American Candidate
Apr. 12th, 2004 01:48 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
stonebenderThis started with my application to Showtime's new reality show, American Candidate. I've sent my application off, but I liked some of my answers well enough I wanted to share. I also thought it would be fun to read my friends answers to these questions.
So read my answers and then pretend you want to be President of the United States and answer them yourself. If you post them to your LiveJournal give me a heads up here. I'd like to read them.
Here's some of my answers with a little help fromwild_irises. Fair warning: My tongue is firmly in cheek on many of these answers.
Are you an American Citizen?: Yes
Full name: Guy W. Thomas
Nicknames: Stonebender, Wheels
What name do you prefer to be called?: Guy
In what country, U.S. State and/or city were you born?: Hollywood, CA.
How would you describe your ethnic or cultural backround?: I’m a northern European mutt, Irish, English, Danish, Dutch and Welsh.
Do you live alone?: No
If no, who do you live with and what is their relationship to you?: I live with Carol and Betty. Carol is my partner and Betty is my housemate.
Are you registered to vote?: Yes.
If yes, with which political party are you registered?: Green Party
How do you describe yourself politically?: I’m an unapologetic "bleeding heart" liberal.
Have you ever run for office of any kind?: Yes.
If yes, which offices?: I have run for the Alameda County Democratic Central Committee which I won. I ran for BART Board district 7 which I lost.
Why do you want to be president?: 75% of all people with disabilities are out of work, I need a job!
Why would you be a good president?: Franklin D. Roosevelt was one of our greatest presidents and he was a person with a disability. I would be at least as good because I'm even more disabled.
What would your campaign song be?: "You'll Never Walk Alone" by Richard Rodgers & Oscar Hammerstein II
What would your campaign slogan be?: The weak shall inherit the earth!
If not you, who should be the next president of the United States?: Al Franken
Tell us who should support and or join your campaign?: (types of people, political groups, etc.): ACLU, Sierra Club, NOW, NARAL, NCIL, CFILC, ERC, SPCA, BOMC,wild_irises addition: everyone with a disability, everyone who knows somebody with a disability, everyone who may get a disability. Moral disabilities do not count!
If you could pass any law at this moment, what would it be?: Universal health-care with consumer control and getting rid of institutional bias of the present medical system.
If you could repeal any law at this moment, what would it be?: The Patriot Act
If you could change one thing about our political system, what would be?: People who vote get to enter a special multi-million dollar lottery as an incentive to vote
What, if any, organizations are you opposed to and why?: The religious right because they can't take a joke and they keep trying to heal me in parking lots.
Who is your hero and why?: I have many heroes it is hard to limit myself to one. Ed Roberts would certainly be one. Being the first severely disabled man to attend a University, the first to head the California Department of Rehabilitation, and also helping found The Center for Independent Living in Berkeley (the first independent living center), in many ways he is the person who allowed me to live the life I lead. Oh, who am I kidding? It's Senator Robert Dole because he hid his disability so well when it counted and he also showed that the disabled can enjoy sex even if some of us (not me, you understand) may need a little pharmaceutical help.
If you could give $1 million dollars to any charity, which charity would you choose and why?: I think that I would give it to Martha Stewart to have her take classes in greed from Tyco's former chief executive, Dennis Kozlowski. Clearly, if she had tried to steal more money (and perhaps been male) she wouldn't be in the mess she’s in now.
If I am president, people will fear me because: I have a disability and that really freaks some people out.
If I am president, people will love me because: Guys with scars are really hot!wild_irises addition: Also I'm irresistibly charming and smart, and I'm on the side of everyone who feels powerless to fix their government right now.
If you were president, what new public holiday would you introduce?: A celebration to family diversity. How wonderfully eclectic family can be: single parents, multiple parents, same-sex parents, Aunts, Uncles, Sweeties-in-law, significant others. A celebration of all the strength and comfort we get from the people we choose to love and who love us.
Who is your favorite American President?: Franklin D. Roosevelt Why?: For obvious reasons.
Who is your least favorite American President? George Bush Jr.serenejournal addition: The younger. WHY? Because he has done more to single-handedly destroy Civil Liberties and plunge us into massive debt. He has handed Halliburton and other multinationals the keys to the federal treasury, and preemptively invaded two countries under the pretense of going after terrorism. He has repeatedly lied to the American people, all in the name of patriotism. wild_irises addition Besides, he thinks he’s hot snot on the deck of an air force carrier, and he brought an artificial whole turkey to the troops in Iraq and then fed them steam-table sliced turkey.
