Welcome to DU! The truly grassroots left-of-center political community where regular people, not algorithms, drive the discussions and set the standards. Join the community: Create a free account Support DU (and get rid of ads!): Become a Star Member All Forums Issue Forums Culture Forums Alliance Forums Region Forums Support Forums Help & Search

hlthe2b

(101,730 posts)
Thu Aug 6, 2020, 06:56 PM Aug 2020

Kanye West Indicates That His Spoiler Campaign Is Indeed Designed To Hurt Biden

I'm sorry if you are a fan, but IMO, he's a hypocritical POS. Yes, I'm sorry for his mental health challenges, but seems clear that that can not be blamed for his entire pattern of exploitative behaviors.




https://www.forbes.com/sites/randalllane/2020/08/06/exclusive-kanye-west-indicates-that-his-spoiler-campaign-is-indeed-designed-to-hurt-biden/?utm_source=TWITTER&utm_medium=social&utm_content=3560023103&utm_campaign=sprinklrForbesMainTwitter#2e96d6706397
--snip--

In an exclusive interview, the billionaire rapper says he’s “walking for president” as GOP operatives work to get him on state ballots. Amid various reports that Republican and Trump-affiliated political operatives are trying to get Kanye West onto various state ballots for November’s presidential election, the billionaire rap superstar indicated, in an interview by text today, that he was in fact running to siphon votes from the presumptive Democratic nominee, Joe Biden.

Asked about that directly, West said that rather than running for president, he was “walking,” quickly adding that he was “walking . . . to win.”

When it was pointed out that he actually can’t win in 2020—that he won’t be on enough ballots to yield 270 electoral votes, and that a write-in campaign isn’t feasible—and thus was serving as a spoiler, West replied: “I’m not going to argue with you. Jesus is King.”

West rebuffed various attempts to clarify who was driving his ballot access or strategy and whether it’s being coordinated by or with Republican-affiliated officials. He does, however, appear to have a continuing relationship with the Trump White House. West says that he’s “designing a school within the next month” and that “I’m meeting with Betsy DeVos about the post-Covid curriculum.” (The Secretary of Education’s press office hadn’t responded to a request for comment by the time we published.) --snip--

West did not respond when asked whether he feels he’s being used. When I pointed out to West that the slapdash operation to get him on the ballot, which includes one operative previously arrested for voter fraud and multiple West “electors” from the same address, didn’t feel like a Kanye West production, West replied that it was a “God production.”
37 replies = new reply since forum marked as read
Highlight: NoneDon't highlight anything 5 newestHighlight 5 most recent replies
Kanye West Indicates That His Spoiler Campaign Is Indeed Designed To Hurt Biden (Original Post) hlthe2b Aug 2020 OP
Kanye West is a coward and a putz. C_U_L8R Aug 2020 #1
I cannot fathom how this could, in any way, hurt Biden. BigDemVoter Aug 2020 #2
nope BGBD Aug 2020 #7
I suppose they think never trumpers that were planning on voting for Biden will vote for him instead Thekaspervote Aug 2020 #9
Picking off even a small number of AA voters in battleground states of Ohio, Wisconsin --where hlthe2b Aug 2020 #10
Maybe didn't meet the WI deadline luv2fly Aug 2020 #14
Hah... Wouldn't that be a kicker? hlthe2b Aug 2020 #15
Some question about signatures too luv2fly Aug 2020 #16
I worked with some AA guys who might vote for him. Buckeye_Democrat Aug 2020 #17
West and his fellow Trumpers hope that enough young Black voters can be conned Eugene Aug 2020 #13
The poster of an earlier OP thinks there's a more insidious reason... brush Aug 2020 #23
If Kanye thinks this it the behavior or attitude of a iemitsu Aug 2020 #3
I'm guessing he'll cost Biden at least ..... calguy Aug 2020 #4
Nuttier than squirrel shit BannonsLiver Aug 2020 #5
Typical crazy bastard billionaire!! Doesn't give a shit about this country or it's people Thekaspervote Aug 2020 #6
Obama was absolutely right in his description... hlthe2b Aug 2020 #18
I don't understand how anyone can think Kayne could hurt Biden's chances. dmr Aug 2020 #8
I discussed this (post 10) in a similar response to someone asking this... hlthe2b Aug 2020 #11
Somebody mentioned that it's illegal for Trump's campaign to be working directly with Kanye's, octoberlib Aug 2020 #12
Uncle Kanye's Yurt PubliusEnigma Aug 2020 #19
I like his music, but that don't mean I have to like him. AmyStrange Aug 2020 #20
Which albums do you like? Recent ones? maxsolomon Aug 2020 #21
Love Lockdown is my fave... AmyStrange Aug 2020 #22
808s & heartbreak is the album I think... AmyStrange Aug 2020 #24
I have Goldigger too AmyStrange Aug 2020 #26
You liked him before his Bipolar condition manifested itself. maxsolomon Aug 2020 #27
Vote for him? AmyStrange Aug 2020 #29
What music? lol rockfordfile Aug 2020 #25
What's your favorite music? AmyStrange Aug 2020 #28
well.. Keth Aug 2020 #30
"GOP Plan To Beat Biden By Pushing Kanye West Could Backfire On Trump" --HuffPO hlthe2b Aug 2020 #31
Supposedly the Kardashians aren't even supporting him xmas74 Aug 2020 #32
Fuck that guy. 2naSalit Aug 2020 #33
I'm pretty sure that anyone that would go to the polls and vote for Kanye maxrandb Aug 2020 #34
Committed by November 3rd. sarcasmo Aug 2020 #35
Kanye West can go to hell. I have discussed this with all of helpisontheway Aug 2020 #36
Kanye bdamomma Aug 2020 #37

