Thread: Colbert for President?!

Originally Posted by Hootad Binky

Isn't Al Franken running for something?

Al Franken is running for Senate in Minnesota.

I think Colbert is just what America needs right now. Saw him interviewed on Larry King live. He's very clever.

Colbert won't be on S.C. ballot



WASHINGTON - TV comedian Stephen Colbert's mock presidential campaign suffered a setback Thursday when Democrats in South Carolina, the lone state where he pledged to run in both the Republican and Democratic primaries, denied him the political stage.

Although he paid a $2,500 filing fee, the executive committee voted to keep Colbert off the Democratic ballot, said state party chairwoman Carol Fowler. The filing fee will be returned to him, she said.

"I think this committee that votes took their responsibilities seriously. Our rules are pretty specific about what makes a legitimate candidate," Fowler said. "There was nothing personal about him; they like him a lot, but they think this is a serious process."

Colbert also missed the deadline Thursday to pay a $35,000 filing fee for a spot on the GOP ballot, a Republican official said. During Wednesday's episode of "The Colbert Report," Colbert said he wouldn't spend the $35,000 for the GOP's filing fee.

"Thirty-five thousand, guys?" he asked. "I understand you have to keep a club exclusive, but I paid less for my black market liver."

On the campaign trail recently, Colbert said, "I promise, if elected, I will crush the state of Georgia…Our peaches are more numerous than Georgia's. They are more juiciful."

With his deadpan delivery, Colbert first gained notoriety on Comedy Central's "The Daily Show," before leaving for "The Colbert Report."

Many have followed the television star's every move since Colbert first announced his candidacy, which coincides with the release of his new book, "I Am America, (And So Can You!)." It's generated an online buzz on Facebook, a networking Web site similar to MySpace that politicians use to generate support among younger voters.

One group, "1,000,000 Strong for Stephen T. Colbert," acquired more than 1.3 million members in a matter of weeks. In comparison, one Facebook group supporting Sen. Barack Obama (D-Ill.), "One Million Strong for Barack," has about 380,000 members. Another that is anti-Sen. Hillary Clinton (D-N.Y.) has almost 500,000 members.

"I couldn't believe how fast he's exploded," said Raj Vachhani, a 16-year-old from Montgomery, Ala., who started the Colbert group. "Even though his campaign might not be serious, it's getting people more involved in the political process."

About 4,300 people have registered to vote through a link in his Facebook group, Vachhani added

One Colbert fan said the comedian's campaign aimed at both conservatives and liberals mocks how the more traditional candidates cater their message to whatever group they're speaking to at the moment.

"It seems what he's doing is more in your face, playing both sides," said James McManus, a 31-year-old who was raised in Sumter, S.C. "It is a pretty good satire on the political process."