What current political leader (active within the last 5 years) Do you most admire?: Congresswoman Barbara Lee Why?: Because she is a snappy dresser. Oh, and she was the only Congressperson not to vote for the Iraqi invasion,wild_irises addition: and she didn’t take it back even though she received death threats afterward.
What current political leader to you least admire?: John Ashcroft Why? I understand that he doesn’t like calico cats. Any man prejudiced against any animal, especially a dog or a cat, I just don't trust.
What makes you proudest to be American?: That we train and arm our own enemies. We don’t let others do it for us.
What angers or frustrates you about America?: That we seem to be so afraid of Janet Jackson’s tit and so concerned about who loves who. Yet we defend some people’s right to buy Hummers and gold plated toilets while allowing our most vulnerable citizens to die of neglect and starvation.
What do you feel America's role should be in the global community?: Guidance counselor? (wild_irises came up with the title guidance counselor) I think the United States should be supporting opportunity, leveling the playing field, by encouraging education of everyone around the world. We can combat terrorism by offering opportunity rather than killing our enemies. When people have no power or ability to change their circumstance they will take any opportunity to express their anger and frustration. We have to stop being the bully in the playground.
Please briefly state your opinion on the following topics:
Abortion: I'm in favor of a woman’s right to choose.
Gay marriage: I'm in favor of people marrying who (and however many) they choose.
Race relations (including affirmative-action and an interracial dating/marriage): I believe there’s still economic disparity between whites and other ethnic groups. So I believe there is still a place for affirmative action.wild_irises addition: As for interracial dating and marriage, I’m STILL in favor of people dating and marrying whoever they choose. If they’re female and cute, I want them to choose me.
The death penalty: I don’t support the death penalty, but if the death penalty does continue I believe executioners should be picked from the population just like we choose juries.
Legalization of drugs: I believe marijuana should be legal. Why should tobacco get special treatment?
Gun control: (This answer is allwild_irises) I know the difference between a hunting rifle and an AK-47. The NRA knows more about guns than I do, so I don't understand why they think all guns are the same.
Immigration: I believe that as many Irish people as want to live in this country should be allowed to immigrate.
The environment: I think Bengal Tigers are really cool! We should try to keep them.wild_irises addition: I also think that if it’s a crime to give birth to one child who’s been exposed to cocaine, it should probably be a crime to arrange for 1/6th of the country’s children to be born exposed to mercury.
The economy: No one should starve, or be homeless, or suffer from lack of medical treatment.wild_irises addition: We’re a rich enough country, and kind-hearted enough, to do that if we set our minds to it.
Education: Everyone should get a free education to the limits of their desires and abilities.wild_irises addition: They’ll pay the country back in productivity.
Social Security: We must keep it solvent.
War on Terrorism: I believe terrorism is a symptom of the vast economic inequality between the developed and under developed nations. If we stop being the playground bully and become the guidance counselor, terrorism will be less of a threat. If we can support economic opportunity to the poor in the world, there would be less motivation for terrorism. It’s a long-term solution but I think a better one.
War in Iraq: We shouldn't have gone to war in Iraq in the first-place. Now that we are there, we should leave as soon as is practical given the state the country is in now.
Welfare: I think we need to accept the fact that there are times in everyone's life when they cannot work. If we have a reasonable health-care system that includes community-based personal care for people with disabilities, education freely available to everyone, child care, and parental leave in place, I don't believe there will be any real need for welfare.
Health-care reform: I want single-payer universal health care which will get insurance company’s out of the business of influencing health-care decisions.
Taxes: Tax the wealthy and their multinational corporations! Reduce or remove taxes to low/middle income families.
Please list your three most important campaign promises:
(1) Universal health-care, Free education
(2) Rollback changes to environmental protection
(3) Repeal the "Patriot Act" and get out of Afghanistan and Iraq.
I really want to thankwild_irises for the help with my application answers. serenejournal went far beyond the call by helping me fill out the form by hand (American Candidate designed their application form in such a way that one had to print out the form in order to complete it.) I could not find a way to fill it out via computer. She also did a wonderful job as video camera person. Even Carol, (not that she was thrilled about the idea) managed to help me get the required head shot and full-body picture. I have such incredible people in my life. I'm entirely too lucky.
