former football coach at Savannah State University who lives in Charlotte and
who is seeking the Democratic Party’s nomination, has already crafted a political slogan that doesn’t sound too
different from one you might hear on TV news.
His plan to restore manufacturing jobs is called “eagle-nomics,” which, he says, “takes the best of the left and the
best of the right.”
“I’ve never seen a bird fly with one wing. You have to have the best of both wings to make the eagle soar.”
And don’t count him out because he’s an unknown — he says he’s already met with donors in California, including
some unnamed celebrities.
“Second place is the first loser,” Wells said. “I welcome the opportunity to debate with Mrs. Clinton and anybody
else who decides that they want to run.”
Between Christ and Chomsky
Phil Bralich, a 60-year-old from Monterey, Calif., is running as a Democrat and has spent a significant amount of time
with Occupy movement.
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2. ”I don’t want to be just the guy talking on a panel with a funny hat. I want to do something more significant than that,”
Bralich said.
Bralich has his political philosophy down to bumper sticker size: “More liberal than Chomsky, less liberal than Christ,”
and he has a wildcard of a vice presidential pick: Ann Coulter.
“I know she’s a Republican but I also know she’s more of a ‘middler’ than most people realize,” Bralich said.
The ‘Karma’ Candidate
Quieter candidates for 2016 include 42-year-old Patrick Drake from Georgia, who said he wouldn’t do a telephone
interview with us because “I’m not as eloquent a speaker as President Obama.”
Asked if his candidacy would suffer from conducting interviews solely over email, he replied simply: “I believe in
Karma.”
The Anti-Hypocrisy Candidate
Other candidates are more eager for media attention.
“The thing I’m having the most difficulty with is getting more press,” said Temperance Lance-Council (“I’ll never tell
my age”), who lives in Los Angeles and who has been running for president as part of the Anti-Hypocrisy Party since
2000. She started the party in Los Angeles as her way of fighting back against politicians talking out of both sides of
their mouths.
“I think I really have a lot to say. I think I have a good message. It’s just difficult to get it out there when you’re in a
position like I am right now.”
Lance-Council is not only a fan of the president’s, but said, “I’m also a big fan of Michelle Obama’s.” As for her 2016
competition, she sees flaws in New Jersey Republican Gov. Chris Christie.
“I think his brand of politics and his bullish type of behavior won’t fly well with the general population,” she said.
Others in the 2016 pool, see Christie as a role model.
“I find Chris Christie to be a very productive political leader,” said Sherlene Stevens of Washington, D.C., running as
a Republican, and who says she has traveled from “Massachusetts on down to Florida” on behalf of her nascent
presidential campaign.
The Single Guy
Michael Kinlaw, the 40-year-old living in Colorado Springs who says he’s spent the past few years playing a lot of
golf after running a mortgage company in Houston until 2009, and adds if he wins, he’ll be the first single president in
a while.
“They’re used to seeing first ladies,” Kinlaw said. “I have a first girlfriend.”
Kinlaw says his chances are about as good as anyone else’s, and said he’s already received supportive emails.
“Everybody’s got to start from where they are and go from there.”
Author: Patrick Gavin (pgavin@politico.com | @pwgavin)
Short URL: http://politi.co/1hmJ9Sf
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