C_U_L8R

(44,897 posts)
1. Kanye West is a coward and a putz.
Thu Aug 6, 2020, 07:00 PM
Aug 2020

He doesn't have what it takes to be a real candidate - so he'll just try to kneecap others. Fuck you, Kanye.


ps. he didn't have what it takes to win a grammy either,
and still he took to the stage and made a jackass of himself.
We're quite tired of him and his narcissistic bullshit.

hlthe2b

(101,730 posts)
10. Picking off even a small number of AA voters in battleground states of Ohio, Wisconsin --where
Thu Aug 6, 2020, 07:03 PM
Aug 2020

he has managed to get on the ballot could fulfill the spoiler role of a Jill Stein, Ralph Nader, etc.

Now, I have my doubts that many African Americans would be swayed by the likes of Kanye, given his disgusting comments on slavery and Harriet Tubman designed to give Trump cover, but then again, I never ever ever thought there would be African Americans or Latinos or women of any race, but as shown in 2016, white women that would vote for Trump.

I believe BIden will decimate Trump, but we have to take all of this F...ckery seriously.

luv2fly

(2,475 posts)
14. Maybe didn't meet the WI deadline
Thu Aug 6, 2020, 07:23 PM
Aug 2020

Radio this afternoon reported the lawyer dropping off Kanye's papers in Madison arrived at 5:02 pm, two minutes after the deadline. What that means no one yet knows other than they have refused to allow people to get on ballots in the past if they didn't file on time.

Buckeye_Democrat

(14,848 posts)
17. I worked with some AA guys who might vote for him.
Thu Aug 6, 2020, 07:34 PM
Aug 2020

One of them kept saying that Obama had no chance in 2008, being a black man, while I expressed my confidence (early in the primaries) that he'd be President because he was brilliant.

He seemed happy about Obama's victory BRIEFLY, but was soon complaining that he didn't behave "black enough" and wasn't devoting all of his attention to helping AA's.

I asked if he'd prefer a poorly-educated gang member or something, and he relied, "Yes, I would!"

Ugh, no telling how someone like him could vote. And he indeed voted during elections.

I'm not going to worry about it.

Edit: Just remembered that same guy loved watching The Kardashians on the breakroom TV too. Oh, well.

Eugene

(61,596 posts)
13. West and his fellow Trumpers hope that enough young Black voters can be conned
Thu Aug 6, 2020, 07:21 PM
Aug 2020

with West's vague promises of police reform, criminal justice reform and "true liberation" to tip the balance in key battleground states.

West stopped being relevant many years ago.

brush

(53,477 posts)
23. The poster of an earlier OP thinks there's a more insidious reason...
Thu Aug 6, 2020, 08:17 PM
Aug 2020

for trump's people trying to get west on ballots, especially in battle ground states. He theorized that their reason is once there are more than two presidential candidates on a state ballot, the republican-manufactured voting machines with no paper trails, using proprietary software accessible only to republican secretaries of state and voting officials, will be able to tamper/switch votes in an undetectable manner with three presidential choices.

I don't know if that theory is true as to needing at least three names on the ballot but the poster contends that a large number of black voters siphoned off to trump with legitimate counts is not the object at all as they can switch as many votes as needed with their proprietary software with no one the wiser. Admittedly, this does sound like what happened last time in Wi, Mi, and Penn.

We shall see, and we'll also see if west gets on enough ballots for their tampering to work.

dmr

(28,321 posts)
8. I don't understand how anyone can think Kayne could hurt Biden's chances.
Thu Aug 6, 2020, 07:02 PM
Aug 2020

Seriously.