One more note, this wasn't even close to the full questionnaire for American Candidate. I picked the questions I thought would provide the most interesting answers and I included questions that I thought I answered well.
So read my answers and then pretend you want to be President of the United States and answer them yourself. If you post them to your LiveJournal give me a heads up here. I'd like to read them.
Here's some of my answers with a little help from
wild_irises. Fair warning: My tongue is firmly in cheek on many of these answers.Are you an American Citizen?: Yes
Full name: Guy W. Thomas
Nicknames: Stonebender, Wheels
What name do you prefer to be called?: Guy
In what country, U.S. State and/or city were you born?: Hollywood, CA.
How would you describe your ethnic or cultural backround?: I’m a northern European mutt, Irish, English, Danish, Dutch and Welsh.
Do you live alone?: No
If no, who do you live with and what is their relationship to you?: I live with Carol and Betty. Carol is my partner and Betty is my housemate.
Are you registered to vote?: Yes.
If yes, with which political party are you registered?: Green Party
How do you describe yourself politically?: I’m an unapologetic "bleeding heart" liberal.
Have you ever run for office of any kind?: Yes.
If yes, which offices?: I have run for the Alameda County Democratic Central Committee which I won. I ran for BART Board district 7 which I lost.
Why do you want to be president?: 75% of all people with disabilities are out of work, I need a job!
Why would you be a good president?: Franklin D. Roosevelt was one of our greatest presidents and he was a person with a disability. I would be at least as good because I'm even more disabled.
What would your campaign song be?: "You'll Never Walk Alone" by Richard Rodgers & Oscar Hammerstein II
What would your campaign slogan be?: The weak shall inherit the earth!
If not you, who should be the next president of the United States?: Al Franken
Tell us who should support and or join your campaign?: (types of people, political groups, etc.): ACLU, Sierra Club, NOW, NARAL, NCIL, CFILC, ERC, SPCA, BOMC,
wild_irises addition: everyone with a disability, everyone who knows somebody with a disability, everyone who may get a disability. Moral disabilities do not count!If you could pass any law at this moment, what would it be?: Universal health-care with consumer control and getting rid of institutional bias of the present medical system.
If you could repeal any law at this moment, what would it be?: The Patriot Act
If you could change one thing about our political system, what would be?: People who vote get to enter a special multi-million dollar lottery as an incentive to vote
What, if any, organizations are you opposed to and why?: The religious right because they can't take a joke and they keep trying to heal me in parking lots.
Who is your hero and why?: I have many heroes it is hard to limit myself to one. Ed Roberts would certainly be one. Being the first severely disabled man to attend a University, the first to head the California Department of Rehabilitation, and also helping found The Center for Independent Living in Berkeley (the first independent living center), in many ways he is the person who allowed me to live the life I lead. Oh, who am I kidding? It's Senator Robert Dole because he hid his disability so well when it counted and he also showed that the disabled can enjoy sex even if some of us (not me, you understand) may need a little pharmaceutical help.
If you could give $1 million dollars to any charity, which charity would you choose and why?: I think that I would give it to Martha Stewart to have her take classes in greed from Tyco's former chief executive, Dennis Kozlowski. Clearly, if she had tried to steal more money (and perhaps been male) she wouldn't be in the mess she’s in now.
If I am president, people will fear me because: I have a disability and that really freaks some people out.
If I am president, people will love me because: Guys with scars are really hot!
wild_irises addition: Also I'm irresistibly charming and smart, and I'm on the side of everyone who feels powerless to fix their government right now.If you were president, what new public holiday would you introduce?: A celebration to family diversity. How wonderfully eclectic family can be: single parents, multiple parents, same-sex parents, Aunts, Uncles, Sweeties-in-law, significant others. A celebration of all the strength and comfort we get from the people we choose to love and who love us.
Who is your favorite American President?: Franklin D. Roosevelt Why?: For obvious reasons.
Who is your least favorite American President? George Bush Jr.
serenejournal addition: The younger. WHY? Because he has done more to single-handedly destroy Civil Liberties and plunge us into massive debt. He has handed Halliburton and other multinationals the keys to the federal treasury, and preemptively invaded two countries under the pretense of going after terrorism. He has repeatedly lied to the American people, all in the name of patriotism. wild_irises addition Besides, he thinks he’s hot snot on the deck of an air force carrier, and he brought an artificial whole turkey to the troops in Iraq and then fed them steam-table sliced turkey.What current political leader (active within the last 5 years) Do you most admire?: Congresswoman Barbara Lee Why?: Because she is a snappy dresser. Oh, and she was the only Congressperson not to vote for the Iraqi invasion,
wild_irises addition: and she didn’t take it back even though she received death threats afterward.What current political leader to you least admire?: John Ashcroft Why? I understand that he doesn’t like calico cats. Any man prejudiced against any animal, especially a dog or a cat, I just don't trust.
What makes you proudest to be American?: That we train and arm our own enemies. We don’t let others do it for us.
What angers or frustrates you about America?: That we seem to be so afraid of Janet Jackson’s tit and so concerned about who loves who. Yet we defend some people’s right to buy Hummers and gold plated toilets while allowing our most vulnerable citizens to die of neglect and starvation.
What do you feel America's role should be in the global community?: Guidance counselor? (
wild_irises came up with the title guidance counselor) I think the United States should be supporting opportunity, leveling the playing field, by encouraging education of everyone around the world. We can combat terrorism by offering opportunity rather than killing our enemies. When people have no power or ability to change their circumstance they will take any opportunity to express their anger and frustration. We have to stop being the bully in the playground.Please briefly state your opinion on the following topics:
Abortion: I'm in favor of a woman’s right to choose.
Gay marriage: I'm in favor of people marrying who (and however many) they choose.
Race relations (including affirmative-action and an interracial dating/marriage): I believe there’s still economic disparity between whites and other ethnic groups. So I believe there is still a place for affirmative action.
wild_irises addition: As for interracial dating and marriage, I’m STILL in favor of people dating and marrying whoever they choose. If they’re female and cute, I want them to choose me. The death penalty: I don’t support the death penalty, but if the death penalty does continue I believe executioners should be picked from the population just like we choose juries.
Legalization of drugs: I believe marijuana should be legal. Why should tobacco get special treatment?
Gun control: (This answer is all
wild_irises) I know the difference between a hunting rifle and an AK-47. The NRA knows more about guns than I do, so I don't understand why they think all guns are the same. Immigration: I believe that as many Irish people as want to live in this country should be allowed to immigrate.
The environment: I think Bengal Tigers are really cool! We should try to keep them.
wild_irises addition: I also think that if it’s a crime to give birth to one child who’s been exposed to cocaine, it should probably be a crime to arrange for 1/6th of the country’s children to be born exposed to mercury.The economy: No one should starve, or be homeless, or suffer from lack of medical treatment.
wild_irises addition: We’re a rich enough country, and kind-hearted enough, to do that if we set our minds to it.Education: Everyone should get a free education to the limits of their desires and abilities.
wild_irises addition: They’ll pay the country back in productivity.Social Security: We must keep it solvent.
War on Terrorism: I believe terrorism is a symptom of the vast economic inequality between the developed and under developed nations. If we stop being the playground bully and become the guidance counselor, terrorism will be less of a threat. If we can support economic opportunity to the poor in the world, there would be less motivation for terrorism. It’s a long-term solution but I think a better one.
War in Iraq: We shouldn't have gone to war in Iraq in the first-place. Now that we are there, we should leave as soon as is practical given the state the country is in now.
Welfare: I think we need to accept the fact that there are times in everyone's life when they cannot work. If we have a reasonable health-care system that includes community-based personal care for people with disabilities, education freely available to everyone, child care, and parental leave in place, I don't believe there will be any real need for welfare.
Health-care reform: I want single-payer universal health care which will get insurance company’s out of the business of influencing health-care decisions.
Taxes: Tax the wealthy and their multinational corporations! Reduce or remove taxes to low/middle income families.
Please list your three most important campaign promises:
(1) Universal health-care, Free education
(2) Rollback changes to environmental protection
(3) Repeal the "Patriot Act" and get out of Afghanistan and Iraq.
I really want to thank
wild_irises for the help with my application answers. serenejournal went far beyond the call by helping me fill out the form by hand (American Candidate designed their application form in such a way that one had to print out the form in order to complete it.) I could not find a way to fill it out via computer. She also did a wonderful job as video camera person. Even Carol, (not that she was thrilled about the idea) managed to help me get the required head shot and full-body picture. I have such incredible people in my life. I'm entirely too lucky.One more note, this wasn't even close to the full questionnaire for American Candidate. I picked the questions I thought would provide the most interesting answers and I included questions that I thought I answered well.
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Date: 2004-04-12 03:25 pm (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2004-04-12 04:46 pm (UTC)