Does anyone know which state's ballot he's qualified for?

hlthe2b

(101,730 posts)
11. I discussed this (post 10) in a similar response to someone asking this...
Thu Aug 6, 2020, 07:05 PM
Aug 2020

Sadly, given he only had to pay a small amount to be on the ballot in Colorado, he qualified for that too. Illinois is challenging the names he provided on a petition, but he may well qualify there too.

octoberlib

(14,971 posts)
12. Somebody mentioned that it's illegal for Trump's campaign to be working directly with Kanye's,
Thu Aug 6, 2020, 07:08 PM
Aug 2020

hence Trump's comment that he doesn't know anything about it. Which means Trump knows everything and is directly involved.

 

AmyStrange

(7,989 posts)
20. I like his music, but that don't mean I have to like him.
Thu Aug 6, 2020, 08:02 PM
Aug 2020

-

Gawd! If I researched ever single artist that I liked, to see if they were squeaky clean, I wouldn't have anything to read, listen to, or watch.

Even the bible has some nasty ass shit in it.
=========

maxsolomon

(32,992 posts)
21. Which albums do you like? Recent ones?
Thu Aug 6, 2020, 08:09 PM
Aug 2020

I've seen him live, but I can only name 1 song: Golddigger. That was 15 years ago.


 

AmyStrange

(7,989 posts)
24. 808s & heartbreak is the album I think...
Thu Aug 6, 2020, 08:17 PM
Aug 2020

-

Came out in 2008. Ha, my songs more recent then yours!
===========

Keth

(184 posts)
30. well..
Thu Aug 6, 2020, 08:25 PM
Aug 2020

I'll start by saying that "My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy" is a very good album, so I'll give Kanye West props for his music.

However, him running as a third party candidate and getting on some state's ballots doesn't worry me in the least. The passion to get Donald Trump out of the White House runs wide and deep and people - come hell or high water or long waiting lines - are going to turn up and vote him out. Knowing that voting for Vice President Biden is the only way to throw the bum out. GO JOE!

hlthe2b

(101,730 posts)
31. "GOP Plan To Beat Biden By Pushing Kanye West Could Backfire On Trump" --HuffPO
Thu Aug 6, 2020, 08:25 PM
Aug 2020
https://www.huffpost.com/entry/kanye-west-gop-biden-backfire_n_5f2c7894c5b64d7a55f0b354

--snip--



Speaking to reporters at the White House, Trump said, “I like Kanye very much” but added: “I have nothing to do with him being on the ballot. I’m not involved.”

The Biden campaign did not respond to messages seeking comment Thursday. Still, the former vice president enjoyed strong support among African American voters during the Democratic primary and is counting on topping Trump by wide margins with them, as well as young voters, in November. Having West, who is Black and a hip-hop icon, on the ballot could be a ploy to hurt Biden with both sets of voters.

A third-party candidate with name recognition as high as West could undoubtedly influence a close election. In Wisconsin in 2016, there were 36,460 write-in votes for president — exceeding Trump’s statewide margin of victory of 22,748, said David Jackson, a political science professor at Bowling Green State University whose research focuses on the links between young people’s entertainment and political preferences.

But African Americans tend not to vote for candidates solely because they are Black, while West’s status with Americans age 18 to 29 is actually more unfavorable than favorable, Jackson said. That means Republicans working to ensure he competes with Biden may not be able to peel many of their target voters away from the presumptive Democratic presidential nominee.

xmas74

(29,659 posts)
32. Supposedly the Kardashians aren't even supporting him
Thu Aug 6, 2020, 08:31 PM
Aug 2020

Kim has made comments about his mental health to the press. A "family friend" claims Kris and Kim are trying to get him help (which Kim admits but says it's very hard). Same family friend stated that Kim doesn't even live with him anymore and has threatened to divorce him unless he drops out and admits himself to an institution.

It's not good when your wife is making statements about you needing help.

maxrandb

(15,193 posts)
34. I'm pretty sure that anyone that would go to the polls and vote for Kanye
Thu Aug 6, 2020, 09:41 PM
Aug 2020

was not going to go to the polls and vote in the first place.

Maybe he'll help Dems down ballot... BUT, the Retrumplican Party must be fucking destroyed for turning our country into a shitshow.

helpisontheway

(5,004 posts)
36. Kanye West can go to hell. I have discussed this with all of
Thu Aug 6, 2020, 09:48 PM
Aug 2020

my AA family and friends and not one of them will vote for Kanye. They understand how important it is to get Trump out of the White House. Kim needs to focus on getting him on some medication. He has not been right since his mom died.

Latest Discussions»General Discussion»Kanye West Indicates That...